2020 Ford F-250

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Ford F-250 has 351 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2020 ford f-250. the contact stated that when he starts his truck that when the vehicle switched gears, the transition was rough. there were some times when the vehicle would remain stuck in a certain gear and then have a delay in shifting thus putting a strain on the transmis. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 3 crash reports 3 injuries

351

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

69 complaints

20%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE STARTS HIS TRUCK THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE SWITCHED GEARS, THE TRANSITION WAS ROUGH. THERE WERE SOME TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD REMAIN STUCK IN A CERTAIN GEAR AND THEN HAVE A DELAY IN SHIFTING THUS PUTTING A STRAIN ON THE TRANSMIS
• VEHICLE DEMONSTRATES REPEATABLE UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. ALSO DEMONSTRATES UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION WHEN ENGINE BRAKING ENGAGES. OCCASIONALLY VEHICLE OPERATES AT A UNCOMMANDED HIGH IDLE OF 1200-1500 RPM VS THE NORMAL 600. MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN SLOW MANEUVERING SU
• WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP SLOWLY THE TRUCK BUMPS/CLUNKS AND SURGES. THIS IS INTENSIFIED IF THE TRANSMISSION IS WARM. ALSO WHEN GOING UP A HILL UNDER A LOAD THERE IS A GEAR NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE STARTS HIS TRUCK THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE SWITCHED GEARS, THE TRANSITION WAS ROUGH. THERE WERE SOME TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD REMAIN STUCK IN A CERTAIN GEAR AND THEN HAVE A DELAY IN SHIFTING THUS PUTTING A STRAIN ON THE TRANSMIS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

59 complaints

17%

• ON AUGUST 28, 2020, THE ENGINE IN MY VIRTUALLY BRAND NEW 2020 FORD F-250 TRUCK (EQUIPPED WITH A DIESEL ENGINE) SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY ADVANCED WARNING WHATSOEVER SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I HAD JUST TURNED FROM STATE HIGHWAY 10 INTO THE LEFT LANE OF A FOUR-LANE CITY STREET IN 5 O'
• MOTOR HAS A NKOCKING TAPPING SOUND LIKE AND OLD SCHOOL TYPE WRITER AND GETS LOUD AT TIMES WHEN IDELING AND SOME TIME REALLY LOUD ANFTER DRIVING IT FO RW WHLLE, (DIESEL ENGINE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT),FORD ENGINEERING AT FACTORY KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT REFUSES TO ALLOW DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR IT A
• Going down road cruise set in a 4 lane heavy traffic my truck dies like a light comes on and cars are bumper to bumper I’m trying to pull over my children are in the vehicle they go to crying scared finally I got half way off the road and got out and with few good peoples help pushed it out of the r

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“ON AUGUST 28, 2020, THE ENGINE IN MY VIRTUALLY BRAND NEW 2020 FORD F-250 TRUCK (EQUIPPED WITH A DIESEL ENGINE) SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY ADVANCED WARNING WHATSOEVER SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I HAD JUST TURNED FROM STATE HIGHWAY 10 INTO THE LEFT LANE OF A FOUR-LANE CITY STREET IN 5 O'”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

44 complaints

13%

• TRUCK HAS A BAD WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEN IT HITS BUMPS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT HAS 2,000 MILES ON IT. I THINK SOME FOLKS HAVE CALLED THIS A "DEATH WOBBLE". WHEN IT HAPPENS IT COULD EASILY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT HAS TOO MUCH SLOP IN IT EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND
• LOST POWER STEERING WHILE PULLING A CAMPER.
• STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES EACH TIME I DRIVE. THIS HAS OCCURRED REGULARLY SINCE THE FIRST DAY I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TRUCK HAS A BAD WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEN IT HITS BUMPS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT HAS 2,000 MILES ON IT. I THINK SOME FOLKS HAVE CALLED THIS A "DEATH WOBBLE". WHEN IT HAPPENS IT COULD EASILY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT HAS TOO MUCH SLOP IN IT EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

29 complaints

• MY BRAND NEW 2020 F250 LARIAT WAS DELIVERED TO MY HOME YESTERDAY. IT WAS DRIVEN ROUGHLY 80 MILES FROM DENVER TO COLORADO SPRINGS BY THE SALESMAN WHO SOLD IT TO ME, BUT IS OTHERWISE UNUSED. I NOTICED LAST NIGHT THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE RUNNING TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL APPEARS TO BE TOO LONG.
• My steering wheel is out of orientation by 5 to 10 degrees. there is a shimming in the steering wheel. This is accentuated when i change lanes on the freeway and go over the lane deliniators. If i am on a smooth road on the freeway, my vehicle tracks perfectly staight without and pressure on the ste
• Vehicle shakes violently when driving at highway speed 65-70 mph even slower, have to stop almost completely on highways! Very dangerous, as soon front tires hit any imperfections on the road even small pot hole or open joints on the road. This is a pretty known problem on previous trucks '17-'18 pr

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY BRAND NEW 2020 F250 LARIAT WAS DELIVERED TO MY HOME YESTERDAY. IT WAS DRIVEN ROUGHLY 80 MILES FROM DENVER TO COLORADO SPRINGS BY THE SALESMAN WHO SOLD IT TO ME, BUT IS OTHERWISE UNUSED. I NOTICED LAST NIGHT THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE RUNNING TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL APPEARS TO BE TOO LONG. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

28 complaints

• THE LOWER COOLING HOSE CAME LOOSE ON MY FORD 2020 F250 WITH1650 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, WHILE TRAVELING ON A INTERSTATE TOWING A LOAD OF APPROXIMATELY 7000LBS. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WE MANAGED TO SAFELY EXIT OF THE INTERSTATE. THE MAX. SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WAS 20 MPH WHILE TRYING TO EXIT THE INTER
• WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE, I NOTICE MY VEHICLE WAS SMOKING. SOON MY ENGINE HIGH TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY SPEED DROPPED FROM 65 MPH TO 20 MPH. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I SCRAMBLED TO GET THE TRUCK AND THE TRAVEL TRAILER I WAS PULLING OVER INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND MED
• VEHICLE DEMONSTRATES REPEATABLE UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. ALSO DEMONSTRATES UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION WHEN ENGINE BRAKING ENGAGES. OCCASIONALLY VEHICLE OPERATES AT A UNCOMMANDED HIGH IDLE OF 1200-1500 RPM VS THE NORMAL 600. MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN SLOW MANEUVERING SU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE LOWER COOLING HOSE CAME LOOSE ON MY FORD 2020 F250 WITH1650 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, WHILE TRAVELING ON A INTERSTATE TOWING A LOAD OF APPROXIMATELY 7000LBS. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WE MANAGED TO SAFELY EXIT OF THE INTERSTATE. THE MAX. SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WAS 20 MPH WHILE TRYING TO EXIT THE INTER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 351 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE STARTS HIS TRUCK THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE SWITCHED GEARS, THE TRANSITION WAS ROUGH. THERE WERE SOME TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD REMAIN STUCK IN A CERTAIN GEAR AND THEN HAVE A DELAY IN SHIFTING THUS PUTTING A STRAIN ON THE TRANSMIS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: ON AUGUST 28, 2020, THE ENGINE IN MY VIRTUALLY BRAND NEW 2020 FORD F-250 TRUCK (EQUIPPED WITH A DIESEL ENGINE) SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY ADVANCED WARNING WHATSOEVER SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I HAD JUST TURNED FROM STATE HIGHWAY 10 INTO THE LEFT LANE OF A FOUR-LANE CITY STREET IN 5 O'
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TRUCK HAS A BAD WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEN IT HITS BUMPS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT HAS 2,000 MILES ON IT. I THINK SOME FOLKS HAVE CALLED THIS A "DEATH WOBBLE". WHEN IT HAPPENS IT COULD EASILY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT HAS TOO MUCH SLOP IN IT EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: MY BRAND NEW 2020 F250 LARIAT WAS DELIVERED TO MY HOME YESTERDAY. IT WAS DRIVEN ROUGHLY 80 MILES FROM DENVER TO COLORADO SPRINGS BY THE SALESMAN WHO SOLD IT TO ME, BUT IS OTHERWISE UNUSED. I NOTICED LAST NIGHT THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE RUNNING TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL APPEARS TO BE TOO LONG.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)