KnownCarProblems2020 Ford F-150 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 736 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford F-150, most often about the transmission (49% of complaints, typically around 59,000 miles). It is 17th of 27 F-150 model years by number of complaints and has 11 recalls.
Most common 2020 Ford F-150 problems
Transmission
357 complaints · 49%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly, axle hubs.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. Additionally, the vehicle was jerking and vibrating while attempting to accelerate with the "check manual" message displayed. The vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the ABS and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle started jerking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated while driving 4 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from…
Engine
138 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated. The contact stated that oil was released from the transmission cooler and the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact noticed a knocking sound. The…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a rattling sound coming from the engine compartment with the check engine warning light illuminated. After stopping to inspect the vehicle, the contact discovered that the engine oil was extremely low. The cause of the…
Electrical
88 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 3,500 miles. Parts named most often: alternator/generator/regulator, starter assembly, instrument cluster/panel.
Backup camera fails to work within days of truck purchase. Driver's side door lock does not engage with remote. Works only with key to access or lock. Estimated repair times given are weeks vs days. Unacceptable.
My truck is 5 months old and has been to the dealer 3 times to have the front camera fixed. They finally replaced the front camera and it still does not work. The truck has a front camera side cameras and a rear camera. Thousands of people have complained about different cameras not working and Ford just ignores it or…
Other or unspecified
86 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 6,000 miles.
Drove from new jersey to brooklyn, over the verrazzano parked and guess what... Tailgate was open with my tools exposed? Heading home nice driver in tunnel made me aware the tailgate was open. Finished driving through tunnel, pulled over to close tailgate for the third time on one day.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle loss motive power when the contact depressed on the accelerator pedal. The vehicle shuddered while decelerating. The contact veered to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle resumed normal…
Visibility and wipers
63 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 21,000 miles. Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly, glass, side/rear, defroster/defogger/hvac system, windshield.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the windshield wipers activated independently approximately every 30 seconds. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the wiper motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, rainwater leaked into the cabin of the vehicle from the sunroof assembly because the sunroof failed to properly close. The vehicle to taken to the local dealer who removed debris from the sunroof tracks. After retrieving the…
Driver assistance
28 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 4,000 miles. Parts named most often: warnings, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection.
While I was driving on friday, my 2020 F-150 stalled. An error message popped up on the instrument cluster saying "auto startstop shift to p then restart". I restarted and it happened again. I then waited 10 minutes and restarted and it has not happened since. I took it to bob thomas service in hamden, ct today and…
I was involved in an accident in my new Ford F-150 king ranch on the above date traveling on the henry hudson parkway (manhattan) southbound. My truck was struck in the rear passenger door by an unknown vehicle and caused US to spin out 2 times at 60 MPH and hit the center concrete divider almost directly head on. We…
Brakes
23 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: electrical.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked due to an unknown electrical door lock malfunction. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would inadvertently roll forward while stopped without input from the driver. The contact depressed the brake pedal to stop the…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the electronic parking brake erroneously activated causing the vehicle to abruptly decelerate. The contact stated that the parking brake message was displayed after the failure occurred. After stopping and restarting the…
Body and structure
22 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 8,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Purchased my f150 new and from the dealer and the frame was oil sprayed to prevent corrosion and rust before taking the vehicle home. Truck now sits just under 8,000mi and the rear axle and a good portion of fasteners are all rusty as if the truck is 15yrs old. The skid plate under the transfer case looks like it may…
Drove from new jersey to brooklyn, over the verrazzano parked and guess what... Tailgate was open with my tools exposed? Heading home nice driver in tunnel made me aware the tailgate was open. Finished driving through tunnel, pulled over to close tailgate for the third time on one day.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2020 Ford F-150 recalls
Lights: headlights
Risk: Daytime running lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: ,dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed july 17, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26c28. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on july 6, 2026.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 f-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20v097. When the headlight switch is turned from "autolamps" to "headlamps on," the daytime running lamps (drls) may remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment."
Backup camera: software
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 4, 2025. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25s72.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 transit connect, 2019-2020 mkz, mkx, edge, continental, f-150, nautilus, fusion, 2019-2023 ranger, mustang, 2020-2021 ecosport, expedition, navigator, 2020-2022 escape, f-250 sd, corsair, 2020-2023 aviator, transit, 2020-2024 explorer, 2021-2024 bronco sport, and 2022-2024 maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed december 19, 2024. Owners may call ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24c39.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 explorer, lincoln aviator, 2020-2024 escape, lincoln corsair, 2018-2024 f-150, expedition and lincoln navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement federal motor vehicle safety standard number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Visibility and wipers: linkages
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on may 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on october 21, 2022. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22s26.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 f-150, expedition, 2020-2022 super duty f-250, f-350, f-450, f-550, and 2020-2021 lincoln navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
Backup camera: camera
Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began november 17, 2020. Remedy became available on february 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on february 1, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20c19.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020 ford f-150, f-250, f-350, f-450, f-550, explorer, mustang, transit, expedition, escape, ranger and edge, and lincoln nautilus and corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 111, "rear visibility."
Electrical: starter assembly
Risk: Electrical arcing can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the starter motor b+ power supply attachment nut, free of charge. The recall began august 25, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20s40.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020 f-150 vehicles. An incorrect attachment nut may have been used to attach the battery positive (b+) power supply cable to the starter motor, possibly affecting the electrical conductivity, resulting in excess heat and electrical arcing.
Transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk: If the transmission selection does not match the indicated gear selection, and the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the shift cable locking clip installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began april 27, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20s18.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020 ranger and f-150 vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions and certain 2020 expedition vehicles equipped with a "police" package. The transmission shift cable lock clip may not be fully seated, allowing the transmission to actually be in a different gear than the gear shift position selected by the driver.
Lights: headlights
Risk: Drl that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began march 10, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20c03.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 f-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with autolamp (on/off) functionality. The daytime running lamps (drl) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the master lighting switch (mls) is manually rotated from the "autolamps" switch position to "headlamps on." as such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment."
Wheels and tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Risk: The damage can cause the tire to rapidly lose air pressure or detach from the wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spare tire, free of charge. The recall began january 13, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s55.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2020 f-150 trucks equipped with 17-inch spare tires. The spare tire could have been damaged when it was installed on the rim.
Electrical: cables
Risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/bms/pdb joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began november 25, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s40.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 f-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the power distribution box (pdb) 12v cable and battery monitoring system (bms) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and braking or steering assist. The engine could also stall.
Seats: mid/rear assembly
Risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and ford and lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began october 21, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19c07.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 f-150 and 2019-2020 f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 super duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 ford explorer, 2019-2020 expedition, and 2020 escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 ford explorer and lincoln aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) numbers 202, "head restraints" and 207, "seating systems."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance
Summary
On september 23, 2020, ford motor company (ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 cfr part 573 (NHTSA recall no. 20v-575), recalling 620,246 model year (my) 2020 ford f-150, f-250, f-350, f-450, f-550, explorer, mustang, transit, expedition, escape, ranger and edge, and lincoln nautilus and corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 111, rear visibility. Ford's recall described the noncompliance as insufficient electrical conductivity within the printed circuit board (pcb) internal to the camera leading to intermittent rearview camera operation. The supplier of the cameras was magna electronics.according to ford's chronology in the par
Questions about the 2020 Ford F-150
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Ford F-150?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (357 complaints, typically around 59,000 miles); engine (138 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles); electrical (88 complaints, typically around 3,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2020 Ford F-150 have?
- 11 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 9, 2026 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2020 a bad year for the Ford F-150?
- It is 17th of 27 F-150 model years by number of complaints, with 736 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.