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2020 Ford F-150 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
62% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Ford F-150 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 83% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 330 of 550 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford F-150 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (62%), and the largest group is filed under power train (238). For comparison, the 2019 scores 76% and the 2021 scores 50%. 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 F-150 years
Of the 14 Ford F-150 years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (62%). The worst is the 2019 (76%), the best the 2015 (34%). By volume, the 2020 drew 550 complaints (330 drivetrain), against 1,005 for the 2019 and 1,277 for the 2021.
Ford F-150 years to avoid and best years →
2010 F-150 problems · 2011 F-150 problems · 2012 F-150 problems · 2013 F-150 problems · 2014 F-150 problems · 2015 F-150 problems · 2016 F-150 problems · 2017 F-150 problems · 2018 F-150 problems · 2019 F-150 problems · 2020 · 2021 F-150 problems · 2022 F-150 problems · 2023 F-150 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Ford F-150
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Ford F-150 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 330 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Ford F-150 transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Ford F-150 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 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 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…
10 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 F-150? 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.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2020 Ford F-150
Does the 2020 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 330 of 550 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford F-150 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (62%). 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 F-150?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Ford F-150 is power train: 238 of 550 complaints (43%) name it, followed by engine (102) and electrical system (69). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2020 Ford F-150 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 62% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 83% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford F-150 years we score, it ranks 4th-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 F-150?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Ford F-150 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 in total: 20V197000 (power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford F-150 years are better?
Among the Ford F-150 years we track, the 2010 (34%), the 2015 (34%) and the 2014 (39%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (62%). 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-f-150
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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 6 body styles NHTSA files separately.