Is 10-speed transmission erratic shifting a known issue with the 2020 Ford F 150?

104 NHTSA complaints have been filed about 10-speed transmission erratic shifting on the 2020 Ford F 150 (2024-06 → 2025-08). Reported component: POWER TRAIN. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11657966): "Transmission is being replaced for a 2nd time due to erratic downshifting at highway speeds. Going from 10th to 1st to 5th and back to 10th gear. Then loss of power." Source: NHTSA.

Is backup camera display failure a known issue with the 2020 Ford F 150?

7 NHTSA complaints have been filed about backup camera display failure on the 2020 Ford F 150 (2024-06 → 2025-06). Reported component: BACK OVER PREVENTION. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11649344): "Backup Camera is Distorted Blank image displays error message" Source: NHTSA.

2020 Ford F 150 Maintenance Schedule

Q: Is engine failure and oil consumption a known issue with the 2020 Ford F 150?

22 NHTSA complaints have been filed about engine failure and oil consumption on the 2020 Ford F 150 (2024-06 → 2025-07). Reported component: ENGINE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11654629): "*Engine failed - Rattle was detected and after dealership took a look at the vehicle, it was determined that the engine needed replaced because the truck was consuming oil at a high rate and there was metal found in the manifold. *If I continued to drive a truck with low oil, a…" Source: NHTSA.

Q: Is front camera and pre-collision assist fault a known issue with the 2020 Ford F 150?

5 NHTSA complaints have been filed about front camera and pre-collision assist fault on the 2020 Ford F 150 (2024-06 → 2025-07). Reported component: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11676012): "The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “Pre-Collision Assist Not Available” was displayed and “Front Camera Malfunction - Service Required" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…" Source: NHTSA.

Manufacturer-recommended service intervals for the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor and open recall alerts for your 2020 Ford F 150.

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How Ford schedules service: Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor

Ford uses the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor (IOLM) to determine when oil changes are due based on actual driving load — not just mileage. Ford's published cap is 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first. The schedule below reflects Ford's Normal service intervals; F-Series trucks and Super Duty have additional towing-specific items.

10 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

TIRES:BEAD

Campaign #19V903000 · 18/12/2019

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 trucks equipped with 17-inch spare tires. The spare tire could have been damaged when it was installed on the rim.

Risk: The damage can cause the tire to rapidly lose air pressure or detach from the wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spare tire, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S55.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Campaign #20V097000 · 21/02/2020

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. 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."

Risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Campaign #19V805000 · 12/11/2019

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. 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.

Risk: 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.

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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S40.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Campaign #20V575000 · 23/09/2020

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. 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."

Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.

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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

Campaign #20V467000 · 10/08/2020

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 vehicles. 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.

Risk: Electrical arcing can increase the risk of a fire.

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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S40.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Campaign #20V197000 · 03/04/2020

Issue: 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.

Risk: 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.

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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S18.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Campaign #19V633000 · 28/08/2019

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. 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, "Seating Systems."

Risk: 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.

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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Campaign #22V250000 · 14/04/2022

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.

Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Campaign #24V852000 · 08/11/2024

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. 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."

Risk: 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.

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.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Campaign #25V442000 · 27/06/2025

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

Recall data refreshed Jun 7, 2026.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

🛢️

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic Motorcraft oil per the IOLM, or every 7,500-10,000 miles. EcoBoost engines require full synthetic; Coyote 5.0L V8 specifies SAE 5W-30.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

🔄

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate tires every 10,000 miles, or with every other oil change. F-150 4x4 owners should rotate every 5,000-7,500 miles to even out drivetrain bias wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

🛑

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid level every 10,000 miles. Front pads on F-150 and Explorer typically last 40,000-60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

🧪

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Ford specifies brake fluid replacement on an inspection basis, but moisture testing every 3 years is recommended. Replace if reading exceeds 3% water content.

Every 50,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (Dex-Cool compatible) coolant: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Older trucks with Yellow Motorcraft coolant: 50,000 miles throughout.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

🌬️

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. On F-150, located behind the glove box; on Escape and Explorer, accessed from the passenger footwell.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2020 Ford F 150.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance
Action #RQ21002 · opened Aug 3, 2021
On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, a…
View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

10-speed transmission erratic shifting

POWER TRAIN

104 NHTSA complaints · 2024-06 → 2025-08

“Transmission is being replaced for a 2nd time due to erratic downshifting at highway speeds. Going from 10th to 1st to 5th and back to 10th gear. Then loss of power.”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11657966

“TRANSMISSION STALLED INTO FIRST, WOULDNT ALLOW YOU TO PUT VEHICLE INTO GEAR UNLESS YOU TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. FORD SERVICE CENTER VERIFIED CONCERN IN PARKING LOT. VEHICLE STARTS IN FOURTH GEAR AND LUNGES VERY ROUGH. NO DTC. FLUID LEVEL FULL BUT VERY DARK WITH FINE METAL…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11656259

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine failure and oil consumption

ENGINE

22 NHTSA complaints · 2024-06 → 2025-07

“*Engine failed - Rattle was detected and after dealership took a look at the vehicle, it was determined that the engine needed replaced because the truck was consuming oil at a high rate and there was metal found in the manifold. *If I continued to drive a truck with low oil, a…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11654629

“The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal and the engine seized. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The oil warning light was illuminated.…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11671161

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Backup camera display failure

BACK OVER PREVENTION

7 NHTSA complaints · 2024-06 → 2025-06

“Backup Camera is Distorted Blank image displays error message”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11649344

“The rear view camera turned black, sometimes purple, the image is distorted. I googled it and it says 700,000 F150's were recalled for this problem but when I called the Ford where I live they said it didn't have a recall”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11627333

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front camera and pre-collision assist fault

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2024-06 → 2025-07

“The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “Pre-Collision Assist Not Available” was displayed and “Front Camera Malfunction - Service Required" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11676012

“The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the messages "Front Camera Malfunction" and "Pre-Collision Assist Not Available" were displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The…”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11660325

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Jun 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Jun 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2020 Ford F 150 reflects Ford's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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