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2020 Ford Expedition problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
75% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Ford Expedition are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 40 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 68%).
Does the 2020 Ford Expedition have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 286 of 379 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Expedition concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (75%), and the largest group is filed under power train (262). For comparison, the 2019 scores 80% and the 2021 scores 71%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2020 compares with other Ford Expedition years
Of the 14 Ford Expedition years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (75%). The worst is the 2019 (80%), the best the 2022 (25%). By volume, the 2020 drew 419 complaints (286 drivetrain), against 504 for the 2019 and 235 for the 2021.
Ford Expedition years to avoid and best years →
2010 Expedition problems · 2011 Expedition problems · 2012 Expedition problems · 2013 Expedition problems · 2014 Expedition problems · 2015 Expedition problems · 2016 Expedition problems · 2017 Expedition problems · 2018 Expedition problems · 2019 Expedition problems · 2020 · 2021 Expedition problems · 2022 Expedition problems · 2023 Expedition problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Ford Expedition
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Ford Expedition said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 286 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Ford Expedition engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2020 Ford Expedition involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 18 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. A short circuit within the battery junction box can cause an engine fire while driving or parked.
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground…
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.
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…
15 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Ford Expedition? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2020 Ford Expedition have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 286 of 379 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Expedition concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (75%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Ford Expedition?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Ford Expedition is power train: 262 of 419 complaints (63%) name it, followed by engine (51) and seat belts (39). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2020 Ford Expedition reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 75% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford Expedition years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Ford Expedition?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2020 Ford Expedition involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 18 in total: 26V402000 (power train: automatic transmission), 25V628000 (engine), 20V197000 (power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford Expedition years are better?
Among the Ford Expedition years we track, the 2022 (25%), the 2023 (27%) and the 2017 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (75%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-expedition
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.