NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford F-150. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
While driving my 2020 Ford F-150 on the highway, the transmission suddenly failed, causing loss of normal drivability and creating an immediate safety concern due to reduced vehicle control at highway speeds. The failure involved the transmission system, which I later learned may be related to Ford’s recall notice stating that the installed remanufactured transmission may be missing an internal bearing. Prior to the complete failure, the vehicle exhibited symptoms consistent with the recall, including harsh shifting, shuddering, and vibration. These symptoms escalated until the transmission malfunctioned to the point the vehicle was no longer safely operable, requiring me to tow the truck to Rocklin Transmission. The transmission was replaced out of pocket by that independent service center, and the failed component should be available for inspection upon request through that facility. The malfunction created a serious safety risk because the transmission could become stuck in certain gears, illuminate the check engine light, or potentially fail to properly engage Park, all of which increase the risk of a crash or injury. The issue was confirmed by the independent repair facility when diagnosing and replacing the transmission. The vehicle has not been inspected by Ford or other representatives prior to the repair because the failure required immediate corrective action to restore safe vehicle operation.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image display was blue. A message advising to contact the dealer was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the infotainment system was reset; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was related to the wiring system. The dealer inspected the tailgate wiring and informed the contact that no issues were found. The dealer informed the contact that additional diagnostic tests were needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V575000 (Visibility, Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 79,900.
the transmission for this truck has on several occasions shifted very hard when accelerating, and on a couple occasions has down shifted without warning and without reason. the down shifting incidents were unexpected and could have caused an accident if I was in traffic.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the front driver’s side air bag cover was cracked along the seem of the steering wheel. The contact stated that the horn was honked, and the front driver’s side air bag cover fractured. No warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the costs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Truck would downshift so hard it would squeak tires. Took to dealer they replaced transmission saying the drum comes loose inside and oil passages do not line up. This year should be part of your investigation
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed up an incline, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle lost motive power and jerked while the transmission was shifting gear. The contact stated that the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence while driving up an incline. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 40,000.
The contact owned a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle burst into flames. The contact stated that the vehicle had been parked for six hours. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The contact stated that the vehicle burned down to the frame in less than five minutes. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact stated that the insurance declared the vehicle total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
While driving the 4x4 feature wants to partial engage causing a grinding noise in front axle and when you let off accelerator it slows the speed quickly. At times only way to get it to quit is to stop and back up to make it stop. The problem is caused by loss of vaccum. This causes damage to the front brake rotors and drums and is a intermerminate problem and has been in shop before and reported numerous times.
Rear window exploded, photos available. Possibly safety issue if adults or small children were in the back seat. Unknown. Has been inspected by auto glass repair shop. No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure.
On several very recent occasions, the above listed 2020 F150 has randomly shifted down to 1st gear from 10th while on the highway resulting in sudden loss of power and extremely high RPM. Had this occurred in heavier traffic, there is a likely chance this could have resulted in a serious accident because of the speeds involved. The symptoms experienced in this 2020 F150 do seem similar to the recent recall of some 2014 F150s experiencing similar events
I took my truck, a 2020 Ford F150 (manufactured 11/19) to the Ford dealership to fix my AC (apparently a failed compressor) and to look at what could be causing a loud screeching noise from underneath the vehicle which began randomly happening a few months back. The truck had also started to lag when changing gears accompanied by a loud clunking sound. This was especially a concern when merging into traffic since the speed wasn't picking up normally. The dealership said I need a new transmission $8000 and a new AC compressor $1800. FOR A 4 YEAR OLD TRUCK!!!!??? I follow all upkeep such as oil changes and tire rotations.
Have the 10 speed transmission and it’s shifting hard and sometimes doesn’t shift till rpm’s hit 4,000 then hit shifts hard like hitting a deep pothole it’s had the transmission relearned but it still does it
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact became aware of a failure with the transmission. The contact stated that the gear shifter would remain in neutral(N). There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after parking on an incline with the engine running, the contact exited the vehicle and moments later the vehicle reversed and crossed a busy road before driving into ditch. The contact stated that during the failure the vehicle nearly collided with a second vehicle while crossing the road. Prior to the failure, the vehicle experienced electrical failures causing the check engine, ABS, Hill Descent and Traction Control warning lights to intermittently flash on and off. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 159,283.
My 2020 Ford F-150 truck was recently serviced with PepBoys when my ABS light came on and another message on the dash that said my brake system has a malfunction along with messages in my FordPass app. It was evening when this happened I immediately took it to PepBoys early the next morning. They took a look at it they thought it was a sensor for the brake area it was not taking so they tried again and it once again still said the same problem. They took a deeper look and checked all tires and came across the rear left side tire upon removing it they were shocked to see that the axel was riding only on the caliber, the lock that is supposed to be on the axel was there but just dangling it wasn’t properly on where it should have been. They let me know it’s something rare they don’t come across it was their first time and definitely could have been a safety issue and could have put my family and myself and other pedestrians around if my axel would have fallen off on the highway or anywhere. I was very concerned and do not feel my truck was put together properly. It’s only a 2020 and it’s my family vehicle it does not get driven heavy at all just for pleasure my axel should not be holding on by a string. People should feel confident in driving their vehicles. I have only had this truck for a year and a half it was bought at Shamaley Ford. I did report this incident to them but they don’t seem to care. I hope this will help anyone else having issues as I believe it could have been a major safely issue.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that immediately after starting the vehicle, the rear window exploded and shattered. During the failure the defroster was activated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 42,000. The VIN was not available.
The forward collision warning system has malfunctioned. Every time the engine is started the forward collision warning system comes on and says the system is not working and you must press the ok button twice to clear message.
Lara IPMA Computer Failure. Alert notice appeared on my truck display alon with an audible alarm indicating Front Camera Malfunction, Pre Collision Assist was Not Available. I contacted my Ford dealer(Columbia TN Ford). To schedule repairs. They had to replace the IPMA Computer to fix the system. The cost of repairs ($2107.91) was not covered by the Vehicle Warranty because of date. The truck has only 31606 miles on it. They service tech indicated the they have replaced many of these computers. I want to know how many of these SAFETY items must be replaced before the NHTSA takes action to effect a recall?
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the transmission hesitated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the transmission had shifted into neutral independently. The check transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 68,500.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle was shaking, and the engine was making grinding sounds. The check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N03 (Cam Phaser Replacement); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
I have a 2020 ford f150 xl 5.0 coyote engine, this engine is consuming an excessive amount of oil, is burning so much oil that on february 3, oil was change and on june 4 at a ford dealer the engine had only 4 quarts of oil. so, in just 3 months it burned 5 quarts.
DRIVER'S DOOR WON'T LOCK ANYMORE. IF YOU PUSH THE BOTTON DOWN TO LOCK YOUR TRUCK AND TRY TO UNLOCK WITH KEYFOB; THE PANIC SYSTEM GOES OFF. NO ACCIDENTS ON THIS TRUCK. JUST STOPPED WORKING. WHEN YOU ACCELERATE AND ALL OF YOUR LOCKS ARE SUPPOSED TO LOCK AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE JUST MAKES A NOISE AND DOES NOT LOCK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly shifted from first to fourth gear, then back to first then to seventh gear, and back to fourth gear. The contact stated that while driving downhill and attempting to shift between gears, the contact had to shift between gears slowly and carefully or the transmission would shift independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall; however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,970.
The 10 R 80 transmission is unstable and can cause the driver to downshift to make up for a shutter in drive train. Ford calls it normal operation. Secondly, the adaptive cruise control shuts off in traffic. At times unknown to the driver. Very unsafe.
Back up camera does not display item location for contact area. Related to APIM malfunction. Gps and radio controls also not working due to bad APIM
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated while reversing, the failure recurred, and the rear end of the vehicle responded forcefully. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving and while reversing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall pertaining to the rear axle hub bolt being fractured. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
10R80 Transmission issues with Ford F150. Many Ford customers in different US states have been experiencing the same transmission issues without Ford fixing them. My Ford truck has been experiencing rough, jerky gear changes and hesitation with acceleration over the past 4 years. The vehicle feels like it is sticking or slipping when the the transmission shifts. The truck has been taken into the Ford dealership for multiple inspections with the transmission. The transmission has been completely overhauled and Ford service advisories have been completed. Ford has not been able to resolve the transmission issue involving vehicles with 10R80 10 speed transmissions since 2017. The latest incident was an attempt to accelerate out of the way of an oncoming car from behind on the highway. The vehicle experienced a heavy jerk when accelerating to get out of the way.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission shifted independently, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V197000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 94,200.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the local dealer for routine maintenance and tire rotation, the mechanic discovered that the lug nuts on all four wheels had swollen and could not be removed from the wheel studs. The contact was informed that the lug nuts needed to be removed from the wheel studs and replaced. The lug nuts were removed and replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 28,000.
On or about April 2024, the "check engine" light came on in my 2020 Ford F-150. My vehicle was just becoming due for re-registration. I had the code for the check engine light checked at my parts dealer and double checked at the maintenance facility I was having services done. The check engine code was for the catalytic converter. I had the catalytic converter and O2 sensors replaced at my service provider, the check engine light was extinguished and the codes had been removed, the vehicle emissions no longer reported on the service/inspection station and the vehicle passed the emissions/safety check for re-registration. In less than one month, the check engine light came on again, with the exact same codes that identify the catalytic converter failing. Both the parts dealer and the service provider tell me that it's impossible. Further checking by the service provider with Ford motor Company service center have told my service provider that my vehicle needs to have the onboard computer system erased and re-installed at my cost because only Ford has the program to do it at their service centers exclusively. This problem seems to be appearing with other Ford vehicles of the same year and engine size. I personally stood in line behind another man who was reporting a problem with his vehicle with the check engine light. Jokingly, I made the comment, "It must be a Ford" and he turned around and asked me "How did you know?" His vehicle is a 2020 Ford van that was parked outside next to my truck. It also has a 5.0 liter V8. Currently, I am awaiting an appointment at either Casa Ford or Visa Ford, the earliest opportunity for them to reprogram the onboard computer system.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power and failed to accelerate as needed. The contact stated that after stopping the vehicle, the vehicle inadvertently shifted from first to fourth gear. There was a delay in the vehicle shifting. The power train icon was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to power train fault code: P07F7. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 139,500.
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 manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle was decelerating, and the message "See Owner’s Manual" was displayed. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the Owner's Manual stated, "Immediately Stop Driving Vehicle – See Dealer". The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
On the highway while trying to pass traffic, my transmission made a loud slamming sound that hit hard. The traction control light came on, the engine reved high and the transmission could not find a gear. I put hazards on and the transmission finally found a gear. I got it off the highway as quick as possible. Transmission fluid was leaking. I had the truck towed to the dealership. There was traffic all around me.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly stalled but was able to be restarted after approximately 13 minutes. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while the vehicle was in reverse(R), the back over prevention camera displayed a fuzzy, distorted image, which caused a visibility hazard for the driver. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where three different error codes showed a defect with the backup camera. The contact was then informed by the dealer that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V575000 (Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 46,000.
The APIM failed when the vehicle had less than 25,000 miles on it. It was paid for by an extended vehicle warranty, instead of being paid by Ford for bad equipment. It is now back in the shop and they want to charge almost $400 to provide a software update to the equipment that was just replaced. I had the same issue on a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. APIM had to be replaced, my extended warranty was used to replace it, and now it needs an update to work properly. Please require dealerships to enter these issues, not vehicle owners.
Bought a truck brand new it's a 2020 and with 63000 miles on and transmission is doing hard shifting I have kids that ride in that truck don't know what could happen to us or other people on road if Ford keeps having problems.it is at a Ford dealership right now.i have looked up issues and everyone say within the years 2020 and before that they knew it was a defective transmission and now I'm stuck with prolly over a $5000 bill to fix truck. No warning lights or nothing.
I took my truck in because of a check engine light and an occasional strange noise. They ran an EEC test and the code was P0390. My F150 was 5 quarts of oil low, even though it has been changed within a few thousand miles. The dealer's garage said they did a PCM update and added the oil. Discussing this with Ford's Customer Relations Rep they suggested I start a file with you, in case there is ever a recall. There is a bulletin related to my issue; #19-2365
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. On another occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with oil pump failure and metal shavings in the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the transmission failed, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. Additionally, there was white smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who determined that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 46,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed during a rainstorm, he became aware that the sunroof was leaking, which could potentially lead to damages on the interior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the molding around the sunroof glass. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 42,000.
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 vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who retrieved DTC: P2703. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,100.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 75 MPH, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. The contact stated that the power steering and traction system warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with an internal steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was not provided.
I’m trying to get a printout of the recalls for my vehicle.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, he observed a loud noise emanating from the passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle swerved violently to the right almost driving off a cliff. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front coil spring on the passenger’s side strut had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 59,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine maintenance, the contact was informed that the lug nuts on the vehicle were frozen. The contact was informed that the base was swollen, preventing the lug wrench from being able to remove the lug nuts. The contact stated that the failure resulted in the lug nuts being stripped and aftermarket lug nuts were purchased. The contact stated that the dealer confirmed that the failure was ongoing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 57,023.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and going uphill, the parking brake engaged inadvertently, causing the contact to sustain injuries to the chest, shoulder, and face. The contact stated that during the failure, the seat belt failed to function as designed and the contact struck the windshield. The contact received medical attention at the emergency room. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Right door lock actuator/latch not able to lock or unlock. Similar to current recall for f150 raptors same generation model but 1-4 years older.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the transmission malfunctioned, and the shifter display failed to indicate the proper gear while coming to a stop. Additionally, while attempting to accelerate from a stop light, the transmission was in fifth gear and vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission CDF drum was faulty and informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 116,000.