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2020 Ford F-250 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
46% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Ford F-250 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 Ford F-250 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 116 of 263 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%), and the largest group is filed under power train (74). For comparison, the 2019 scores 8% and the 2021 scores 29%. 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-250 years
Of the 14 Ford F-250 years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the worst on engine and transmission share (46%). The best is the 2019 (8%). By volume, the 2020 drew 263 complaints (116 drivetrain), against 1,158 for the 2019 and 165 for the 2021.
Ford F-250 years to avoid and best years →
2010 F-250 problems · 2011 F-250 problems · 2012 F-250 problems · 2013 F-250 problems · 2014 F-250 problems · 2015 F-250 problems · 2016 F-250 problems · 2017 F-250 problems · 2018 F-250 problems · 2019 F-250 problems · 2020 · 2021 F-250 problems · 2022 F-250 problems · 2023 F-250 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Ford F-250
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Ford F-250 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 116 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-250 engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Ford F-250, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.
1 other recall 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-250? 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 F-250 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 116 of 263 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%). 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-250?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Ford F-250 is power train: 74 of 263 complaints (28%) name it, followed by steering (45) and fuel system (36). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2020 Ford F-250 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 46% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford F-250 years we score, it ranks 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-250?
No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Ford F-250, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Ford F-250 years are better?
Among the Ford F-250 years we track, the 2017 (8%), the 2019 (8%) and the 2018 (10%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (46%). 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-250
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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 4 body styles NHTSA files separately.