2020 Ford Expedition Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
93/100
#2 most-complained of 16 Expedition years
The 2020 Ford Expedition ranks 2nd worst of 16 model years with a complaint index of 93 and 414 complaints. Transmission & powertrain issues dominate at 63% of complaints, backed by 18 recalls including a transmission park-pawl recall and a battery junction box fire recall.
- Complaints
- 414
- Recalls
- 18
- Crashes / fires
- 5 / 7
- Injuries / deaths
- 25 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 22.5 hwy
Top 2020 Ford Expedition problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain260 (63%)
- Engine64 (15%)
- Other59 (14%)
- Electrical System40 (10%)
- Seat Belts37 (9%)
- Structure & Body25 (6%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras14 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers13 (3%)
- Brakes10 (2%)
- Airbags8 (2%)
What owners report
- Transmission slams into gear, loses power, or unexpectedly shifts into park at highway speed.
- Vehicle fails to stay in Park and can roll or move in reverse even with the driver's door open, matching a park-pawl recall.
- Airbags and seat belt pretensioners reportedly fail to activate during frontal or rear-end collisions.
- Electrical system faults trigger warning lights, sudden shutdowns, or arcing that owners describe as fire starts.
- Engine compartment fires reported both while driving and while parked, sometimes tied to the battery junction box.
- Forward collision warning activates but braking reportedly fails to slow the vehicle as expected.
2020 Ford Expedition recalls
18 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V402000Jun 24, 2026Transmission & Powertrain741,195 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V368000Jun 9, 2026Structure & Body548,463 vehicles
Structure:interior panels:center console
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.
Risk: Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 10, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V344000May 27, 2026Seat Belts419,967 vehicles
Seat belts:pretensioner
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.
2020 Ford Expedition fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 22.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2020 compared with other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Ford Expedition reliable?
- Compared to other Expedition model years, 2020 ranks poorly. It has the 2nd highest complaint index (93) out of 16 years with data and carries an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other Expedition years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2020 Ford Expedition?
- Transmission & powertrain issues make up 63% of complaints, followed by engine problems at 15% and electrical system issues at 10%, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2020 Ford Expedition have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 18 recalls for the 2020 Expedition, covering transmission park-pawl engagement, seat belt pretensioners, a battery junction box fire risk, rearview camera software, and Pre-Collision Assist software.
- What is the median mileage when problems occur on the 2020 Expedition?
- Owners reported failures at a median of 62,935 miles overall, with transmission issues at 65,300 miles and engine issues later at 91,034 miles.
- How does the 2020 Expedition compare to the 2019 model?
- The 2019 Expedition has a higher complaint index of 100 and is also rated 'Avoid,' while the 2020 model follows closely behind with an index of 93.