2020 Ford F-150 Transmission & Powertrain Problems
Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 354 of 727 complaints (49%) on the 2020 Ford F-150, tied to a recall for shift cable locking clips. Median mileage at failure was 59,000 miles, with 8 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries reported.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 354
- 49% of 727
- Crashes reported
- 8
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 59,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Vehicles unexpectedly roll or shift into gear on their own while parked, in some cases leading to a crash into another vehicle or object.
- Transmission fails to engage park properly, with the gear display showing a different gear than the one actually selected.
- Drivers report clunking sounds and hesitation when starting to drive right after startup, especially when cold.
- A ratcheting noise occurs on deceleration at low RPMs when the engine and transmission are cold.
- The transmission drops into 'limp home mode' with a 'driving mode not available' warning, sometimes recurring after restart.
- One owner described a rear differential failure with a loud explosion while driving at highway speed, followed by a sudden loss of power.
When 2020 Ford F-150 transmission complaints were filed
First complaint May 25, 2020, latest Sep 22, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2020 Ford F-150
- NHTSA 20V197000Apr 3, 2020Transmission & Powertrain55,158 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
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.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by F-150 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are transmission problems on the 2020 Ford F-150?
- NHTSA lists 354 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 F-150, which is 49% of all 727 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a transmission recall for the 2020 F-150?
- Yes. Recall 20V197000 covers 2020 F-150 and Ranger trucks with 10-speed automatic transmissions and 2020 Expedition police package vehicles for a shift cable locking clip issue; dealers inspect and correct the installation.
- At what mileage do transmission problems usually show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2020 F-150 is 59,000 miles.
- Did the transmission issues cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area show 8 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries reported for the 2020 F-150.