Ford · Known Issues
2020 Ford F-150 Problems: 35 Known Issues
2020 model year · 8,296+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2020 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2020 model year · 8,296+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2020 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 8,296+ owner reports, the 2020 Ford F-150 has 35 documented known issues, with 9 rated critical. The most serious are Brake Vacuum Pump Failure (EcoBoost) ($300-$800 repair), 3.0L Power Stroke Diesel CP4.2 High-Pressure Fuel Pump Catastrophic Failure (Fuel System Contamination) ($50-$15,000 repair), P0700 — Transmission Control System Malfunction (MIL Request) from Failed 6R80 Molded Leadframe ($300-$1,200 repair), 3.5L EcoBoost Turbocharger Wastegate Failure — Stuck Wastegate / Reduced Engine Power ($1,800-$5,000 repair), 3.5L EcoBoost cam phaser rattle on cold start ($800-$3,600 repair), 10R80 10-speed transmission harsh/erratic shifting and torque-converter shudder ($150-$4,500 repair), Positive Battery Cable / BMS Terminal Connection Loosens — Stall, Lost Power Assist, and Fire Risk (Recall 19S40 / NHTSA 19V805) ($0-$0 repair), 2.7L EcoBoost Coolant Intrusion from Cracked Cylinder Head ($4,000-$8,000 repair) and Rearview Camera Shows a Blank Image or Stays On After Reversing (Recall 25S72 / NHTSA 25V442). The most commonly reported issue is 10-Speed Transmission Shudder/Harsh Shifts with 2,800 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $40 to $15,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 and 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:SIDE IMPACT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The electronic brake booster may leak brake fluid into the electronic control unit, which could result in reduced braking performance.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 Super Cab vehicles. The front seatbelt webbing may be incorrectly routed.
+ 51 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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According to Au7o's analysis of 8,296+ owner reports, the 2020 Ford F-150 has 35 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Brake Vacuum Pump Failure (EcoBoost), 3.0L Power Stroke Diesel CP4.2 High-Pressure Fuel Pump Catastrophic Failure (Fuel System Contamination), P0700 — Transmission Control System Malfunction (MIL Request) from Failed 6R80 Molded Leadframe. Of these, 9 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2020 Ford F-150 has 35 known issues documented across 8,296+ owner reports. 9 issues are rated critical: Brake Vacuum Pump Failure (EcoBoost) and 3.0L Power Stroke Diesel CP4.2 High-Pressure Fuel Pump Catastrophic Failure (Fuel System Contamination) and P0700 — Transmission Control System Malfunction (MIL Request) from Failed 6R80 Molded Leadframe and 3.5L EcoBoost Turbocharger Wastegate Failure — Stuck Wastegate / Reduced Engine Power and 3.5L EcoBoost cam phaser rattle on cold start and 10R80 10-speed transmission harsh/erratic shifting and torque-converter shudder and Positive Battery Cable / BMS Terminal Connection Loosens — Stall, Lost Power Assist, and Fire Risk (Recall 19S40 / NHTSA 19V805) and 2.7L EcoBoost Coolant Intrusion from Cracked Cylinder Head and Rearview Camera Shows a Blank Image or Stays On After Reversing (Recall 25S72 / NHTSA 25V442). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Ford F-150 issues range from $0 to $15,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Brake Vacuum Pump Failure (EcoBoost), typically costs $300-$800 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The vacuum pump that provides brake assist on EcoBoost F-150s can fail, resulting in a hard brake pedal and reduced braking assist. Since turbo engines don't produce intake vacuum like naturally aspirated engines, they rely on this pump. Repairs typically run $300-$800. Severity: high.
The 2018-2020 F-150 3.0L Power Stroke diesel uses a Bosch CP4.2 high-pressure fuel pump. The CP4 was engineered for high-lubricity European diesel, not U.S. ultra-low-sulfur diesel, so its internal roller/cam followers can run dry and gall. Air ingress and cavitation accelerate t… Repairs typically run $50-$15,000. Severity: high.
On the F-150, P0700 is a generic "MIL request" companion code the PCM stores whenever the transmission control strategy has logged an underlying transmission fault — it points to a problem but never names it by itself. On the extremely common 6R80 six-speed automatic (F-150 2011-… Repairs typically run $300-$1,200. Severity: high.
The wastegate on the 3.5L EcoBoost turbochargers fails, either sticking (carbon/corrosion binding the valve and actuator arm) on early vacuum-operated designs or through electronic actuator/position-sensor faults on 2015-and-newer electric-actuator turbos. A stuck-closed wastegat… Repairs typically run $1,800-$5,000. Severity: high.
Second-gen 3.5L EcoBoost engines develop a loud rattle/knock from the front timing cover for 2-5 seconds on cold start (and sometimes at idle). The variable-cam-timing (VCT) phasers have a lock pin that fails to engage on startup, allowing the phaser to rattle against the cam spr… Repairs typically run $800-$3,600. Severity: high.
The 10R80 10-speed automatic (introduced on the 2017 F-150) is widely reported to shift harshly: jerking, clunking, banging on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts, hesitation, gear hunting, and occasional limp-mode with a 'Transmission Not in Park' or 'drive mode not available' message. Many… Repairs typically run $150-$4,500. Severity: high.
On certain 2019-2020 F-150s, the fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and the Battery Monitoring Sensor (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may not be properly torqued, partly due to leftover wiring-eyelet adhesive on the BMS terminal interferin… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
Ford's 2.7L EcoBoost (and related small-displacement EcoBoost engines) is prone to micro-cracks forming in the cylinder head around the exhaust ports, allowing coolant to seep into the combustion chamber. This produces unexplained coolant loss with no external leak, white sweet-s… Repairs typically run $4,000-$8,000. Severity: high.
Ford recalled 2019-2020 F-150 pickups under campaign 25S72 (NHTSA 25V442000) for a rearview camera software error. On an affected truck the camera can display a blank image when the driver shifts into reverse, or the reversing image can stay up on the display after the backing ev… Severity: high.
The 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission can develop a shudder during light acceleration, typically between 25-50 mph. This is caused by torque converter clutch issues and affects many F-150s. Ford has released multiple TSBs and fluid updates to address this. Repairs typically run $200-$3,500. Severity: medium.
The EcoBoost engines can develop oil leaks from the oil pan gasket. The leak often appears at the rear of the oil pan and can drip onto exhaust components, causing a burning oil smell. This is common on trucks with higher mileage. Repairs typically run $400-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The two-piece driveshaft uses a center support (carrier) bearing that can wear out, causing vibration and noise. The rubber support degrades over time, especially in hot climates or with heavy towing. Ford TSB addresses this issue. Repairs typically run $300-$700. Severity: medium.
The water pump on the 3.5L EcoBoost can fail or develop leaks, causing coolant loss and potential overheating. The pump is internal and driven by the timing chain, making replacement labor-intensive. Repairs typically run $800-$2,000. Severity: medium.
Ford modular V8s (and the EcoBoost V6 turbo manifolds) are notorious for snapping the small (8mm) exhaust-manifold-to-head studs/bolts. They are installed without anti-seize and corrode/fatigue from repeated heat cycling; on the turbo EcoBoost engines, a large share of the turbo/… Repairs typically run $50-$700. Severity: medium.
The sealed, non-serviceable front hub/bearing assemblies on 13th-gen F-150s wear out and produce a speed-dependent humming or grinding that gets louder with speed and can shift with cornering load, plus steering-wheel/floor vibration. Because the wheel-speed sensor lives in the h… Repairs typically run $300-$750. Severity: medium.
Ford's 4x4 F-150s use a vacuum-operated Integrated Wheel End (IWE) system instead of conventional locking hubs: vacuum keeps the front hubs UNLOCKED in 2WD and is released to lock them for 4WD. The system relies on vacuum lines, a hood-area solenoid, and a check valve that are hi… Repairs typically run $100-$700. Severity: medium.
The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) — the computer behind the SYNC 2 and SYNC 3 touchscreen — is a very common failure on 2013-2020 F-150s. Its internal electronics and onboard flash storage degrade over time, producing a black/unresponsive screen (sometimes with backl… Repairs typically run $0-$900. Severity: medium.
Third-generation 5.0L Coyote V8 trucks consume oil at an abnormally high rate (greater than ~1 quart per 3,000 miles) with no visible external leaks. Ford TSB 19-2365 attributes it to high intake-manifold vacuum during deceleration fuel shut-off pulling oil past the rings/valve g… Repairs typically run $0-$2,000. Severity: medium.
Third-generation 5.0L Coyote F-150s consume engine oil at a high rate — greater than 1 quart per 3,000 miles — with no visible external leaks. Ford attributes the loss to high intake-manifold vacuum during deceleration fuel shut-off (DFSO) events pulling oil past the rings, valve… Repairs typically run $0-$400. Severity: medium.
The foam gasket that seals the roof-mounted center high-mount stop lamp (CHMSL / third brake light) against the cab dries out, compresses and shrinks with heat and UV exposure, breaking the watertight seal. Rainwater then runs down inside the cab from the roof opening, soaking th… Repairs typically run $40-$250. Severity: medium.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.