2020 Ford F150

Family: F150 · filed with NHTSA as F-150

Summary

In its first three years the 2020 F150 drew 174 complaints — 0.6× the median of its generation (2015–2020). It is among the least-complained-about years of this generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Of the 692 complaints that name a component, 52% concern Powertrain (360).
11 recalls filed for this model year.
1 federal defect investigation covers this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 741
Recalls: 11
Investigations: 1
NCAP overall: 4 of 5 stars
Combined MPG: 16–24
Annual fuel cost: $2,850–$4,050
Median mileage at complaint: 38,000 mi (n = 235)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 21 / 4 / 18 / 0

What owners report

Powertrain

360 complaints · 52% of complaints that name a component · median 59,000 mi (n = 92)

Owner report Transmission has hard/harsh shifts and delayed gear engagement that began around 56,000 miles and have become much worse at 68,000 miles. The delay in engagement when accelerating from a stop, pulling into traffic or merging is a safety concern. A Ford dealer performed a transmission adaptive relearn and software updat…

Owner report The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with children inside the vehicle, the transmission shifted erratically and began shuddering. The vehicle decelerated unexpectedly. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The …

Engine

139 complaints · 20% of complaints that name a component · median 55,000 mi (n = 61)

Owner report The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after the check engine warning light illuminated on two occasions, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the catalytic converters were replaced under warranty. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehi…

Owner report 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 c…

Electrical System

88 complaints · 13% of complaints that name a component · median 3,500 mi (n = 29)

Owner report Windshield seal failure. Water intrusion into the electrical system. The horn does not work and intermittent starting problems. Water intrusion caused mold in numerous components. Truck was checked over at local Ford dealer. Waiting for parts to make repairs. Repair quote available if needed.

Owner report The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the radio was inoperable, and the audible alerts failed to operate as needed. The start-of-trip and seat belt chime failed to operate while the seat belt was unbuckled. Additionally, there was no chime while the key was in the ignition or while the door was op…

7% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (2015–2020)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 308.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Note
2015	1,743	359
2016	2,088	496	most complaints
2017	1,463	256
2018	2,325	501	most complaints
2019	1,342	161	fewest complaints
2020	741	174	fewest complaints

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

26V373000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Filed 2026-06-09 · 91,198 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. When the headlight switch is turned from "Autolamps" to "Headlamps On," the Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) may remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."

Risk: Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: ,Dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.

25V442000 · BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Filed 2025-06-27 · 200,237 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

24V852000 · EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Filed 2024-11-08 · 27,678 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

22V250000 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Filed 2022-04-14 · 652,996 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.

Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.

20V575000 · BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Filed 2020-09-23 · 620,246 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.

20V467000 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

Filed 2020-08-10 · 431 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 vehicles. An incorrect attachment nut may have been used to attach the battery positive (B+) power supply cable to the starter motor, possibly affecting the electrical conductivity, resulting in excess heat and electrical arcing.

Risk: Electrical arcing can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the starter motor B+ power supply attachment nut, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S40.

20V197000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Filed 2020-04-03 · 55,158 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Remedy: 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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S18.

20V097000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Filed 2020-02-21 · 166,196 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from the "Autolamps" switch position to "Headlamps On." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."

Risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.

19V903000 · TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | TIRES:BEAD

Filed 2019-12-18 · 33 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 trucks equipped with 17-inch spare tires. The spare tire could have been damaged when it was installed on the rim.

Risk: The damage can cause the tire to rapidly lose air pressure or detach from the wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spare tire, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S55.

19V805000 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Filed 2019-11-12 · 135,725 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and braking or steering assist. The engine could also stall.

Risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S40.

19V633000 · SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY | SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Filed 2019-08-28 · 639,137 vehicles

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.

Federal investigations

Action	Component	Opened	Closed	Recall
RQ21002	BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA	2021-08-03	open	26V104

RQ21002: Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
F150 2WD BASE PAYLOAD LT TIRE	3.0L 6cyl Diesel	Automatic (S10)	Rear-Wheel Drive	21	28	24	$3750
F150 2WD FFV BASE PAYLOAD LT	5.0L 8cyl FFV	Automatic (S10)	Rear-Wheel Drive	16	21	18	$3450
F150 5.0L 2WD FFV GVWR>7599 LBS	5.0L 8cyl FFV	Automatic (S10)	Rear-Wheel Drive	15	20	17	$3650
F150 Pickup 2WD	2.7L 6cyl	Automatic (S10)	Rear-Wheel Drive	20	26	22	$2850
F150 Pickup 2WD	3.0L 6cyl Diesel	Automatic (S10)	Rear-Wheel Drive	21	29	24	$3750
F150 Pickup 2WD	3.5L 6cyl	Automatic (S10)	Rear-Wheel Drive	17	23	19	$3300
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV	3.3L 6cyl FFV	Automatic (S6)	Rear-Wheel Drive	19	25	22	$2850
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV	5.0L 8cyl FFV	Automatic (S10)	Rear-Wheel Drive	17	23	19	$3300
F150 Pickup 2WD Limited	3.5L 6cyl	Automatic (S10)	Rear-Wheel Drive	17	22	19	$3300
F150 Pickup 4WD	2.7L 6cyl	Automatic (S10)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	18	23	20	$3100
F150 Pickup 4WD	3.0L 6cyl Diesel	Automatic (S10)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	20	25	22	$4050
F150 Pickup 4WD	3.5L 6cyl	Automatic (S10)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	16	22	18	$3450
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV	3.3L 6cyl FFV	Automatic (S6)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	18	23	20	$3100
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV	5.0L 8cyl FFV	Automatic (S10)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	15	21	18	$3450
F150 Pickup 4WD Limited	3.5L 6cyl	Automatic (S10)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	17	21	19	$3300
F150 Pickup 4WD XL/XLT	3.0L 6cyl Diesel	Automatic (S10)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	21	28	24	$3750
F150 RAPTOR 4WD	3.5L 6cyl	Automatic (S10)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	15	18	16	$3900

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
2020 Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2020 Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2020 Ford F-150 Supercab PU/EC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2020 Ford F-150 Supercab PU/EC 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆

Service bulletins

Ford issued 247 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about electrical system.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2026-10-08	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Some 2020-2026 Aviator/Explorer/F-150/Bronco/Ranger vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L (non-diesel) engine may need the front engine cover removed and reinstalled for various reasons. The Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-01 Engine > Re…
2026-09-30	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	25E10-S1 Owner letter
2026-07-02	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 25E10 - Supplement #1 Certain 2018-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles With 3.3L Engines and 2016-2019 Model Year Explorer, Taurus, and Flex Vehicles With 3.5L Engines Powertrain Control Module (PCM) …
2026-04-29	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	Harvest Program 25H05 – Supplement #1 Certain 2011-2021 Model Year Vehicles Software Verification Harvest Program
2026-04-02	LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION	Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC). Thi…
2026-03-25	BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING	Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
2026-02-24	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the access…
2026-02-17	POWER TRAIN	For 20172026 vehicles equipped with a 10R transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure has been made in the WSM, located in Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing. This updated procedure improves the diagnosis of customer…
2026-02-17	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns with The Ford App Lincoln App including but not limited to: missing activation prompt pop-upon the vehicle's center display screen wh…
2025-12-13	POWER TRAIN	Certain 2018-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles Equipped With 3.3L Engines Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this F150, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Ford F150 model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.