2020 Ford F-250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
73/100
#5 most-complained of 16 F-250 years
The 2020 Ford F-250 has 263 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 73, and 14 recalls, ranking it 5th worst of 16 model years with a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain (28%) and Fuel System (24%) are the top complaint areas.
- Complaints
- 263
- Recalls
- 14
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2020 Ford F-250 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain74 (28%)
- Fuel System64 (24%)
- Steering45 (17%)
- Engine33 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires33 (13%)
- Electrical System30 (11%)
- Other26 (10%)
- Structure & Body15 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers14 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras11 (4%)
What owners report
- Some trucks lost power and stalled while towing on an incline, with a burning smell and smoke or flames from the engine compartment.
- Owners describe the steering wheel suddenly seizing at highway speed along with traction control failure warnings, causing the truck to veer off the road.
- A steering wobble at highway speed, described by one owner as a 'death wobble' with excessive slop even at low speeds.
- The automatic tailgate opens unexpectedly while towing, sometimes striking the trailer or trailer jack and causing damage.
- A lower cooling hose came loose while towing a heavy load, causing power loss and speed dropping sharply on the interstate.
- Smoke was reported coming from behind the radio before the vehicle caught fire.
2020 Ford F-250 recalls
14 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V158000Mar 17, 2026Fuel System9,839 vehicles
Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, 2021-2022 F600, and 2022 F750 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V957. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
Risk: High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed mailed April 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S17. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 18, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V686000Oct 10, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras291,901 vehicles
Back over prevention:software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The 360-degree view camera system may not display a rearview image properly in certain lighting conditions.
Risk: A rearview camera image that does not display properly can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the image processing module software, free of charge.This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 30, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were mailed May 19, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 13, 2025.
- NHTSA 25V626000Sep 19, 2025Steering115,539 vehicles
Steering:column
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column upper shaft may detach from the steering column and result in a loss of steering control.
Risk: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column, and repair or replace the upper shaft as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S94. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 23, 2025.
2020 compared with other F-250 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Ford F-250 reliable compared to other F-250 years?
- It ranks 5th worst out of 16 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 73 and a Caution verdict, meaning it has more reported problems than most other F-250 years but fewer than 2017 or 2019.
- What are the most common problems on the 2020 Ford F-250?
- NHTSA data shows Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 28% of reports, followed by Fuel System at 24% and Steering at 17%.
- Does the 2020 Ford F-250 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 14 recalls for the 2020 Ford F-250, covering areas including fuel system, steering, cameras, and windshield wiper arms.
- At what mileage do 2020 F-250 problems tend to show up?
- Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 51,498, though Fuel System issues median at 95,000 miles and Steering issues median at 21,000 miles.
- Is the 2020 F-250 steering column recall serious?
- NHTSA recall 25V626000 covers 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, and F-450 trucks where the steering column upper shaft may detach, resulting in a loss of steering control.