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Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD · 6 NHTSA variants

2020 Ford F-150Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls and 562 owner complaints for the 2020 Ford F-150. Most complaints involve power train (242) and engine (103). The EPA rates it 17–24 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4–5 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
17–24mpg
EPA · 12 versions
NHTSA overall
4–5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
11campaigns
Latest Jun 2026
Owner complaints
562
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

11 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. 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."

Exterior lightingReported Jun 9, 2026NHTSA 26V373000

Back over prevention: software

Free remedy

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.

Back over preventionReported Jun 27, 2025NHTSA 25V442000

Equipment: labels

Free remedy

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."

EquipmentReported Nov 8, 2024NHTSA 24V852000
See all 11 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

562 complaints filed with NHTSA · May 2020 – Oct 2026
  1. Power train242
  2. Engine103
  3. Electrical system72
  4. Visibility38
  5. Visibility/wiper21
  6. Forward collision avoidance21
  7. Structure19
  8. Service brakes16
  9. Vehicle speed control13

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each F-150 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996360
19972,855
19981,418
19991,121
20001,206
20011,340
2002955
2003464
20042,036
20051,121
2006589
2007492
2008369
2009324
2010851
20112,137
20121,717
20132,796
20141,362
20151,425
20161,798
20171,148
20181,929
20191,021
2020562
20211,042
2022605
2023419
2024195
2025119
20260
Crashes reported
19
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
17
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

242 reports6 crashes1 fire
“Transmission has hard/harsh shifts and delayed gear engagement that began around 56,000 miles and have become much worse at 68,000 miles. The delay in engagement when accelerating from a stop, pulling into traffic or merging is a safety concern. A Ford dealer performed a transmission adaptive relearn and software update, but the symptoms continued. The dealer did not verify hydraulic leakage or perform the full diagnostic described in Ford TSB 25-2126 (MC-11016931-0001, harsh/delayed shifts on 2017-2020 F-150), and the only recommendation was to replace the entire transmission at roughly $5,000 after the powertrain warranty expired at 60,000 miles. The incident date entered is today because the symptoms are ongoing and progressive: they developed gradually since about 56,000 miles and are heading toward ultimate transmission failure. Safety concerns: hesitation and delayed engagement when pulling into or merging with traffic, the truck possibly rolling back when engaged on hills, and loss of reliable power on hills.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2026Power trainODI 11773571

Engine

103 reports3 fires
“The Transmission has failed. Hard shifting, random gear switching while driving at any speed. i put it in reverse and it went forward while in reverse. it slows itself down while on the highway. it acts like it wants to turn off while running, its a matter of time before I'm driving down the road and it decides to stop suddenly and cause an accident. I got it diagnosed by truck works garage and they confirmed that the shifting was all over the place with random high rpms. The dealership quoted me $2500 just to diagnose the problem so i had it diagnosed at truck works garage for $160 to confirm the issues matched the tsb's and recalls that they wont acknowledge my VIN for. The failure 1st appeared 5 years ago when i was under warranty, i took it in (and have the work order still dated 10/22/202) for hard shifting and they brushed me off and sent me away with false information about the cause. 5 years ago (25 days before i brought it in for the hard shifting) there was a tsb 21-2315 published for the exact issue on my truck, They ignored it and sent me away without fixing anything or addressing the issues.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2026Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11772051

Electrical system

72 reports1 crash1 fire
“Passenger side and passenger side rear door sensors say the door is a jar even though it’s not. Opened and closed doors numerous times to make the warning message go away. Seems water or something gets in the sensors, causing the faulty sensors to go off doors will not lock and makes the alarm system go off randomly.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2026Electrical systemODI 11773902
All 2020 F-150 problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

12 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel · 2.7L 6-cyl turbo · 3.3L 6-cyl · 3.5L 6-cyl turbo · 5.0L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S10) · Automatic (S6)
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Diesel · Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
F150 2WD BASE PAYLOAD LT TIRE
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
212824$3,900424
F150 Pickup 2WD
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
212924$3,900420
F150 Pickup 2WD
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
202622$2,900402
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
192522$2,900409
F150 Pickup 4WD
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
202522$4,300466
F150 Pickup 4WD
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
182320$3,200444
F150 Pickup 2WD
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
172319$3,400468
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV
Auto (S10), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172319$3,400467
F150 Pickup 2WD Limited
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
172219$3,400466
F150 2WD FFV BASE PAYLOAD LT
Auto (S10), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550494
F150 Pickup 4WD
Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
162218$3,550488
F150 5.0L 2WD FFV GVWR>7599 LBS
Auto (S10), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152017$3,800523
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

10 tested variants
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4WD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
4 / 5
Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 2WD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
4 / 5
Ford F-150 Supercab PU/EC 4WD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
4 / 5
Ford F-150 Supercab PU/EC 2WD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 14941Vehicle 14914Vehicle 14942
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2020 F-150 questions

How many recalls does the 2020 Ford F-150 have?

11 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2020 Ford F-150 problems?

Owners filed 562 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (242), engine (103), electrical system (72). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2020 Ford F-150 get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Ford F-150 at 17–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).

How safe is the 2020 Ford F-150?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2020 Ford F-150 4–5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026