Thinking About Getting a 2020 XLT, What Do You All Think?

Hey everyone, I’m thinking about buying a 2020 Ford Explorer XLT with less than 20,000 km (10,000 miles). My family is growing, and I need something reliable with 7 seats. I’d love the ST version, but it’s out of my budget, so I’m looking at the XLT instead. It’s listed at 35k CAD (about 25k USD). Is this a good deal or should I look elsewhere? Any thoughts on this model or the price?

Definitely check if it has a solid warranty. The 2020 models had issues with transmissions and software, even with low mileage. I had to visit the dealer several times for repairs, though I love my 2020 Limited overall. These are nice vehicles, but some early ones had some big problems.

@Jack
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll make sure to check the warranty.

esleystanley said:
@Jack
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll make sure to check the warranty.

I’ve got a 2020 with around 45k miles, and I’ve had $4500 in repairs over the last year. I had to replace some serious parts like the actuator and the heater core, plus a few other things. It’s been great when it works, but keep your eyes open for stuff like this.

Check the VIN to see if it’s an A, B, or C build. The A builds had a lot of problems, but the later C builds are much better. I had an A build that was a lemon due to transmission failure, but after switching to a C build, it’s been excellent. The XLT is great for comfort, and the 2.3 engine has plenty of power.

@Kai
How can I tell if mine’s an A build? The 9th and 10th digit of my VIN is 6L, does that mean it’s A?

I’ve got a 2022 XLT and haven’t had any issues. The newer models (21-22) are really solid, so if you’re not set on the 2020, you might want to consider those.

If you can, go for a 2021. We just bought a 2021 XLT with 29k miles for 27k, and it has a sunroof, adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and other nice features.

I have an ‘A’ build 2020 with 65k miles. The only issue I had was with the CV joint boots failing, but it was covered under the powertrain warranty. It’s been a great car besides that, very comfy and spacious. I’ll probably get another one once this one hits 100k miles.

@Dallas
Mine had the same issue with the CV joint boots, and I had to fight Ford to get it covered. Still, after some software issues, it’s been good. I’ve got 87k miles on it now, and it’s been great. Also, mine is a B build.

@stone
Yeah, CV joints are crazy. Never expected that on a newer car, but lessons learned. :pray:

I’ve heard that the 2020 Explorer has a lot of problems. Honestly, I’d stay away from it. It’s just not worth the stress.