Ford Expedition Complaints (2020)

428 consumer complaints on file.

#11759553August 25, 2026
SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the front driver's side seat belt retractor pretensioner independently deployed. The contact stated that there was no crash or any impact to the vehicle to cause the inadvertent deployment. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder of the road and then driven to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, a diagnostic test was not performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V197000 (Seat Belts) and 26V344000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 66,230.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756991August 14, 2026
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have a 2020 Ford Expedition, , affected by NHTSA recall 26V402. The recalled condition has actually occurred on my vehicle. The vehicle failed to remain in Park and moved in reverse with the driver's door open. It struck a brick mailbox, severely damaged the driver's door, and I was pulled/dragged by the vehicle while my children were inside. This is an actual safety incident involving unintended vehicle movement, property damage, and a potential bodily-injury event." This just occurred and has not yet been inspected.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757042August 14, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a delay in the transmission shifting gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the transmission to be reprogrammed. The failure recurred, and the transmission was shifting roughly, and the vehicle lost automotive power while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a drum body failure, incorrect gear ratio, and metal shavings were found inside the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755462August 7, 2026
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving over 10 MPH with her husband inside the vehicle, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated, and the brakes independently engaged. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the battery was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that a software update for the rearview camera was performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact stated that the dealer refused to provide the telephone number for the manufacturer. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (POWER TRAIN); and the VIN was included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755284August 6, 2026
Other/I am not sure
Last week I took the cover off our car seat to wash and the foam on the headrest was cracked all the way through. I have no idea when this happened or even how it could have. This car seat is barely 2 years old. I’ve never been in an accident or dropped this seat, and it is not used improperly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754918August 5, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I was driving home from vacation on I-77 in Virginia, and felt large jolt and heard several clicking type noises. Two separate service engine lights immediately came on the dashboard, and I was able to safely pull over. I had my vehicle towed to a nearby dealership to be looked at by a mechanic. The mechanic indicated the existence of safety recall notice 26S48/(NHTSA 26V402). I spoke with the mechanic who removed the diagnostics lights on the dashboard as prescribed by Ford, and attempted to see if they would be triggered again by driving the vehicle around. I described what had happened and the mechanic immediately said the description of this safety recall seems to be the culprit as to what was experienced. The parking pawl engaged while I was on I-77 traveling 70mph, causing the transmission to inadvertently shift into park causing the jolt and sounds I described. I contacted the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and Ford manufacturer directly regarding this recall, and was told as there is no remedy available. I have several concerns as the remedy is not expected until 5/31/2027 which is way too long of a period to have to wait when my vehicle has clearly been diagnosed with this recall issue, as shifting into park while driving presents a MAJOR safety risk that puts lives in danger. Furthermore, the parking pawl can cause significant damage to the vehicle's transmission and may make me liable for significant repair costs that 100% could be avoided by Ford providing a remedy in a reasonable amount of time. I need my vehicle to either be repaired, repurchased, or provided a loaner car by the dealership while I await this remedy to avoid this situation from happening and resulting in me having to pay for a new transmission or worse potentially causing an accident. This vehicle was inspected by the state of Pennsylvania in 2026.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754736August 4, 2026
SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt retractor exploded, and the seat belts became inoperative. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V197000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,361.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753993July 31, 2026
SEAT BELTS
While driving on a public road, the recalled driver's side seatbelt pretensioner (Recall 26S34) spontaneously exploded without a crash. The seatbelt violently locked on my body, causing friction burns and bruising to my skin while the explosion caused hearing loss in my left ear. The vehicle is now un-driveable as the seatbelt no longer works and has been towed to a Ford dealership. The dealership has obtained possession of the vehicle stating it is not safe or legal to drive. We have contacted both the dealership and corporate ford for assistance with alternate transportation and have not been provided with any thus far. We have called 10 different times and visited the dealership in person twice & still no help. Since the incident, I experience high anxiety and stress whenever I am inside a motor vehicle. To add to this, the loss of my vehicle has caused severe logistical distress, disrupting my daily routine, which compounds my daily anxiety. It has been 10 days without any answers, only to be told if we don’t hear anything by mid August to call back and then we can escalate. This is unacceptable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11752432July 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transmission shifts very hard the first time accelerating after slowing down.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752155July 22, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started coasting, and thirty seconds later the vehicle operated as intended. The contact then heard a loud sound coming from the front of the vehicle. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751716July 21, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
Car is equipped with power running boards. Set to come down when the doors are opened on that side, and return up and tucked under when doors on that side are closed. Lately they have been glitching and stuck down, stuck up, or, the most dangerous - go back up under car when door is opened and stepping on to them - children's feet have almost been crushed in them tucking under the car. I have tried overriding the system in the car to make them either stay out or stay in regardless of when the door is opened or closed but it resets when powered off and you can only reselect it when in park the next time. If the power running boards fail to pull up and tuck under the car when the door is closed, you can hear the system trying to lift it over and over while driving. There is no warning when it malfunctions, you have to open the door and just wait a moment to let it decide what to do. Unable to replicate it at a repair shop. System had been reset for a safety recall and then another visit resulted in a drained battery. Both of those temporarily fixed the issue for a few days but then it goes back to the above.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751505July 20, 2026
POWER TRAIN, SEAT BELTS, STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure) and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and stalled and needed to be towed on several occasions. An unknown dealer was initially notified of the failure during an oil change appointment, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had become undrivable and was parked at the residence. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751518July 20, 2026
SEAT BELTS, POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V368000 (Structure), 26V402000 (Power Train), 26V344000 (Seat Belts) and 25V197000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while shifting the transmission into park(P) or drive(D), the vehicle lunged forward. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751530July 20, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There is frequently a smell of exhaust inside the cabin upon starting the engine before driving. It is concerning that exhaust may be leaking into the cabin leading to potential injuries. The vehicle has not been inspected for this issue specifically but has been through multiple general inspections.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751533July 20, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transmission frequently has harsh and delayed shifting it is concerning that this leads to unsafe conditions while driving as the vehicle is not as responsive as it should be. The transmission has been replaced once and rebuilt three times by the dealer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751385July 19, 2026
SEAT BELTS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
We recently purchased a certified pre-owned 2020 Ford Expedition Max Limited with approximately 70,000 miles. Since purchasing the vehicle, it has experienced several issues, particularly with the transmission. Before the transmission was replaced, the dealer attempted to repair it twice but was unable to resolve the problem. After the replacement transmission was installed, the same symptoms returned within one to two weeks, including harsh shifting, shuddering, and harsh engagement when shifting into reverse and park. In addition, the front seat belts and the captain’s chair seat belts have locked up multiple times. I also received a recall notice for the replacement transmission that was installed about a month ago, with an estimated repair timeframe of the second quarter of 2027. There is currently no repair available for the seat belt issue either. There have been no warning lights or messages displayed for any of these problems. I am concerned that these ongoing issues put both my safety and my child’s safety and the public at risk while operating or riding in this vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751145July 17, 2026
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2020 Ford Expedition MAX. Ford issued Safety Recall 26S48 / NHTSA 26V402 confirming a transmission park pawl defect causing potential rollaway and crash risk. Remedy not available until Q2 2027. Vehicle has experienced the exact defect symptoms since at least November 2025 including stuck-in-park diagnostic codes and shifting anomalies. Prior to November 2025 the transmission failed to execute a commanded shift at approximately 65mph while passing another vehicle on an expressway causing sudden unexpected deceleration with family members present — a near-miss consistent with the park pawl defect Ford now confirms. An authorized Ford dealer visit in June 2026 for computer reprogramming included verbal acknowledgment of transmission concerns but no documentation on the repair order. Eight days later Ford issued Recall 26S48. Separately this vehicle has generated over 1,400 Restraints Indicator Lamp Warnings logged in Ford’s own connected vehicle app since at least April 2023. Restraints warnings began within 30 days of purchase at under 400 miles. Ford issued Recall 26S34 / NHTSA 26V344 for Front Seatbelt Retractor inspection on this vehicle. On multiple dealer visits spanning 2021 to 2026 service advisers verbally acknowledged the restraints warning but documented no concern and performed no diagnostic action on repair orders. Ford’s telematics platform received all warnings in real time with no proactive owner notification. Remedy not available for either recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750025July 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN
on July 1st 2026The car violently slammed into park while in traffic. Took the car to the ford dealership the dealership advised me that the " PARKING PAWL" was damaged and was part of Fords recall. There is currently no fix for this recall and nothing they could do. Called Fords customer service they advised no fix and could continue to drive car. The car has since slammed into park while driving in traffic on July 10 And July 11th.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749704July 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Around October/November of 2025 I reached into my center console to grab something only to be sliced open by something sharp. I was driving so I couldn’t immediately investigate- but I had to pull over and deal with the blood gushing from my finger. I thought for sure my husband had left a razor blade or something in there. Upon inspection I couldn’t find anything logical that would have cut me so I was very confused. Then within a month or two I noticed a piece of the chrome bubbled up and went to check it and realized that was what was sharp and had sliced me open.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11749307July 9, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH and accelerating, the vehicle failed to change gears as intended or shut off completely. The "Shift System Failure" warning message was displayed. The contact stated that the failure was recurrent. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402 (Power Train). A dealer was contacted and diagnosed the failure as a power control module fault, but there was no remedy available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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