2020 Ford Expedition transmission and drivetrain problems
264 of the 417 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Expedition name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 41 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 264 reports a crash · 3 a fire · 3 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2021: 4 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 49 · 2024: 78 · 2025: 64 · 2026: 58
Half of the 54 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 42,000 and 91,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
417 complaints in all about the 2020 Ford Expedition, 58 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Expedition transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I own the above listed 2020 Expedition. We were traveling on Interstate 287 yesterday. I was in the right lane and was stuck behind a slow moving semi truck. I put on my blinker and waited for an opening in traffic to move into the middle lane. When an opening presented itself I pressed down on the gas pedal to accelerate into traffic.
When accellerating in 5th, or6th gear trans slips out hard and car wont accelerate for 1 to 2 seconds. It displays being in 1st while this happens before it goes back into precious gear and starts driving
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started to decelerate independently. The contact stated the error system failure warning light was illuminated. The contact also started to hear an abnormal noise.
At 70+ MPH the automatic transmission made a loud clinking sound, lost acceleration/power for approximant 5-8 sec, and the "wrench" and other lights on the cluster board lite up with every light flashing on the interstate in a passing lane, and heavy traffic all around. This same incident occurred just 2 days later at approx 35 mph.
Transmission is slipping very bad. Really shifts hard between gears, especially from 4th to 5th gear. Went to pass a vehicle, on acceleration the transmission slipped and the engine rpm's went very high. I let off the accelerator and the gear caught. I thought the transmission was done at that time
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 26V402000 HighJun 24, 2026 · 741,195 vehicles
- 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.
- 20V197000 HighApr 3, 2020 · 55,158 vehicles
- 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.
41 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 54366 Service bulletinNov 12, 2025
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
- TSB 25-2476 Service bulletinOct 30, 2025
- This bulletin supersedes TSB 25-2132. Reason for update: update the Part List Description and Labor Times Description Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed shift * Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0751, P0752, P075
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P07F7 P0729 P0731 P0732 P0733 P0734 P0735 P0736
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Ford Expedition names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Ford Expedition
Source: the same files- engine problems 55 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2020 Ford Expedition?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 264 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (63% of everything owners filed about it), and 41 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2020 Ford Expedition?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 26V402000, 20V197000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2020 Ford Expedition?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 65,000 miles; half of them between 42,000 and 91,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.