2020 Ford F-150 Complaints

POWER TRAIN — Filed 10/05/2026

I am writing to formally report a severe and dangerous safety defect regarding the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission in my 2020 Ford F-150. While driving, the vehicle routinely experiences a complete "neutral-out" or severe shift flare when attempting to transition out of 1st gear. Instead of engaging 2nd or 3rd gear, the transmission completely drops out of gear into a false neutral. During this failure, the vehicle experiences an immediate and total loss of forward propulsion for several seconds while the engine revs freely. After a dangerous delay, the transmission violently slams back into gear. This is an acute safety hazard. Losing all forward acceleration unexpectedly—specifically when pulling out from a complete stop, navigating intersections, or merging into fast-moving traffic—leaves the vehicle stranded and completely defenseless against oncoming traffic. It creates an immediate risk of a severe rear-end or broadside collision, as trailing drivers do not expect a vehicle to suddenly lose all power. Ford is fully aware of this mechanical defect, as documented in their internal Technical Service Bulletin TSB 25-2126 (and its predecessors). The bulletin notes that an internal CDF clutch drum bushing physically slips out of place, blocking hydraulic fluid passages and starving the transmission of pressure. Because this is a known factory engineering defect that causes an unpredictable loss of propulsion in active traffic, it should be treated as a critical safety hazard rather than a standard wear-and-tear component. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this systemic 10R80 CDF drum failure to protect consumers from catastrophic accidents.

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 03/20/2026

It had been raining hard for a few days. Husband was taking truck down hwy 98 to a drs appointment an hour away. Driving 50 when the steering wheel starting going in and out, the seat started moving forward and back, running boards going in and out, lights flashing on and off and horn blaring and the 2020 F150 sputtered, almost stopped in the middle of the road; to name a few things. Frightened he was able to pull into a gas station, wait a bit then try another time when same happened. He eventually made it to his appointment. Came out and truck doing same. Was towed to Group 1 Ford dealership in in Pensacola. They had it a week and their mechanics could only say it was the BCM, Body Control Module that was wet and malfunctioned. Recommended an $8,000 dollar replacement but as they could not find the problem suggested we wait till we found it. After 10 days at the dealership, they couldn't. I, a 67 year old woman did. The upper windshield was leaking over the A and B pillar and the drops were landing on the BCM. I have pictures. l If they had taken the side panels of dash off by door they would have found it also. Husband could have died

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 10/03/2026

I have noticed that my turn signal lights work sometimes, and sometimes they give me the rapid-fire warning light indicating that one of them is out (front or back). The outage may or may not last the entire duration of when the turn signal is deployed - sometimes it fixes itself, and other times it remains out. Sometimes, it even fixes itself and goes back out in the same signal instance. Additionally, I have noticed that one or both of the headlights will sometimes fail. I have learned to turn on the fog lights in order to ensure some sort of light remains working to illuminate my path forward. I've not yet experienced the fog lights going out as they seem to be unaffected by the intermittent outages. If it wasn't for this, I would have stopped driving at night altogether. I have already begun limiting my time on the road after dark, and attempting to handle anything that requires transportation earlier in the day. Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions, as I'd like to ensure this gets resolved for myself and any others ASAP!

STEERING — Filed 09/21/2026

My [XXX] son was at a stop light and when the light turned green he started to turn left. As he was turning left, the steering wheel started to pull left to the point that he couldn't steer it back, almost as if it was stuck and kept pulling left. He fought with it and tried to press the break. This caused him to hit the center median of the street ([XXX]) and the truck flipped and landed on driver side. My son took off his seatbelt and climbed out of passenger window. Another person that helped him told him that they saw him struggle with the steering wheel. However, since my son is [XXX], he didn't know to gather witness information. A police report was completed and I'm waiting to receive it. However, he was not cited as he was not speeding and had only simply turned left at the signal. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

POWER TRAIN — Filed 02/15/2021

Transmission shifting very harshly. Especially in gears 3-4-5. Transmission will stop with no control, then abruptly slam into gear. 80,000 miles. Issues since new. Dealership says vehicle needs new transmission. Will factory assist at $3,700, my share $5,600. Ford has history with this transmission. Why didn’t they replace when in warranty?

ENGINE — Filed 09/25/2026

Brought my 2020 Ford F150 2.7L EcoBoost in for mandatory emissions recall 24E12. Vehicle had zero dashboard lights or performance issues prior. Immediately upon completion of the PCM flash, the check engine light activated. When the truck was scanned I am now receiving a P0420 and P0430 catalytic converter efficiency codes. The dealership is now requiring $6000 for replacement of qty 2 catalytic converters caused by the recall parameters. This is a predatory compliance software update designed to shift manufacturing component failures onto the consumer after the 80k mile warranty window (truck has 105k). I have filed a complaint with Ford and asked for a P01 Financial Review for After-Warranty Assistance and have been told there is nothing Ford can or will do to assist and I must pay them $6000 if i want them to fix this. Because of this the vehicle is now not emissions compliant.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/01/2026

The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the transmission jerked while shifting gear. The failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was contacted and the vehicle was diagnosed with CDF drum failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,500.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 08/10/2026

The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a delay in the transmission shifting, and the vehicle hesitated while accelerating with the accelerator pedal depressed, and the vehicle jolted. The engine revved to 7,000-8,000 RPM. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: 25-2301 (Harsh/Delayed Engagement and/or Harsh/Delayed Shift) and Technical Service Bulletin 25-2475(Harsh/Delayed Engagement and/or Harsh/Delayed Shift). The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/06/2026

Truck suddenly shifted from gear 8 to gear 2 then 4 reducing my speed suddenly causing other vehicles to almost hit me at around 40 mph. I drove home with the transmission erratically shifting up and down Even though I kept my speed under 30 mph. That was about 10 days ago and I made an attempt to drive it a few days ago after researching and in the same result happened. It seems I have been victimized by the CDF drum crawling out of its space leading to an imbalance of transmission fluid pressure. About 2 miles after the initial problem. A wrench symbol appeared on the instrument cluster with a message under it that says see manual. Just as every time I've tried to find something in the manual. After spending several minutes of frustration, I still never found the wrench symbol or what it means.

ENGINE — Filed 09/20/2023

The contact owned a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact's spouse, who was seated in the front passenger seat, saw smoke coming from under the dashboard. The contact's spouse exited the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to open the front driver's door, the front passenger's side of the dashboard and the windshield caught on fire. Additionally, the front passenger's door was on fire. The contact's two dogs were seated in the rear seat. The contact entered the vehicle through the fire and removed the dogs from the vehicle. The contact used a neighboring building's water hose and extinguished the fire. The contact stated that within two minutes, the vehicle was engulfed in fire. The fire department later arrived. The Fire Chief inspected the vehicle, and the contact was informed that the fire had started in the engine compartment. The contact was transported by ambulance and received medical treatment. The contact sustained second-degree burns on the left and right legs and left and right elbows and forearms. In addition, the contact sustained second-degree burns on the left and right hands. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. A Police report was filed, but the information was unavailable. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V442000 (Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/15/2026

The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle jerked abnormally, experienced a transmission shifting delay between gears, and occasionally slipped out of gear. The contact stated that after slipping out of gear, the transmission failed to re-engage gear and slipped continuously. The vehicle was inspected by a transmission specialist, who confirmed the failure and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 02/15/2026

The 10R80 transmission failed internally due to the defective CDF clutch drum assembly. Vehicle experienced dangerous gear dropping/slipping. Forced to pay out of pocket at an independent shop for a total rebuild. I have not seen anything from dealer. It was inspected by an independent shop. There was no warning prior to the failure. This happened right over 100,000 miles.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/09/2026

Transmission slips gears and sometimes shifts violently. I took the truck to a Ford dealership for an assessment and was told I need to replace the whole transmission. I also have a problem with oil consumption from the engine. I was told by the same dealership that this was a known problem with the 5.0 engines built from 2019 to, I believe 2023 and that it would require an engine replacement. I bought this truck from an individual and now I am stuck with it.

ENGINE — Filed 09/02/2026

My 2020 Ford F-150 (5.0L V8) experienced a sudden loss of engine power and stalled completely while I was driving. In the days leading up to this, the check engine light had illuminated, and I later discovered the vehicle had consumed a severe amount of engine oil — the dipstick read below the "add" line. Critically, no low oil pressure warning light or audible chime alerted me to the oil loss before the stall occurred. After the initial stall, the engine continued to struggle to maintain idle and stalled repeatedly whenever RPM dropped to approximately 1,000, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. I had the vehicle towed to a Ford dealership for diagnosis. The dealership's estimate confirmed the need for a full engine (long block) replacement, at a cost of approximately 19,824.56 (total estimate 21,491.04). I am aware that Ford issued Technical Service Bulletin 19-2365, which acknowledges that 2018-2020 F-150 trucks with the 5.0L engine may experience excessive oil consumption exceeding one quart per 3,000 miles with no visible external leaks, attributed to oil being drawn into the engine during deceleration fuel shut-off events. I believe this defect directly caused my vehicle's stalling and oil starvation, and that the lack of any dashboard warning prior to the failure is a separate and significant safety concern, since a driver has no way to know the engine is being damaged or that a stall is imminent.

SUSPENSION — Filed 09/05/2026

2020 Ford F-150 Raptor supercab with 47,500 miles. Front right coil spring broke into several pieces while sitting in the driveway. Rust on one half of the piece that fell on the driveway indicates rust coating failed and caused the initial break in the coil spring. The way the coil spring broke and the vehicle lost ride height could have killed me if I were underneath changing the oil. If it had broke while driving, it would have caused an accident from loss of control endangering vehicle passengers and others on the road.I will keep all parts and have available for inspection. In hindsight, the only sign this was a problem was noise while driving over speed bumps and it was inspected by several different shops (Ford, VA inspection, two auto body shops) over the last year while it presented the noise. The truck has not been inspected since the coil spring broke.

ENGINE — Filed 06/30/2026

We purchased a used 2020 F­150 in late summer 2024. We brought it in for issues in November 2024, but the Ford dealership found no repairs were needed. We returned in March 2025 when the CDF drum failed requiring a transmission rebuild, a known issue with Technical Service Bulletin but not a recall. The engine continued consuming oil after this despite Ford completing all applicable service bulletins and advising there was nothing further to do. We took the vehicle in for service in May, 2026 and were told they had already updated software to address the oil consumption and we were told that should resolve the issue. On June 30, 2026, the truck was towed to the dealership after repeated stalling and a check engine light. The dealership again acknowledged this is a known issue with this engine - the valve seals are defective yet they had stalled our concerns so long at this point, we were past the warranty period. We researched and found this was a widespread, known issue asked whether Ford would offer customer loyalty assistance after 30 years of Ford ownership. We were told the truck's approximately 118,000 miles exceeded the assistance threshold. The engine replacement was quoted at $15,000. Ford advised us to repair the engine and save our receipt in case they should issue a recall at some point in the future. Given the value of the truck was $15,000 we chose not to keep investing in this vehicle and sold it for parts at a loss.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 08/18/2026

Transmission shifted from 4th to 1st while driving a steady 25 mph, then lost all forward drive, the transmission slips, then will slam into gear. I parked it for two weeks until I could get it to the shop. Driving it to the Ford dealer today (2 September 2026) I had to stop the vehicle twice because the transmission was doing the same thing. Currently have 70K miles on it.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 08/26/2026

Harsh shifting from 3rd to 4th and 7th to 8th

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — Filed 02/06/2026

After starting my 2020 Ford F150 for the last few months on the dash 2 warnings comes up, Front Camera Malfunction Service Required and Pre Collision Assist Not Available. These come on every time I start my truck. I did go to my local Ford dealer and told them these were coming on and they told me they never heard of that. I did have a mechanic do a scan on the truck and he came up with code 4300-49- AF which he said is an internal electronic failure. I have read that people have been having this same issue with their 2020 Ford F150s. I feel this is a safety issue that Ford should address. When system is not working it could lead to accidents which is why this would of been installed on vehicles. I have not had the issue fixed due to the fact the dealer told me they had never heard of this issue and would have to put it on a machine to see if they could even figure out the problem which could run into hundreds of dollars plus repairs and I am on a fixed income. Vehicle is available about any time to check this out.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 08/15/2026

I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion failed to grab 1st gear when starting from a stop (revs, doesn't go). This occurred while turning across traffic, creating a potentially dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration or propulsion. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion or unpredictable shifting while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, turning, or traveling at highway speed can create a collision hazard. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed. Furthermore, I have already had two transmission rebuilds under warranty, and it's going back to the shop for a third time with the same issues 9/8/26. THE SAME ISSUES. I bought this truck in 2024 at 70K miles and it has been nothing but problems.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 08/26/2026

When driving the vehicle it randomly jumps gears, when taking off it went into limp mode today. My wife almost got slammed by a semi truck! I called ford and they are not interested in hearing my case only wanting me to pay these outrageous fees. The pcm recall fix did not fix the gears jumping

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — Filed 08/07/2026

While driving I will get a wrench symbol with a bunch of codes pop up u0121:00:28 u0131:00:28 u0137:00:28 u0164:00:28 u0199:00:28 u0200:00:28 u0212:00:28 u0252:00:28 u0256:00:28 u1012:00:28 p0557:00:28 p1935:00:68 p193e:00:28 I have also had it jerk while driving ( went down into first gear) while having no power to my gauge cluster ac nothing

POWER TRAIN — Filed 12/01/2025

Severe transmission shifting delays, unresponsive when accelerating. Shutters and skips when coming to a stop.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 08/14/2026

Transmission shifts from a higher gear to 1st when going over 60, also transmission has a hard time shifting skips 2nd, 4th, and sometimes 6th gear.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 05/12/2026

Went to speed up as I was approaching a ramp going uphill and almost towards the top the truck decided to down shift to first gear going about 45 mph. No accident occurred as no one was around me.