2020 Ford F-250
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2020 Ford F-250 has 351 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 384. 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. There is 1 recall issued for this model year. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.
351
Total Complaints
1
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
TRANSMISSION
69 complaints- • 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.
“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
When Problems Appear on the 2020 Ford F-250
Based on 138 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 45K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
ELECTRICAL
ENGINE
STEERING
BODY/STRUCTURE
OTHER
SUSPENSION
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (1)
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."
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. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2020 Ford F-250
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Ford F-250 Service Intervals
IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2020 F-250, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
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
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 1 recall have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ford F-250 — Year Comparison
How does 2020 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 351
- Recalls
- 1
- Fire reports
- 3
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 3
- Segment avg
- 384
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2020 Ford F-250