Hello everyone! Today we will be going through a buyers guide for the 2020-24 Explorer ST’s! Enjoy!
Explorer ST Standard Equipment
- Black — Grille Mesh Insert — Liftgate Appliqué — Lower Bodyside Cladding — Roof-Rack Side Rails — Sideview Mirror Cap (Gloss) — Skid Plate Elements, Front and Rear
- Class III Trailer Tow Package
- Door Handles – Body Color with Black Insert
- Gloss Black ‘EXPLORER’ Badge on Hood
- Exhaust Tips, Quad – Chrome
- 20×9″ Machined Aluminum Wheels
- Floor Mats – Black Carpet with City Silver Stitching
- 12.3″ Digital Productivity Screen Instrument Panel Cluster
- Leather Seating Surfaces with Mirco Perforation and City Silver Accent Stitching and ST Logo
- Steering Wheel, Heated – Sport Style with ST Logo and Paddle Shifters
- Mirrors, Sideview – Power-Folding with Autofold, Power and Heated Glass, LED Turn Signal Indicators, ST Projection Lamps, Driver’s Side Auto-Dimming, Driver/Passenger Side Memory and Gloss Black Caps
- Sport-Tuned Suspension
Optional Equipment
ST Street Package
The ST Street Package added the 21×9 IN. gloss black wheels and an upgraded brake system painted red. The rotors measure 18 mm bigger up front, and 30 mm in the back.
ST Track Package
The ST Track Package included everything from the ST Street Package but added dealer-installed “upgraded” brake pads. They didn’t add any extra performance, and very few ST’s came with them.
Michelin Tire Package
Offered for a very limited time on early build 2020 Explorer’s, was Michelin Latitude Sport 3 high-performance summer tires. They were a lot better tire then the stock Pirelli tires, so they would’ve been a nice option to have around longer.
ST Appearance Package
Offered for after the 2022-MY, the ST Appearance Package added Race Red and Raptor Blue Accent Stitching to the seats and center console, as well as the ST Logo on the seats.
Dual-Panel Sunroof
Pretty self explanatory.
Roof Rails
Starting in 2021, the roof rail delete became standard, and the roof rails became an option. I think the roof rail delete makes the car look cleaner, but some people may like them or need them.
Technology Package
Offered for 2021 later:
- 110V/150W AC Power Outlet (replaces the Powerpoint Port on the rear side of the Center Floor Console)
- 360-Degree Camera with Split View
- Ambient Lighting
- Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror (Interior) •
- B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen®, 12 Speakers including Subwoofer •
- Forward Sensing System •
- HD Radio •
- Memory Driver’s Seat •
- Rain-Sensing Wipers (Front Only)
- Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist 2.0
Premium Tech Package
The technology package included everything from the Tech Package but also Active Park Assist 2.0 amd multi-countour (messaging) seats (on 2020-21 these were part of the regular tech package).
So those are the packages available from the factory. There are a couple small dealer-installed items not mentioned (floor mats, mud flaps, etc.).
Deleted Items Options
During the chip shortage, Ford started to remove options in order to produce vehicle quicker and not get backlogged as easily (if you remember vehicles sitting in storage awaiting parts).
Auto Start Stop Delete
A delete option that removed the Auto Start Stop system, this might be a welcome delete to some people. Only a few ExST’s received this however. An updated EPA gas mileage rating was given to the Auto Start Stop delete vehicles.
Hands Free Tailgate Release Credit and removal
A deleted the feature that allowed you to just kick under the rear bumper and the rear tailgate would open. Kind of a finicky feature, so not really something to miss too much. Was a credit for the 2021 MY, and just removed on 2022 and newer vehicles.
4G LTE WiFi Hotspot Feature Delete
Deleted the WiFi hotspot capability in some vehicles.
Active Park Assist 2.0 Delete
The Active Park Assist 2.0 was deleted. This option usually allowed the vehicle to park itself into an parallel parking spot or normal parking spot by itself.
Rear HVAC Controls Delete
The Rear HVAC Controls Delete removed the second-row controls for the air. It is easily retrofitted however, as the wiring and connections are present, and just awaiting the faceplate.
360-Degree Camera Delete
The 360-degree camera delete removed the 360-degree surround camera and the front camera. By law, the rear camera is still present and functional.
Running Changes
Messaging Seat Package Reconfiguration
Not a delete, but a reshuffling of the packages. The multi-contour (messaging) seats were shuffled into a new Premium Technology package, instead of being part of the ST High (now Tech Pack) package.
1-Bolt Rearend
During later early-2021 builds Ford decided to cut costs and put the 1-bolt rear subframe on the ST. The 1-bolt was the rear subframe that was on the 2.3L Explorer ST’s. The product of that, is even with the stock 400-HP that the 3.0L produces, under hard driving and especially launching causes too much pressure on the one-bolt, causing it to snap. Some 2022 and 2023, and all 2020 MY cars were blessed with the 2-bolt rear end, but all 2024 MY cars and most post-2021 MY cars have the 1-bolt rear end.
Gloss Black Interior Pieces
2021 brought gloss black interior trim pieces on the door handles, radio bezel, and center console inserts. I think it dresses up the interior more, and it looks a lot better then the plain plastic pieces of the 2020’s. I haven’t found glair to every be a problem with the pieces.
Leather Seat Wraparound
On 2020 and 2021 ExST’s, the back of the seat was molded plastic and was held to the leather part of the seat with weak clips. They were prone to breaking or not holding the leather part of the seat well. 2022 and newer Explorer’s updated this, and the leather wrapped all the way around the seat. Big improvement.
Cupholder Ambient Lighting Removal
Ford removed the ambient lighting in the center console cupholders for the 2022-newer vehicles.
2nd-Row Center Console Removal and new Lower Cup Holders
For the 2022 model year, Ford removed the low-profile 2nd-row center console and added small cupholders on the back of the center console that flip up or down. On 2020-21 cars, it was just a little storage space.
Power 2nd-row Fold Down
This was a feature that with a press of the button on the 2nd-row seat, it folded forward allowing easier 3rd-row seat access. Ford removed that feature, and post-2022 MY cars had a simple latch system you pull to push the seat forward.
Camera Washer Removal
Ford removed the camera washers on mid-2022 and later builds.
RWD Availability / AWD becomes an option
For the 2022 MY, Ford made RWD standard for the Explorer ST’s and made AWD an option.
Tow Hook Removal
2020 ExST’s came with a tow hook thread and tow hook on the front bumper. Post-2020 cars omitted this feature. For those wondering that is what the empty holder is for in the spare tire area.
Updated Rear Subframe Bushing / Automatic Parking Break when placed in park
After the bolt fracturing problem on the 1-bolt rear subframe, Ford started programming post late-2021 builds to activate automatically when placed in park to avoid rollaway risk. 2022 and newer builds received an updated bushing.
Common problems
Common problems for the 20-24 platform are never hiding in the shadows. If there is a problem with the car, it is very apparant. The common issues are bad AWD MODULE (lots of codes), front diff leak, front diff actuator (drivetrain related codes), turbo seal leak (smoke on startup), cat converter crack (smell), bolt snapping problem on 1-bolt cars, and flex pipe rattle. Those are really the only ones.
Model Year Specific Problems
Other then the bolt fracturing problem, there are no model year specific problems. However, as with any vehicle, as years went on quality control got better. Early 2020 builds are more prone to problems because they were the first builds of an then all-new platform. I would say the golden years would be mid- to late-2020 and early-2021 builds because they had no features deleted, had the 2-bolt rear subframe, and, for the most part, had all the problems sorted out. There are also a few late-2021 and 2022 models that got lucky with little to no deletions and the 2-bolt rear subframe.
Recalls
360-Degree Camera Blue Screen
The 360-DEGREE camera display may intermittently display a blue image on the media touchscreen upon shifting into reverse. The most recent recall, which replaced the camera wiring and camera, seemed to fix the problem. This problem effected most Explorer’s.
Rear Bolt Fracture
The recall consists of installing the updated rear subframe bushing, and installing the software that automatically engages the emergency brake when placed in park. This effected 3.0L Explorer’s (most Platinum’s, and all ST’s and King Ranch) with the 1-bolt rear subframe. This did not fix the bolt fracturing problem.
Valve Stem Fracture
Some 2021-22 Explorer’s were recalled for intake valve stem possibility to fracture. The recall was created because of the Bronco 2.7L failures. I have never seen an Explorer have this problem. All the recall does is the dealer revs the car really hardly, and if the intake valve stem fails there, then they will replace the engine. Something I wouldn’t want a dealer doing, especially since the Explorer’s don’t have that problem.
Is the 1-Bolt Subframe something to avoid?
The 1-bolt subframe is not something to avoid like the plague, it is just something to avoid if possible. It is easy to fix it’s weakness, a differential brace is all that is needed, and if drive aggressively at all it may not matter at all. Here’s an article we did on the subject:
ST vs the other trims
ST-Line
The ST-Line is all the looks, none of the go. It is basically a dressed up XLT. Ways to differentiate it from a real ST is the “ST-Line” badging on the fenders, blacked out 4wd symbols on the tailgate of equipped with AWD, only the Ford symbol on the unique grille, and dual exhaust tips instead of the quad exhaust tips on the ST. Keep in mind the ST-Line was available with the Street Pack so it can look very similar to the ST’s.
Platinum and King Ranch
The Platinum and King Ranch share the same drivetrain as the ST, albeit with a lower final drive ratio. 2020-21 Platinum’s were detuned to 360-HP, but 2022 and newer Platinum’s and all King Ranches have the same power. Otherwise everything else is just cosmetics, except for the Platinum’s better adaptive headlights.
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Explorer ST Enthusiasts 