Found a 2020 Explorer XLT for $22,999… too good to be true?

Hey everyone, I’m looking to upgrade from my 2013 Ford Escape (currently at 214,000 miles). I need something with a third row, so I’ve been looking at Explorers.

I found a 2020 Explorer XLT with 54,000 miles for $22,999. Carfax looks solid—two owners, no accidents, regular maintenance—but I want to make sure I’m not missing anything.

This is my first time buying a car on my own, and I don’t want to get stuck with something full of issues. Any advice?

I have a 2020 Explorer and it’s been nothing but problems since day one.

  • Random error codes all the time
  • Cruise control stops working randomly
  • Heater only works on the driver’s side now

Bought it brand new, and it’s been frustrating to say the least.

That price is about average for a 2020 XLT with those miles—not necessarily too good to be true. Limited models from 2020 are going for $24K-$26K with similar mileage.

One thing to check: Early 2020 builds (VINs with ‘A’ or ‘B’) had a lot of issues. If your VIN ends in ‘C’, it’s one of the later builds and should be better.

@Alix
The ‘A build = bad’ thing is mostly speculation. I have an A build and haven’t had major issues. A lot of the biggest problems weren’t really addressed until late 2021.

Van said:
@Alix
The ‘A build = bad’ thing is mostly speculation. I have an A build and haven’t had major issues. A lot of the biggest problems weren’t really addressed until late 2021.

Fair enough, but I had an A build that was bought back as a lemon due to transmission failure. I also follow several Explorer groups, and most recommend avoiding A builds. Some are fine, but they had the most problems out of all the 6th-gen Explorers.

@Alix
That’s fair.

@Alix
So would the letter be at the end of the VIN? The last letter in mine is C.

Aki said:
@Alix
So would the letter be at the end of the VIN? The last letter in mine is C.

Yep, that’s the sequential part of the VIN. My 2020 XLT is also a C build, and I’ve had mostly good experiences over 4.5 years.

Had one issue with sunroof drains, but otherwise, it’s been fine. I’m a little nervous seeing the issues other owners report, though.

Not a great deal. A lot of 2020-2021 models have issues. Be careful.

A Ford service tech told me to avoid all 2020-2021 models. Too many issues.

For comparison, I got a 2019 Explorer with the same mileage for $26K.

I’ve had a 2020 Platinum for a year, and the electronics are a nightmare.

  • Transmission stuck in neutral (needed a software update)
  • Passenger blind spot sensor failed
  • Cross-traffic alert stopped working
  • Previous service records show tons of electrical issues
  • Had a cooling system problem at some point

Drives great, but if I could do it again, I’d buy a newer model.

If you can, go for a 2021 model—huge improvement!

Just traded my 2020 Explorer because the transmission kept needing reprogramming.

The car tries to “learn your driving habits”, but after a few months, it starts shifting hard or hesitating. Took it back every 6 months to get it reprogrammed.

@River
Same here… 7 trips to the dealer for shifting problems so far. Super frustrating.

Montana said:
@River
Same here… 7 trips to the dealer for shifting problems so far. Super frustrating.

I heard some people are using FORScan to turn off the adaptive learning on the transmission, and they haven’t had issues since. Might be worth looking into!

If this is at a used car lot, watch out for hidden dealer fees.

One Ford dealer in my area listed a 2021 Limited for $24K, but when I went in, they added $10K in “dealer fees” for stuff like:

  • Paint protection coating
  • Seat fabric treatment
  • “Mandatory” inspection fees

Wouldn’t let me opt out, so I walked away. Just be careful!

I have a late 2020 Platinum with 100K miles—bought it used two years ago, and I’ve put 65K miles on it. No major problems yet, but I wouldn’t have bought it without a warranty.

Get a solid warranty if you go for it.

@Noor
Which warranty did you get, and how much did it cost?

I bought a certified pre-owned 2020 Platinum with 74K miles. It had some issues upfront:

  • Moonroof sunshade was broken
  • Side mirror was loose
  • Needed a new catalytic converter
  • Axle CV boot and differential seal were leaking

Luckily, all of this was fixed under warranty.

The dealer also threw in a free ceramic coating and dropped the price from $30K to $26K. With an extended bumper-to-bumper warranty to 125K miles, I feel good about it.

So far, zero new issues, but it really depends on the vehicle history. If it was well maintained, you should be fine.

Avoid the 2020 Explorers. My workplace uses the police version, and even those fall apart by 50K miles. Tons of electrical issues, and I’ve heard the axle seal repair can be $8K.