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
Drivers Side Wiper Blade Arm has detached and flew off during use in a rainstorm. I was able to retrieve the wiper blade arm from the road. There is nothing holding it tight on the round silver cylinder it seats on to. I am able to lift the arm straight off the round cylinder it should be locking to. This is not safe and will happen again. I have seen other year F150 recalled for this issue. Is my 2020 F150 going to be included.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument cluster failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the instrument cluster displayed a black screen. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed instrument cluster. The contact was informed that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the dealer had replaced the original instrument cluster two years prior to the failure. The contact stated that the repair was covered under warranty. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
The truck has the 10 speed automatic transmission that doesn’t shift correctly it sticks in a gear to a high rpm then shifts really hard
Rear window cracked along entire length, and shattered. Heated defrost for rear window was activated prior to parking vehicle. Shattered window noticed two hour later when returning to vehicle. Police report filed 3/5/23.
Drivers side door does not unlock in cold temperatures (physical key, fob button, keypad, and handle lock do not work).To unlock I have to enter through the passenger side door and use the interior handle. Seems to be an ongoing issue and there are "recalls/TSB" for the same issue happening on 2015-2019, 2021-22 models but not 2020. "The major frozen door latch recalls (such as 17S33) officially covered 2015-2019 F-150s and other Super Duty trucks." Reddit forums are full of others complaining of the same issues. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Driver side door handle. Yes How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Must enter through the passenger side door to unlock the vehicle. In an emergency I would not be able to enter my vehicle quickly. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after changing the oil after 5,000 miles, the vehicle had three quarts of oil remaining out of the eight quarts added. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 44,681.
While driving my 2020 Ford F150 a few days ago I was stopping for a red light. After stopping the truck completely powered off and gave a warning alert on the dash that stated " Auto Start Stop Shift to P, then Restart Engine. During this time the red battery light was also on and the Auto Start Stop light that normally light green when active or gray when inactive was yellow and flashing. I have since taken the truck to my local dealer who cant seem to find a issue. I have however done my own research online and have been seeing that this seems to be a well known issue with Ford brand.
The sunroof will leak through both the rear passanger seatbelt assembly which could damage the integrity of the seatbelt and/or seatbelt mount. Additionally, water will come out of the microphone/sunroof controls above the driver, which can cause the driver to become distracted and/or momentarily visually impaired. There are multiple posts in forums about this issue and I think it should be addressed by the NHTSA.
Underbody shield came down and had to be replaced. It’s a black piece under truck that would have fallen off truck and could have blown up at another car. The truck has only 28263 miles on it and it should not be coming apart . I was told it is to protect the motor so I had a new one put on but the Dealership said it gets wet and there is cardboard that get heavy and makes it fall down and potentially fall off and litter the roads. I can’t believe this part has been put on the trucks and is ok.. VERY DANGEROUS WITH IT FALLING OFF TRUCKS DUE TO WET weather..
The Blindspot system, cross tragic system, airbags, and climate control all were disabled intermittently. Climate control disabled allowed my windows to fog up impairing visibility which posed immediate danger of collisions. I read an online forum and found that my tail light had water in it which created a short to all those systems.
We had a lady turn In front od us and we ran into her. Front-end of truck damaged and pushed back towards doors. No airbags deployed, no collision assist warning went off.
Ten Speed transmission shifts very roughly and often has a loud cluck accompanied by vibration when shifting in the mid-range gears. Also will "lurch" when shifting gears under light acceleration
While driving home on Monday, January 23, 2023 I attempted to use my wipers to clean my windshield and the driver’s side windshield wiper flew off to the side of the windshield and wouldn’t go back down. The wiper fluid that was on the windshield obstructed my view for a few moments. A few minutes later when I arrived home, a friend of mine helped me put it back in place and noted the little silver “key” wasn’t fitting properly. I had received a recall notice last year but was never notified that any parts were available or when to bring my vehicle in. If this incident had occurred during a storm it could have been extremely dangerous.
Ford 10 Speed Transmission Problems Rough Shifting, sluggish gear changes, shifted gears randomly, and into neutral. Its a safety concern especially on freeways and highways.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V250000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The contact stated that the part has been ordered and now they must wait for it to be delivered and installed.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was a clunking sound present when shifting out of park. The vehicle had also experienced hard shifting when shifting from third through fifth gear, and seventh to eighth gear. The vehicle also experienced a loss of torque while driving at slower speeds. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 30,000.
The vehicle has an automated 10 speed transmission that hesitates, bangs, and, at times, jerks as it is shifting. On Jan 2, 2023, the vehicle paused in an intersection as if it shifted into neutral. While intermittent, the hesitation and bangs are more frequently noticeable while shifting occurs from 7th to 8th gear. I have also noticed hesitation and banging when the vehicle shifts from 4th to 3rd gear, but not as often as 7th to 8th. There have been no indicator lights or messages from the dashboard display indicating a problem. There are several articles, and some class actions suits regarding the same issues with respect to Ford's 10-speed transmission. My vehicle has not been recalled for this issue. I have called the dealership on Jan 4, 2023 to make arrangements for them to analyze the issue.
When the vehicle is cold, and the transmission has not yet warmed up, putting the truck into gear results in a significant jerk. Specifically: Initial Gear Engagement (Drive/Reverse): When shifting into either drive or reverse from park, especially when the engine is cold, there is a noticeable delay before the gear engages. This delay is followed by a harsh "jerk" or "thud" as the gear finally engages. Reverse to Drive Transition: When shifting from reverse to drive, a similar delay and jerk occurs before drive engages. Hard Shifting: In addition to the initial engagement issues, the transmission exhibits delayed and harsh shifting for several minutes when cold. Shifting is not smooth and seems delayed then shifts very hard and aggressively when driving during the warm up period. Clunking Noises: While driving, I intermittently hear clunking noises when the transmission shifts gears. This occurs at [ Mention the specific times or driving scenarios when you observe this - e.g., "low speeds," "during upshifts/downshifts," "when accelerating," etc. ]. These problems are most pronounced when the engine and transmission are cold and seem to gradually improve (though not completely disappear) as the vehicle warms up. I am concerned that these symptoms indicate a serious problem with the transmission. I have asked a Ford Dealer to look at this and they state that there is NO RECALL for my VIN #. They have always appeared since I purchased this truck.
Transmission failure. This truck has been at the local dealership since December 30, 2022 and had 3 transmissions installed. These are the 10 speed transmissions. The truck was shifting hard, accelerating on its own and sometimes had no power then started leaking transmission fluid to the amount of blowing white smoke from the rear of the vehicle. They have replaced the transmission, torque converter, and pump. The latest attempt to fix it is to replace the transmission cooler. Unknown at this time if that repair will resolve the issues.
2020 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE OR TO BE RELEASED FROM THE VEHICLE CONTRACT.
Forward collision warning (pre collision assist not available) message comes on while driving with no vehicles in front, driving under normal conditions. Cross traffic system rear - Not detecting vehicles, intermittent. Reported to dealer, no faults or issues were found. Since being at the dealer, the 2 issues continue intermittently. We have the "Ford Pass" app which records any/all alerts, I cannot download them at this time.
Wiper recall however these totally quit working. Ford wont give a vehicle to drive. Vehicle is in my name and for son who reside in Colorado stationed at FE Warren Base in military. They said sorry we cant do anything at all Fords called even main ford line. He can't see out of windshield with current weather conditions. He will be AWOL if I don't go to base or field when this is his only transportation which is half his military income a month. Only way they said they would help was for him to pay $60 a day for rental and they will reimburse when truck gets fixed which parts won't be available for weeks or months. How does a military 21 year old afford $60 a day. I guess if he get killed they won't care either.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 15-20 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine was knocking, and the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal until the vehicle responded. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown software needed to be updated and the failure was related to an unknown Ford Technical Service Bulletin Number. The unknown software update was completed at the contact's expense. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 79,600.
Rear middle sliding window shattered/blew out while driving less than 15 mph and braking at a stop light. No injuries as thankful my child was not in the car seat or with me at the time. Sounded like a gun shot.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the air bag cover on the steering wheel was cracked. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the cover was replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the failure recurred approximately 6-8 months later and was awaiting the repair part to be delivered to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised that the repair was covered under warranty. The failure mileage was unknown.
I was driving and the engine cutoff auto start stop message popped up had to stop and put the truck in park then turn the key to restart engine.
The 10-speed automatic transmission started to hard downshift into 3rd gear causing the truck to lunge forward, and then shutter in 7th gear causing the truck to slow down while driving without warning. That progressed to lunging forward while the truck was being started, and then finally began to shift from 10th to 1st gear without warning while driving both at typical street speeds and also highway speeds. Until this week, while driving on the highway the transmission went into neutral and would no longer engage. This is after a dealer reprogrammed to the computer and an "overhaul" of several components in the transmission. My safety was really put at risk when the transmission would shift from 10th to 1st randomly, and when the transmission stopped working completely while I was driving on the highway. The problem was reproduced while driving with the dealer shop foreman, and he confirmed with the service advisor that all gear and gear shifting was messed up and the transmission needed immediate repair. No dealers within a 40mile radius (South Houston) were available to perform the work, and I was advised to keep driving the truck until an appointment was available in several weeks. No warnings were present until the transmission finally stopped working. All previous paperwork for repairs completed to date are in the truck, which is currently being repaired again. When I get the truck back I can upload repair documents.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission experienced hard shifting and fluttering while shifting from 3rd to 4th gear. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 130,000.
The headlights on this model are not effective enough to see safely at night. I have trouble seeing pedestrians and wildlife. I have adjusted the headlights and seen several complaints online about this same issue. I spoke with a dealership about it and they stated it’s a common complaint they get as well, and they offered to upgrade my headlights to an LED model for roughly $2,000. In todays time, a brand new truck should have quality lighting. They are the dimmest lights I’ve had on any vehicle I’ve ever operated.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F150. The contact stated while parking he noticed smoke coming from the front to the vehicle, when the contact checked under the vehicle, he noticed that the plastic cover under the engine was detached and had leaves on it where the smoke was coming from due to it being nearby the exhaust pipe. The contact was able to stop the smoke by pouring water onto the leaves. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact sent pictures to the dealer however they have yet to communicate. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 34,590.
Windshield wiper motors failed during a rain storm. Vehicle has only 10k miles on it, wiper motors were set to medium, went up half way, motor made a grinding noise, then wipers stopped moving in either direction. I am able to push them down manually, and the motor can raise them to about 25% then it begins to grind and they stop advancing again. This stinks an awful lot like the recall on 2021 F-150s for bad wiper motors. I suspect the recall campaign needs to be MUCH larger and include 2020 F-150s as well. This was incredibly dangerous and could have caused a serious accident. I had no front visibility during the storm.
At 20,000 mile my 2020 f150 has a horrific freaking noise coming from the passenger side lower control arm. It was aligned at ford dealership 10,000 miles ago. I did check the nut and bolt to confirm they were tight. It is obvious via witness marks that the bolt is moving and removing the frame powder coating. This noise is ridiculous and I’m concerned it causing further damage.
My Tailgate randomly opens while driving down the road. Several times, tools have slid out the back of the truck bed. This is a hazard to the trailing vehicles and costs me money in losses. Ford has a recall, but people are still experiencing the same issue. Ford will do nothing to guarantee the tailgate is fixed.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated independently. The contact parked on the side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the low oil pressure warning light disappeared; however, the check engine warning light then became illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the dipstick to be replaced, and an oil and filter service performed. The contact was also informed that the powertrain control module (PCM) needed to be updated for proper engine control performance. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing an oil pressure sensor to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer for the third time, where it was diagnosed with needing the instrument cluster to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but did not fix the failure. The dealer informed the contact that the instrument panel cluster (IPC) solenoid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,100.
Brake fluid leaks. Stopping has become difficult
My check engine light came on. Vehicle would not operate. Checked oil and it was down over 5 quarts of oil but I still had 2,000 miles until oil change was needed. Took to Hiller Ford with excessive oil consumption complaint. New oil dipstick, oil plug, oil change, and reprogrammed PCM. Returned at later date with same issue. Was told to monitor oil levels and sent on my way. Returned to Hiller at a later date with even faster consumption than earlier visits. Was told I had to pay for oil change and come back in 2,000 miles. At 1,000 miles engine sounded rough so I returned to Hiller Ford who agreed the oil was low. They topped off oil abs told me to come back in another 1,000 miles. 500 miles later I checked oil and barely appeared on the dipstick. I returned to Hiller Ford who agreed my truck was consuming oil faster than it should per Ford specs. Hiller kept my vehicle and ran compression test and then scoped my motor to observe damages. Hiller said that I needed a new motor and it falls under warranty and has been approved by Ford. They then followed up with the new motor would not be available for 18 months. I was told that no rental reimbursement allowance and that I'd have to operate my non conformity vehicle for 18 months. Operating this vehicle is unsafe and is prone to cause damage to other components of the vehicle. Engine could over heat causing its to seize or even start on fire. The increased emissions are not only bad for the environment but would decrease fuel efficiency and be very costly having to add a quart of oil every 500 miles.
Wiper motor is non operational. It has been verified by dealer part is non operational. Non operational wipers put myself and others at risk if there would be visual obscurities that would need to be removed during vehicle operation. The only sign was a loud grinding noise for a few wipes prior to operation ceasing.
While approaching an intersection at approximately 40 mph, I attempted to stop my truck for a red stop light. Without warning, my brake pedal went to the floor and my truck did not slow down. Thankfully there was no one in front of me and there was no cross traffic as I rolled through the intersection. As I began to analyze the situation, I started repeatedly pumping my brakes but the pedal kept going to the floor and my truck was not slowing. Thankfully it was an open roadway and I was eventually able to put the truck in neutral and coast to a near stop, at which time I realized that I did have minor braking ability, but only at approximately 10 mph or less. Any faster than that and the pedal would go to the floor. Once stopped in a parking lot, I exited my truck and noticed a large amount of brake fluid beneath it. I immediately called for a tow truck and they towed it to my local dealer. They confirmed that the master cylinder had failed, which also caused the brake booster to fail, resulting in the loss of brake fluid and brake pressure. I should note that while repairing the previously mentioned parts, they also found a hole in the left front brake line, which they also replaced. It is not known if the issues are related. I should also note that in my attached photos, the fluid leaks photos were taken in 2 separate locations because employees of the store requested I moved my truck after I initially stopped.
The computer system would set off all the alarms and shut down truck. Yes i think it can be inspected. My safety was at risk when truck would shut down traveling down the road at highway speeds and losing power brakes, power steering overall control, and this would happen when raining and wet slushy conditions on the road way. Yes No not to my knowledge. Yes all the alarms would go off and a second later vehicle would shut down. It was always during wet conditions, sometimes alarms would all go off and truck would stay running i would pull over to side of road and alarms would go away i believe after drying out?
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the transmission shifted into gear, and the vehicle made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the transmission was slipping while driving. The transmission later failed to shift into gear, and the engine revved loudly. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was then taken to BZ Ford (309 US-6, Ligonier, IN 46767), where the PCM was reprogrammed and the drive cycle was completed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to BZ Ford, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after the horn button was pressed, a crack appeared on the steering wheel. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver's side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
Transmission makes high whining / high pitch noise when accelerating at low speed from 3rd gear all the way to 8th gear (10 speed transmission). It occurs when at low RPM but has also occured when at higher RPM. During this high pitch noise, you can hear from 150ft away and is to the point where if it is constantly happening, windows cannot be down due to piercing noise. Noise can also be heard loud and clear through cab of truck when windows are up. I have real concern this could cause issues down the road on the transmissions longevity and durability. Tis nosie occurs from roughly 15MPH to 55MPH
I purchased my 2020 f150 5.0 4x4 in July 2022, I noticed the transmission having a slight change in shifting that that car salesman reassured me that it’s common with this year and model I took his word for it. Since than the truck and the shifting has gotten gradually worse from shifting to drive and into reverse the truck has slammed into gear on 3 occasions, up shift rough as well as down shift. My 2004 f150 has smoother gears and shifted with ease. I’ve contacted Omeara Ford of Thornton,Co where I purchased the truck from and there saying that they would need to get the truck into do a diagnostic and that their 3 months out. This doesn’t sit with me well as I’ve purchased the power train warranty and service contract and now if my truck brakes down I’m responsible?! I need to feel that my 50k truck is going to last and do what I need to do in order to make a living for myself and my family these 10 speed transmission need to be replaced in all the f150 newer models I am looking into the class action lawsuit
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the rear windshield shattered and detached after her husband closed the driver's side front door. There was no impact on the rear windshield that could have caused it to shatter. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was waiting for the rear windshield replacement part to be installed on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,000.
Intermitent hard shifting
On 8/26/22 I smelled gas after parking 2020 F150 with ~ 33,000 miles. I had filled the tank the previous day ( <20 miles driven since that time). I was in a marina parking lot at that point and dismissed the smell as perhaps someone spilling some fuel from a portable gas tank. Upon arriving home I again smelled a strong odor of gas and noted my fuel gauge registered 3/4 of a tank ( despite driving < 30 miles since refueling). A very brisk gas leak was evident under pressure from a fuel hose fitting. The high pressure stream abated with turning off the engine ( but a slow fuel leak was still notable.) The vehicle was towed to Ravenel Ford in Ravenel, S.C. awaiting inspection/parts. No warning lights. I did note the engine hesitated to start (which it never had done prior) before driving back home from the marina. I do not off-road with the truck and have not scraped any obstacles with the truck.
2020 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SHIFTED HARD WITH A BANG AND JERK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission hesitated and made an abnormal clunking sound. In addition, the rear of the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times due to the failure. The contact stated that the transmission was rebuilt in 2023. In addition, the contact stated that the PCM was reprogrammed in 2022. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that there was abnormal engine noise intermittently detected. While releasing the accelerator pedal, the noise seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure but provided fuel treatment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Boulevard Ford Lincoln, of 18443 Coastal Hwy, Lewes, DE 19958 who was unable to duplicate the noise. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. While pulling a trailer, the abnormal noise persisted. The manufacturer was contacted and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 23,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle jerked abnormally and failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked while shifting gears. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that a master reset for the transmission needed to be completed. The vehicle had been repaired by resetting the transmission. The failure persisted and the vehicle was returned to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The transmission needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been made aware of the failure and opened a complaint for the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 18,000.