Ford F-150 Complaints (2020)

742 consumer complaints on file.

#11744753June 17, 2026
POWER TRAIN
While driving my 2020 F150 VIN # [XXX], at highway speeds, transmission abruptly shifts down to 1st gear then back to 9th gear and does not advance to 10th Gear. Also, while accelerating, at 3 gear shift to 4th, there is a slipping of the transmission and eventually it kicks in to 6th gear. When the downshift occurs at highway speeds, the transmission slows immediately where we have to pull over or get hit by traffic in our lane. This problem was confirmed by an independent Service center once i took it in. Other than the independent service center, i have not had anyone else inspect the vehicle. When this error happens, i get a wrench light come on and it will not go away until i shut off the engine and wait 1 min or so, then restart the truck. In one incident, when the truck was rolling at highway speed and the downshift occurred, the rear wheels locked as though i had hit the breaks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744356June 15, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Another Failed CDF on 10r80 transmission, these are happening everywhere! Where is the recall?!?!?!?!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744012June 14, 2026
POWER TRAIN
2020 Ford F-150 custom-built in Sept 2020 developed severe, textbook warning signs of rear-end failure while traveling—specifically severe low-speed metallic clanging and high-pitched whirring from the rear wheels. Recognizing the potential danger, we safely exited the highway and sought an immediate diagnostic from an independent shop. The diagnostic confirmed the defect mechanism detailed in NHTSA Campaign 23V896000: fractured axle hub bolts, disintegrated pinion gears, and metal shaving contamination throughout the 9.75-inch axle housing. While we avoided a high-speed highway shutdown by proactively seeking repairs, the underlying structural manufacturing defect is identical to the active recall. My truck's build date sits squarely inside the part production window specified by Ford in that campaign (starting Jan 28, 2020), but my VIN is excluded due to a generation cutoff. Note: We have retained the full replaced axle assembly fully intact and available for physical inspection by NHTSA investigators.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743609June 11, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transmission failed while driving. While accelerating to speed, there was a "clunk" and then the vehicle was unable to shift to another gear, stuck in 7th. The vehicle lurched continuously, decelerated suddenly, and I was unable to shift up or down. Cars behind me swerved to avoid hitting me. Luckily I was able to drive at below speed with hazards lights flashing to the nearby dealership. Truck has completed every recommended maintenance check and only has 65,600 miles on it. Repair costs for new transmission were stated to me at $9800 by the dealership. There were no warning signs or symptoms prior to the failure. However, reading multiple online complaints indicates Ford has known about the defect for the 10R80 transmission failure for years, as early as 2017, and there is a recall for this for model years 2017-2018. This is clearly a safety issue, and I am lucky I was not on the highway at high speed nor had my grandchildren in the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743131June 10, 2026
ENGINE
I own a 2020 Ford F-150 with the 5.0L V8 engine and have under 60,000 miles on the vehicle. The engine is consuming excessive amounts of oil — approximately 3 to 4 quarts every 5,000 to 6,000 miles under normal driving conditions with no visible leaks or blue smoke. I brought the vehicle to a Ford dealership and opened a formal case with Ford Motor Company. Ford performed an oil consumption test and stated the consumption was within acceptable limits. I do not find this acceptable for a relatively new engine and the owner’s manual does not indicate that adding oil between changes is normal or expected. This level of oil consumption poses a potential safety risk as inadequate lubrication can lead to premature engine wear and failure. I am requesting that Ford acknowledge this as a defect and provide a remedy under the powertrain warranty. Other F-150 owners have reported the same issue and I believe this warrants a formal investigation
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742272June 5, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission failure vehicle when pulling into traffic/or road while up shifting the trans would have harsh shift and would slip as if not in gear the engine would rev rpm’s and slam hard into gear usually 2nd gear through 7th gear. Sometimes while driving say going downhill the transmission would down shifting from 10th gear to 8th gear hard, sometime it would down shift on the display to first gear and seemingly be coasting until it would just up shift to any gear it chose. My safety and that of my passengers was that while merging into traffic with the transmission slip or hunting for gears caused other traffic to brake, slow or avoid my vehicle.There were never any warnings on the display dash. Manufacturer Dealer had 7 week wait list for appointments but was scheduled. Manufacturer Dealer mechanic tested vehicle and determined code o76f present for 7th gear leading to failure of transmission and recreated the same failure results while test driving. Recommended transmission replacement and has since replaced the transmission with new transmission at my expense of $8630.00- taxes plus charge of $199.00 for diagnostic work.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741248June 1, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle is having erratic downshifting at highway speeds causing it to drop gears and brake harshly then violently accelerate. The transmission was already replaced by the dealer in 2025. Dealer is reporting they cannot get the vehicle to duplicate the issue but this has posed a great safety risk of injury for my family.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741301June 1, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Issue Description: The radio/infotainment system intermittently cuts out and produces loud static noises while driving. The issue occurs without warning and happens repeatedly. Safety Concern: The sudden loss of audio and loud static creates a distraction while driving and can interfere with hearing important external sounds (traffic, emergency vehicles, etc.). The unpredictable nature of the problem increases driver distraction and could contribute to unsafe driving conditions. Conditions: Occurs while driving (various speeds) Happens intermittently No clear trigger
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740529May 28, 2026
POWER TRAIN
10r80 transmission shifts from 7th & 9th gear to 2nd gear causing truck to jerk and over rev. there were two mil lights local shop was able to read and reset once and cleared codes. This just recurred and truck was not able to be driven. Ended up replacing transmission same week as this problem started. New transmission has been fine since.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740581May 28, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Transmission issues: Harsh, erratic shifting (jerking, lurching, and hesitating, especially when cold). Delayed engagement (2 to 3 seconds before engaging Drive or Reverse). Gear slippage accompanied by prominent clunking. Severe risk of total transmission failure if left unaddressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738077May 15, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving and slowing down for a stop sign and the engine shut off by itself while still moving at appx 10-15mph. The display had several warning lights appear, and the message "Auto Start Stop, Shift to P, Then Restart Engine". I have the Auto Start Stop disabled on my vehicle, so there was no reason for my engine to shut off while decelerating. I searched online for potential causes and discovered that there are numerous incidents of this happening (engine shutting off while moving) to drivers that have deactivated the auto start stop on their vehicles. See link: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737425May 12, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
* This complaint concerns a catastrophic failure of the transmission in my vehicle. This defect was first reported to a Ford dealer while still within the 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty (Jan 3, 2023, at 58,679 miles; Invoice #XXX). * The condition worsened. Between July 2024 - Jan. 2026, I received 7 digital "Service Engine Soon" warnings via the Ford App. My dealer advised that the vehicle was "OK to drive" as long as the light (which never stayed on) was not flashing. I was told diagnostics could not be made unless the light was active at the dealership. Jan 16, 2026, the light came on; I was able to take the truck to the dealer. A fault code was finally captured, but the dealer reported a two-month service backlog. I could not wait that long. *Feb 2026, I established a clean engine baseline. I spent $833.15 to replace O2 sensors (EJ’s Automotive) to rule out engine−related performance issues. During this service (at 103,431 miles), an inspection confirmed metallic clutch material contamination in the transmission fluid only 10,248 miles after a 2nd professional flush. This failure occurred despite a total maintenance investment of $11,533.80 across 21 service visits. * This failure resulted in a dangerous Loss of Motive Power, creating a collision risk. The vehicle is currently grounded and completely inoperable. The dealership verbally designated the vehicle as VOR due to the confirmed diagnosis, only to contradict that status by claiming it was "driveable" after I declined a $15,000 quote for a teardown to diagnose the issue. * Since the truck can no longer tow, 2 third-party transports for a horse and a trailer relocation are necessary. The failure has also resulted in a total parasitic battery drain. The tailgate latch and door locks are inoperable, suggesting the transmission fault is interfering with module communication. This is consistent with the root cause Ford has acknowledged in TSBs 24-2101 and 25-2126 involving the CDF clutch drum sleeve. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737222May 12, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transmission has a history of harsh shifting and slipping. At 101,600 miles being told this is a known issue with the transmission and likely needs to be replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737108May 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This car has tail lights that are in operable, and do not work, it has almost caused a quite a few near accidents, would like to see this resolved soon.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736862May 10, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I took it to the ford dealership, they said the transmission needed to be replaced
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736612May 8, 2026
ENGINE
My 2020 Ford F-150 5.0L Coyote V8 had its engine replaced under factory warranty on 4/30/25 by an authorized Ford dealer. The replacement engine was installed with my original 50,000 mile fuel injectors reinstalled by Ford's technician — I was not informed new injectors were not included. The vehicle is now diagnosed with a failed direct fuel injector causing a cylinder 3 misfire at approximately 10,000-12,000 miles on the replacement engine. Additional injectors show signs of imminent failure. The shop also documented the replacement engine running 2 quarts low on oil at only 10,000-12,000 miles of service. This level of oil consumption on a recently replaced engine is abnormal and unexplained. The safety concern is twofold. First, a vehicle running chronically low on oil due to abnormal consumption on a replacement engine risks catastrophic engine failure without adequate warning to the driver. Second, misfiring cylinders affect vehicle driveability and create unpredictable power delivery that constitutes a safety risk particularly at highway speeds. Symptoms including rough running and the check engine light first appeared in November 2025. The vehicle has been at an authorized Ford dealer for diagnosis since May 2026. Ford Customer Relations has declined goodwill assistance despite the failure occurring on components reinstalled by Ford's own technician during a warranty repair, symptoms originating within the warranty window, and the vehicle being only 8 days outside the 12-month parts warranty expiration. I am requesting NHTSA investigate whether Ford's practice of reusing high-mileage fuel injectors during engine replacements under warranty constitutes an unsafe practice, and whether abnormal oil consumption on replacement engines represents a systemic defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736052May 6, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I own a Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 10-speed transmission. The truck has approximately 79,000 miles and has been diagnosed by a Ford dealership with CDF drum/cylinder and solenoid body failure. The quoted repair cost is over $10,000 for a remanned transmission replacement. This truck has shifted hard since approximately 30,000 miles, but I was led to believe it was normal behavior for the 10-speed transmission. The vehicle has been lightly used and properly maintained through Ford. It is still on its original tires and brakes, which supports that this is not a high-abuse or heavy-use vehicle. A major transmission failure at 79,000 miles under normal use is not reasonable vehicle durability. The failure involves the CDF drum/cylinder, a known failure point in the Ford 10R80 transmission. This can cause harsh shifting, delayed engagement, gear skipping, slipping, abnormal acceleration behavior, and unpredictable shifting. These conditions create a safety concern when accelerating into traffic, merging, turning across lanes, passing, or driving at highway speeds. Ford has issued technical service guidance related to the 10R80 transmission and CDF drum/cylinder failure, including diagnostic procedures for hydraulic leakage and internal repair. This confirms the issue is known and identifiable, yet owners are still facing extremely expensive failures outside the standard warranty period. Another concern is that Ford is proposing remanufactured transmission replacements rather than new replacements, despite reports of repeat CDF-related failures after remanufactured units if updated CDF components are not included. This is not normal wear and tear. This is premature failure of a known defective transmission component that affects drivability, reliability, and safety. Ford should not leave customers responsible for potentially multiple $10,000+ repair costs for a known 10R80/CDF drum failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735681May 4, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The transmission was already rebuilt under warranty, had 49,700 miles. While traveling between 70-80(while passing)open road the transmission tried going into 1st gear happned a few times until went into limp mode. Just me, no trailer, nothing in the bed. The dealership nor corporate would do anything since I had turned off the truck. Even though the codes were stored.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735019May 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission shifts hard and downshifts with a huge clunk. Jerking the vehicle very big known issue for these trucks and am extremely low miles. Under 50k miles A bad safety issue and huge repair bill for the consumer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734285April 28, 2026
ENGINE
I purchased a 2020 Ford F-150 XLT with a 5.0L engine from Quirk Auto Group in Maine approximately six months prior to discovering a major engine defect. At the time of sale, I was provided documentation stating there were no known mechanical issues or prior defects with the vehicle. Shortly after purchase, I brought the vehicle back to the dealership due to a noticeable rattling noise and performance concerns. I was told the noise was caused by debris (rocks) stuck in the undercarriage, and no further action was taken. This concern was documented during that visit. Over time, the vehicle began consuming excessive amounts of oil, approximately three quarts per month which is far beyond normal operating conditions. I later brought the vehicle to a certified Ford dealership for further diagnosis. After inspection, I was informed that the engine had significant internal wear, including worn cylinder walls, and required a full engine replacement (long block), with an estimated cost of approximately $15,785. I have since learned that this engine issue is consistent with a known defect documented in Ford Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) as well as an open class actions lawsuit against ford, and records indicate this issue had been present with the previous owner. This information was not disclosed to me at the time of sale. I have made multiple attempts to resolve this issue directly with both the selling dealership and Ford Motor Company. Ford has offered partial financial assistance toward the repair, which further indicates acknowledgment of a defect. However, the dealership has not taken responsibility for selling a vehicle with a pre-existing condition that was either known or should have been known.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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