2020 Ford F-150: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2020 Ford F-150: 11 recalls, 734 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
Recalls
11 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seats, Seats Vehicle recall #19V633000 · 2019 · 639,137 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Electrical Vehicle recall #19V805000 · 2019 · 135,725 vehicles
What's wrong: The fastener securing the power distribution box (pdb) 12v cable and battery monitoring system (bms) eyelets to the positive battery terminal May loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and braking or steering assist. The engine could also stall.
Why it matters: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/bms/pdb joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019.
Tires, Tires Vehicle recall #19V903000 · 2019 · 33 vehicles
What's wrong: The spare tire could have been damaged when it was installed on the rim.
Why it matters: The damage can cause the tire to rapidly lose air pressure or detach from the wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spare tire, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2020.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #20V097000 · 2020 · 166,196 vehicles
What's wrong: The daytime running lamps (drl) May remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the master lighting switch (mls) is manually rotated from the "autolamps" switch position to "headlamps on." as such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Drl that cannot dim May reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #20V197000 · 2020 · 55,158 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the transmission selection does not match the indicated gear selection, and the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the shift cable locking clip installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020.
Electrical Vehicle recall #20V467000 · 2020 · 431 vehicles
What's wrong: An incorrect attachment nut May have been used to attach the battery positive (b+) power supply cable to the starter motor, possibly affecting the electrical conductivity, resulting in excess heat and electrical arcing.
Why it matters: Electrical arcing can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the starter motor b+ power supply attachment nut, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2020.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #20V575000 · 2020 · 620,246 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera May intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 111, "rear visibility."
Why it matters: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #22V250000 · 2022 · 652,996 vehicles
What's wrong: The windshield wiper arms May break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
Why it matters: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022.
Equipment Vehicle recall #24V852000 · 2024 · 27,678 vehicles
What's wrong: The air bag warning label May be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants May have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners May call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24c39.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #25V442000 · 2025 · 200,237 vehicles
What's wrong: A software error May cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image May remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Why it matters: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse May distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #26V373000 · 2026 · 91,198 vehicles
What's wrong: When the headlight switch is turned from "autolamps" to "headlamps on," the daytime running lamps (drls) May remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Daytime running lamps that do not dim May reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: ,dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 18 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (357): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (276), warning light on (78), noise or vibration (59).
- Engine (129): the most common themes are warning light on (49), noise or vibration (31).
- Electrical (88): the most common themes are electrical failure (21), door / lock issues (17).
- Other / unknown (86): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (13).
The 2020 Ford F-150 has 734 owner complaints, ranking #20 of 37 F-150 model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 1025). Complaints peaked in 2025 (185 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 38,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2019 (1333 complaints, 9 recalls), 2021 (1026 complaints, 29 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | Diesel |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 22 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 25 | 22 | Diesel |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 23 | 20 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 23 | 20 | Regular |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S10) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 18 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2020 Ford F-150.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2020 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 vehicle recalls for the 2020 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2020 Ford F-150 problems?
Owners have filed 734 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (357), engine (129), electrical (88).
What gas mileage does the 2020 Ford F-150 get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic (S10)), across 10 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2020 Ford F-150 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.