Worse than most Expedition years
Owners filed about 1.8 times as many complaints as a typical Expedition year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 66,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Expedition years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 429 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Expedition. The most reported problem area is the transmission and drivetrain (270, 63% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the seats and seat belts. That ranks 2nd of 13 Expedition years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 18 recalls.
6 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2020 Ford Expedition before you buy.
Transmission and drivetrain
270 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 66,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that there was a grinding sound coming from the engine and the engine was raised; however, the vehicle failed to drive forward.…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 150,500 miles
When accelerating hard, the vehicle attempted to downshift the transmission, but failed and all power was suddenly lost. Vehicle transmission was loud and grinding. Warning lamps stating Shift failure was displayed but disappeared quickly. After removing acceleration, transmission seemed to slip into gear and normal acceleration was…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Engine and cooling
57 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 94,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
Loss of Use due to unavailability of safety recall parts I am writing to formally express my extreme dissatisfaction and concern regarding the ongoing mechanical failures of our 2020 Ford Expedition Max. To date, this vehicle has undergone two major transmission interventions, yet it remains in an unsafe, undrivable condition due to a…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle at start-up. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with a defective cam phaser. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 97,000 miles
Seats and seat belts
41 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 66,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
While operating the vehicle, the seatbelt retractor unexpectedly misfired and deployed with explosive force directly adjacent to my left ear. As a military veteran who already manages service-connected tinnitus, the concussive sound, comparable to a gunshot, significantly aggravated my condition, resulting in elevated ringing and…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Beginning XXX, the vehicle's restraints control module repeatedly warned of a fault with the passenger seatbelt retractor pretensioner circuit, via in-vehicle warning light and Ford app alert. This warning recurred on XXX, and again on XXX, each instructing the owner to contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible. On XXX, the…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Electrical system
35 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 50,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument cluster displayed a black screen and independently blinked on and off, causing the safety features to become unavailable while operating the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 50,000 miles
I’m reporting a parts‑availability problem with Ford recall 22S36/22S48 on my 2020 Expedition. My VIN shows the recall in FordPass and my dealer confirmed it, but they cannot get the replacement battery junction box. I was advised to contact larger dealers because parts are not being supplied. This is a fire‑risk recall, and the delay…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Body, doors and structure
23 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 87,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (12).
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 50-55 MPH and approaching the interstate, the roof molding detached from the vehicle. The driver and the contact became aware that the passenger’s side was loosened and were concerned another portion or component of the molding might detach. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 97,500 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V368000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Lights, wipers and visibility
19 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 39,000 miles. Parts named most: Sun / moon roof assembly (6).
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
My 3rd / Center brake light assembly had to be replaced as it was not working. The issue was caused by condensation. I paid to have it replaced but feel this should be a warranty item. Root cause should be improper seal around light assembly. This would not be normal user “wear and tear”. It is improper design/mfg process. Since it is…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound and the sun/moon roof glass shattered overhead. At the time of the failure, the contact did not know that the sound was associated with panoramic moonroof and believed there was a blowout of a tire. Upon…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 80,000 miles
Driver assist systems
17 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Warnings (6), Automatic emergency braking (5).
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was distorted or blank. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V442000 (Back Over Prevention). There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 60,000 miles
My park aid sensor fault comes on without cause and a picture of a car blocks the view to the screen that displays directions from google maps. It comes on suddenly and sporadically and has almost caused an accident several times as I don't know where I am going when this happens. I took my car to the dealership to get this fixed. The…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Cruise control and acceleration
15 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 55,000 miles
Was trying to merge into traffic by accelerating but the transmission was not shifting properly or slipping which caused me to almost be in a wreck due to this problem. Took vehicle to dealer and was told the transmission needs replaced due to a cdf drum inside transmission. Said there is a tsb for the issue but no recall. Said it's a…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Brakes and stability control
11 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
The driver's side front brake line is positioned too close to the steering column at manufacturing. This is causing the steering column to wear a hole in the metal brake line tube ultimately causing a loss of brakes.Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked violently. The brake warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, there was a burning odor emanating from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 104,550 miles
Air bags
9 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the driver airbag assembly on my 2020 Ford Expedition. The driver-side steering wheel airbag cover has split open along the factory tear seam to the point that the airbag material is exposed. There was no collision or airbag deployment associated with this failure. Ford previously issued…Owner complaint, filed 2026
"your air bag warning is on due to an issue with the front passenger air bag system. The front pasenger airbag may not work properly." this system should under no circumstance be malfunctioning in any way outside of a collision. This needs recalled and fixed.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Fuel system
5 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
The SUV was driving smoothly at 55mph speed, suddenly I hit the break and tried to reaccelerate and felt a hard transmission shift, felt like metal hitting metal, felt like it was forced to shift to drive mode from parking mode. After that I started using 93 octane rated gasoline, do not observe the problem too much. I will really scary…Owner complaint, filed 2025
We own a Ford Expedition 2020. In 2023, we started noticing jerky, harsh, and aggressive “slips” when the vehicle was trying to change gears - upon multiple occasions. But, in 2024, we experienced three, major, different instances - all were extremely scary and it was miraculous they didn’t cause accidents, car pile ups, or worse! The…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Steering
4 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and attempting to steer the vehicle, the steering wheel would oversteer the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering was overcompensating while steering…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 50,000 miles
Recurring dangerous transmission defect in my 2020 Ford Expedition (3.5L EcoBoost, 10-speed 10R80, ~136,826 mi). It has lost power and shifted violently multiple times, each a crash risk. 1) ~Aug 22, 2026: Accelerating to pass on the highway, the whole vehicle shut down. I lost all power INCLUDING power steering and had to coast off the…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Suspension
1 complaintClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
The vehicle shakes/vibrates when driving over 65mph, gets worse the faster you go. Seems worse in the middle of the vehicle. Took it to ford dealer we purchased from and they couldn't find an issue, just said its something with the tires or rims. Took it to local ford dealer and same thing, said it was rims or tires giving vibration.…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 3,622 miles
Wheels and tires
1 complaintTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
The vehicle shakes/vibrates when driving over 65mph, gets worse the faster you go. Seems worse in the middle of the vehicle. Took it to ford dealer we purchased from and they couldn't find an issue, just said its something with the tires or rims. Took it to local ford dealer and same thing, said it was rims or tires giving vibration.…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 3,622 miles
Ford Expedition complaints by year
Compare the 2020 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2020 full-size SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Ford Expedition | Worse than most years | 18 |
| 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe | One of the better years | 3 |
| 2020 Toyota 4Runner | One of the better years | 1 |
| 2020 Dodge Durango | One of the better years | 2 |
2020 Ford Expedition recalls
Transmission and drivetrain
- Risk
- Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Body and structure Center console
- Risk
- Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Seat belts Pretensioner
- 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.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
EnginePark outside until fixed
- Risk
- A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed.
Full recall summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. A short circuit within the battery junction box can cause an engine fire while driving or parked.
Backup camera
- Risk
- A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Seat belts Pretensioner
- 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.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 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.
Electrical system Body control module
- Risk
- Inoperative pre-collision assist features that fail to perform as expected can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Navigator vehicles that were repaired incorrectly under recall 20V262. The Pre-Collision Assist features, such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, are not functional due to a software error.
Equipment Labels
- 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.
- Fix
- Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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."
Seat belts Pretensioner
- Risk
- Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary.
Full recall summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Equipment Owners / service / other manual
- Risk
- Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Fix
- Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
Windows, mirrors and wipers Linkages
- Risk
- Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Backup camera
- Risk
- Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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."
Seat belts
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the incorrect classification would enable the passenger air bag to deploy instead of disabling it, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
- Fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt buckle, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition vehicles. The seat belt tension sensor may incorrectly classify a child occupant as an adult.
Seats Mid / rear assembly
- Risk
- An improperly welded headrest bracket may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace it as needed, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The attachment bracket for the driver's side second-row seat headrest may not have been sufficiently welded to the seat frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
Electrical system Instrument cluster / panel
- Risk
- If the driver is unaware that the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, they may rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram software for the Body Control Module, Antilock Braking System, Instrument Panel Cluster and Headlamp Control Modules, and reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System, free…
Full recall summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with camera-only Pre-Collision Assist feature. Vehicles built with the optional radar-plus-camera Pre-Collision Assist system are not affected. Due to incorrect coding of interfacing modules, the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, and the driver cannot access the menu functions necessary to enable the Pre-Collision Assist feature.
Seat belts
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide the intended level of protection, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seatbelt buckle, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition vehicles. The front passenger seatbelt buckle's Belt Tension Sensor (BTS) may malfunction and may result in the seat occupant being misclassified.
Transmission and drivetrain Gear position indicator
- 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.
- Fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the shift cable locking clip installation, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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.
Seats Recliner
- 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.
- Fix
- Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
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."
2020 Ford Expedition questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Ford Expedition?
The most reported problem areas on the 2020 Ford Expedition are the transmission and drivetrain (270 complaints), the engine and cooling (57 complaints) and the seats and seat belts (41 complaints).
Is the 2020 Ford Expedition a good year to buy?
Worse than most Expedition years. Owners filed about 1.8 times as many complaints as a typical Expedition year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 66,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2012, 2013 and 2014. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Expedition years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Expedition have?
NHTSA lists 18 recalls for the 2020 Ford Expedition. The most recent, from Jun 2026, covers the transmission and drivetrain. One of them tells owners to park outside or not drive the car until it is fixed. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2020 Ford Expedition problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 66,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 94,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Ford Expedition years should I avoid?
The Expedition years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2019. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2012, 2013 and 2014. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a 2020 Ford Expedition?
We inspect the car with a scan tool and paint gauge, read the history report and tell you whether it is worth the asking price, before you hand over any money.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model