2020 Ford F-350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Ford F-350 has 233 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: shifting from 2 to 3rd gear while lightly accelerating, it bangs so hard i think transmission fell out. if it under aggressive acceleration, it's smooth. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 7 crash reports 2 injuries

233

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

51 complaints

22%

• SHIFTING FROM 2 TO 3RD GEAR WHILE LIGHTLY ACCELERATING, IT BANGS SO HARD I THINK TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. IF IT UNDER AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION, IT'S SMOOTH
• WHILE NEGOTIATING STEEP GRADES (OVER 8 DEGREES) AT MODERATE SPEEDS (~30MPH) WITH THE ENGINE BRAKE IN AUTOMATIC A 3RD GEAR TO 2ND GEAR OR 2ND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR CHANGE IS PROCEEDED BY A SIGNIFICANT ACCELERATION BY AS MUCH AS 5MPH OR MORE THIS CAN BE SIMULATED ON LESS STEEP INCLINES BY ENGAGING THE E
• THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL IS 20S33. TORGUE CONVERTER DAMPER FRACTURE. THE TRUCK WAS SOLD WITH TECHNICAL PROBLEMS OF THE BACKUP CAMERA, THAT TOTALLY DOESN’T WORK TILL NOW. THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS STARTS ON 07 TH OF OCTOBER 2020, WHEN I NOTICED A HUGE NOISE IN THE CAR ACCORDING TO THE TRANSM

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

“SHIFTING FROM 2 TO 3RD GEAR WHILE LIGHTLY ACCELERATING, IT BANGS SO HARD I THINK TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. IF IT UNDER AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION, IT'S SMOOTH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

44 complaints

19%

• The contact stated owns a 2020 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired under Manufacturer Campaign Number: 22E04 Reprogram PCM/TCM (Power Train) however, after the repair the fuel economy had become significantly lessened. Prior to the repair the fuel economy was 22 MPG how
• Emissions control system has "failed" 5 times. Check engine light illuminated. Each time: P0420 DTC code: "Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1). Manufacturer is unable to fix. Vehicle will go into "Limp Mode" stranding owners/passengers.
• The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle experienced reduced power and went into LIMP Mode. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer the following day. The dealer diagnose

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

“The contact stated owns a 2020 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired under Manufacturer Campaign Number: 22E04 Reprogram PCM/TCM (Power Train) however, after the repair the fuel economy had become significantly lessened. Prior to the repair the fuel economy was 22 MPG how”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

34 complaints

15%

• STEERING RETURNABILTY OR "RETURN TO CENTER" IS IMPEDED BY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST. ACCORDING TO FORD THE NEW ELECTRIC OVER HYDRAULIC SYSTEM INSTALLED ON SOME SUPER DUTY TRUCKS ASSISTS THE DRIVER DURING CROSS WIND OR HEAVY ROAD CROWN SITUATIONS. BUT WHEN THERE IS NO WIND OR ROAD CROWN THE SYST
• BROUGHT THIS TRUCK ON NOVEMBER 5,2020. IT IS A FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY DUALLY . ON NOVEMBER 25,2020 THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COULDN'T STEER TRUCK THEN WITHIN A FEW MINS. LOST THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK. HAD TO HOLD BRAKES TO FLOOR TO GET TRUCK STOPPED BESIDE OF ROAD. LOOK LIKE LOST FLUID FROM POWER S
• ON 3 OCCASIONS SINCE I BOUGHT THE PU NEW ON JULY 24TH, 2020 I EXPERIENCED WHAT THE FORD DEALER NOW CALLS DEATH WOBBLE. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED ON SEPT 2ND WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL PULLING MY TRAILER AT ABOUT 50MPH. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLEN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“STEERING RETURNABILTY OR "RETURN TO CENTER" IS IMPEDED BY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST. ACCORDING TO FORD THE NEW ELECTRIC OVER HYDRAULIC SYSTEM INSTALLED ON SOME SUPER DUTY TRUCKS ASSISTS THE DRIVER DURING CROSS WIND OR HEAVY ROAD CROWN SITUATIONS. BUT WHEN THERE IS NO WIND OR ROAD CROWN THE SYST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

20 complaints

• VEHICLE RPM WILL NOT DROP WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF THE GAS AND IN GEAR. RPM STAYS AT 1100 AND VEHICLE SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN. NO DIFFERENCE WITH ENGINE BRAKE ON OR OFF. SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN PARKING LOTS OR AT STOP LIGHTS WHEN MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE UNLESS B
• FIFTH WHEEL ANDERSEN ULTIMATE HITCH SYSTEM FAILED WHILE WE WERE HAULING OUR UNIT. HITCH BROKE AND SAFETY CHAINS ALSO BROKE. UNIT WAS BLOWN OFF THE TRUCK WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE BALL TO BREAK SHEAR OFF DETACHING FROM TRUCK. COMPANY IS NOT WANTING TO DEAL WITH OUR INCIDENT. CAUSED OUR
• FIFTH WHEEL ANDERSEN ULTIMATE HITCH SYSTEM FAILED WHILE WE WERE HAULING OUR UNIT. HITCH BROKE AND SAFETY CHAINS ALSO BROKE. UNIT WAS BLOWN OFF THE TRUCK WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE BALL TO BREAK SHEAR OFF DETACHING FROM TRUCK. COMPANY IS NOT WANTING TO DEAL WITH OUR INCIDENT. CAUSED OUR

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

“VEHICLE RPM WILL NOT DROP WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF THE GAS AND IN GEAR. RPM STAYS AT 1100 AND VEHICLE SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN. NO DIFFERENCE WITH ENGINE BRAKE ON OR OFF. SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN PARKING LOTS OR AT STOP LIGHTS WHEN MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE UNLESS B”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

14 complaints

• The Ford is under a Customer Satisfaction Program 21B03, and Ford will not honor this for our vehicle, however our truck has the number one planetary and ring gear assembly that has gone out.
• The contact owned a 2020 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 80 mph when the vehicle started emitting a smoke odor. Shortly after smoke started coming from the vents of the vehicle. There were no warning lights. The contact attempted to depress the brake pedal to pull ove
• The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-350. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was a loss of power steering, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact used an OBD scanner to retrieve failure codes for the powertra

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

“The Ford is under a Customer Satisfaction Program 21B03, and Ford will not honor this for our vehicle, however our truck has the number one planetary and ring gear assembly that has gone out.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~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 233 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: SHIFTING FROM 2 TO 3RD GEAR WHILE LIGHTLY ACCELERATING, IT BANGS SO HARD I THINK TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. IF IT UNDER AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION, IT'S SMOOTH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: The contact stated owns a 2020 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired under Manufacturer Campaign Number: 22E04 Reprogram PCM/TCM (Power Train) however, after the repair the fuel economy had become significantly lessened. Prior to the repair the fuel economy was 22 MPG how
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: STEERING RETURNABILTY OR "RETURN TO CENTER" IS IMPEDED BY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST. ACCORDING TO FORD THE NEW ELECTRIC OVER HYDRAULIC SYSTEM INSTALLED ON SOME SUPER DUTY TRUCKS ASSISTS THE DRIVER DURING CROSS WIND OR HEAVY ROAD CROWN SITUATIONS. BUT WHEN THERE IS NO WIND OR ROAD CROWN THE SYST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: VEHICLE RPM WILL NOT DROP WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF THE GAS AND IN GEAR. RPM STAYS AT 1100 AND VEHICLE SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN. NO DIFFERENCE WITH ENGINE BRAKE ON OR OFF. SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN PARKING LOTS OR AT STOP LIGHTS WHEN MOVING AT SLOW SPEEDS 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE UNLESS B
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)