Owners have reported 17 crashes, 3 fires and 15 injuries to NHTSA for the 2020 Ford F-150. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints164
POWER TRAIN
Owners of the 2020 Ford F-150 frequently report issues with the power train, particularly involving the 10-speed transmission. Common symptoms include harsh shifting, unexpected downshifts, clunking noises, and erratic gear changes, often occurring between 60,000 to 120,000 miles. Some reports indicate unintended acceleration or deceleration, with three incidents involving crashes and one involving a fire due to a rear differential explosion. These issues can lead to potential safety hazards, such as loss of vehicle control. Buyers considering this model should be aware of these recurring problems and the associated repair costs often highlighted by owners.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints56
ENGINE
Owners of the 2020 Ford F-150 frequently report engine failures, with common symptoms including sudden loss of power, engine stalling, and abnormal noises such as rattling or ticking. Issues often involve the cam phasers and excessive oil consumption, with some complaints indicating catastrophic failures like cracked crankshafts or metal shavings in the engine. These problems typically emerge around 80,000 to 137,000 miles. Safety implications are notable, with reports of engine shutdowns while driving, posing risks of loss of control. A single complaint mentions an engine fire. Potential buyers should be aware of these issues, particularly concerning engine reliability and associated repair costs.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints35
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners of the 2020 Ford F-150 frequently report issues related to excessive oil consumption, with some vehicles consuming up to 1 quart every 500 miles, potentially leading to engine damage. Transmission problems are also common, including clunking and shaking during gear shifts, with some owners needing replacements. Additionally, the infotainment system and backup camera often malfunction, with screens freezing or going blank. Safety implications include reports of the vehicle unexpectedly reversing due to park assist malfunction, resulting in a crash, and spontaneous shutdowns at low speeds, posing risks of rear-end collisions. These issues typically arise at various mileage levels, with some occurring as early as 6,255 miles.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints32
VISIBILITY
Owners of the 2020 Ford F-150 commonly report issues with the rear window and sunroof, often describing instances where the rear window shatters unexpectedly, sometimes when the defroster is active. Sunroof complaints frequently involve water leaks, with some owners noting that the sunroof fails to close properly, leading to interior water damage. These problems are typically reported around 3,400 to 57,000 miles. Additionally, some owners experience windshield wiper motor failures, which occur around 10,000 miles and result in loss of front visibility during rainstorms. These visibility issues can pose safety risks, particularly in adverse weather conditions.
Owner complaints30
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report several recurring issues with the 2020 Ford F-150's electrical system, particularly involving the Sync 3 system, door lock actuators, and the APIM module. Complaints frequently mention the Sync 3 system failing to save settings, causing the backup camera and radio to reset or malfunction, often following an update. Door lock issues, especially with the driver’s side, are noted, with actuators failing to lock or unlock doors, sometimes accompanied by panic alarms. The APIM module is also a common failure point, affecting GPS, radio controls, and camera functionality. These problems typically emerge around 25,000 to 50,000 miles and can lead to safety implications, such as distractions from malfunctioning systems and compromised vehicle security due to door lock failures.
Owner complaints7
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owners report recurring issues with the forward collision avoidance system in the 2020 Ford F-150, primarily involving error messages such as "Front Camera Malfunction" and "Pre-Collision Assist Not Available." These messages often appear when starting the vehicle and persist without resolution. Complaints frequently mention these issues occurring around 31,000 to 115,000 miles, with some owners noting the need for costly repairs not covered under warranty. Additionally, one report describes the adaptive cruise control engaging the brakes unexpectedly, particularly during highway driving, posing a potential safety risk due to sudden braking. These patterns suggest prospective buyers should be aware of potential electronic system malfunctions that may require attention.
Owner complaints7
SUSPENSION
Owners of the 2020 Ford F-150 frequently report issues with the front suspension, particularly involving coil springs and shock absorbers. Complaints often describe symptoms such as rattling noises, fractured springs, and misalignment of suspension components, with some incidents occurring at mileages as low as 8,600 and as high as 72,000 miles. Several reports highlight safety concerns, including sudden loss of vehicle control and near-miss accidents due to suspension failures. Notably, one owner experienced a catastrophic failure of the right front upper ball joint, leading to a collapse of the wheel and knuckle. Buyers considering this model should be aware of these potential suspension issues, especially given their occurrence across a range of mileages.
Owner complaints6
AIR BAGS
Owners of the 2020 Ford F-150 report issues related to the airbag system, with a recurring problem being cracked airbag covers on the steering wheel. Complaints frequently mention that these cracks appear after honking the horn, with no warning lights illuminating. In multiple instances, airbag non-deployment is reported during crashes, resulting in injuries. These incidents occur at varying mileages, with some reports indicating failure around 45,000 miles and others at higher mileages. The safety implications are significant, as three crashes are documented, leading to six injuries, underscoring a critical concern for potential buyers regarding airbag reliability in this model.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 6 injury reports
Owner complaints5
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2020 Ford F-150 frequently report issues with the service brakes, with several complaints detailing brake fluid leaks and overheating of the passenger side front brake. Common symptoms include brake pedals going to the floor, difficulty stopping, and in one instance, overheating leading to a stuck caliper piston with corrosion found upon inspection. Mileage at which these issues occur varies, with one instance reported at 60,000 miles and another as early as 12,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, including a reported crash where brakes locked up at highway speeds, causing the vehicle to slide and collide with a guard rail. Buyers should be aware of these potential brake system failures, as they could lead to loss of control or inadequate stopping power.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints3
STEERING
Owners of the 2020 Ford F-150 report issues with the steering system, primarily involving unexpected steering difficulties. Common symptoms include the vehicle veering to one side and the steering wheel becoming difficult to turn, with some instances accompanied by warning lights for power steering and traction systems. These issues are reported at varying mileages, from as low as under 700 miles to around 100,000 miles. Safety implications are noted, with one owner questioning the reliability of power steering while driving and another experiencing the vehicle pulling to the side. These reports suggest potential steering system concerns that prospective buyers should be aware of, especially considering the wide range of affected mileages.
