2020 Ford F-150 transmission and drivetrain problems
356 of the 730 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford F-150 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: 60 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. 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 database8 of the 356 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 8 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 20 · 2023: 28 · 2024: 62 · 2025: 108 · 2026: 113
Half of the 91 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 22,000 and 100,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
730 complaints in all about the 2020 Ford F-150, 113 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 F-150 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.
While driving my vehicle, the transmission seems to have intermittent issues with up and down shifting anywhere from gears 1-7. Feelings of transmission slip and hesitation to shift. Also it is noisy sometimes. You can hear it downshift. It sounds like a hard steel clunk.
Clutch went out in automatic truck causing transmission to overheat and fail. Lost reverse while driving and truck would slam into every gear when accelerating or downshifting. Only 18,000 miles on truck.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle shut off and in the park position it suddenly rolled down a slight incline before crashing into a second vehicle.
Intermintedly when placed in park it after engine is turned off rolls. Sometimes very slow sometimes very quickly. Also key gets stuck in the ignition
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission shifted to 10th gear as the rpms rose up to 1,000 RPM and the vehicle hesitated to exceed 40 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code. The vehicle was not repaired.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 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.
60 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 54592 Service bulletinFeb 17, 2026
- For 20172026 vehicles equipped with a 10R transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure has been made in the WSM, located in Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing. This updated procedure improves the diagnosis of customer reported transmission concerns and aids in locating the proper root cause. During diagnosis and testing, details regarding whether the condition is more preval
- 25E10 EmissionsDec 13, 2025
- Certain 2018-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles Equipped With 3.3L Engines Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming
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 P2703 P0761 P2702 P2705 P0729 P0731 P0732
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Ford F-150 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Ford F-150
Source: the same files- engine problems 139 complaints
- electrical problems 86 complaints
- visibility and wiper problems 63 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2020 Ford F-150?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 356 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (49% of everything owners filed about it), and 60 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall 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 F-150?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 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 F-150?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 59,000 miles; half of them between 22,000 and 100,000. 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.