Ford · NHTSA safety record

2020 Ford F-150

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

711

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 Ford F-150 have filed 711 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2020 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 344 of them (48%). The typical failure was reported at 37,500 miles, the median across the 230 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 11 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (11)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

26V373000 · June 9, 2026

The defect: 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."
The risk: Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: ,Dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 91,198 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

25V442000 · June 27, 2025

The defect: 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.
The 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.
The remedy: 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 200,237 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

24V852000 · November 8, 2024

The defect: 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."
The 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.
The remedy: 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 27,678 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

22V250000 · April 14, 2022

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

Ford Motor Company · up to 652,996 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

20V575000 · September 23, 2020

The defect: 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."
The risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 620,246 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

20V467000 · August 10, 2020

The defect: 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.
The risk: Electrical arcing can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 431 vehicles across all model years covered

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

20V197000 · April 3, 2020

The defect: 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.
The 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.
The remedy: 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 55,158 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

20V097000 · February 21, 2020

The defect: 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."
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 166,196 vehicles across all model years covered

TIRES:BEAD

19V903000 · December 18, 2019

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

Ford Motor Company · up to 33 vehicles across all model years covered

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

19V805000 · November 12, 2019

The defect: 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.
The 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.
The remedy: 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 135,725 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

19V633000 · August 28, 2019

The defect: 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."
The 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.
The remedy: 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 639,137 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance

RQ21002

Still open recall query · opened August 3, 2021

back-over prevention

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, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rear Visibility. Ford's recall described the noncompliance as insufficient electrical conductivity within the printed circuit board (PCB) internal to the camera leading to intermittent rearview camera operation. The supplier of the cameras was Magna Electronics.According to Ford's chronology in the Part 573, during the period February-April 2020, Ford identified and monitored warranty claims pertaining to intermittent or inoperative rearview cameras. Ford reviewed supplier product changes, focusing on changes introduced by the supplier in the October-November 2019 time frame. The Part 573 stated that the issue was brought to Ford's Critical Concerns Review Group (CCRG) for review on May 12, 2020.On July 7, 2020, NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Testing Center (VRTC) informed the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a trend of MY 2020 Escape vehicles with rearview camera malfunctions. ODI contacted Ford the next day, providing five Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging inoperative rearview cameras. On July 15, 2020, Ford met with NHTSA to discuss the rearview camera issue. In a subsequent August 24, 2020 meeting, ODI and NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) met with Ford to discuss the recall status and additional VOQs. Ford presented rate and scope data for many of its MY 2020 products during the August 2020 meeting indicating high failure rates for certain models.This RQ is being opened to investigate both the timeliness and scope of Ford's rearview camera recall (20V-575), and Ford's compliance with reporting requirements.The subject reports referenced in the opening resume are identified by the following ODI reference numbers which can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov: 11349813, 11344126, 11342696, 11341486, 11340254, 11337274, 11331444, 11330875, 11329235, 11316960, 11343521, 11341884, 11337226, 11344018, and 11339573.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 711.

POWER TRAIN 344 48%

ENGINE 125 18%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 85 12%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 83 12%

VISIBILITY 38 5%

VISIBILITY/WIPER 24 3%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 23 3%

STRUCTURE 22 3%

SERVICE BRAKES 17 2%

BACK OVER PREVENTION 16 2%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 15 2%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 12 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 185.

2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS Filed April 14, 2022

3 injured · crash · towed

MY WIFE AND I WERE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT IN HOT SPRINGS ARKANSAS ON MARCH 8, 2022. ANOTHER VECHICLE RAN INTO US ALMOST HEAD ON AT AN ESTIMATED 30 MPH. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF OUR TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. MY WIFE HAS SOME BROKEN BONES IN HER BACK AND HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT PAIN SINCE THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint 11460779. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed February 27, 2023

2 injured · crash · towed

I hit another vehicle in the passenger side head on at 55+ MPH and the air bag did not deploy. Air bags in the other vehicle did deploy. No prior warning. Police, wrecker driver, and others questioned why the bags did not deploy. I had neck, back, arm, chest and hand injuries. Accident report annotated that the air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA complaint 11509404. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed April 13, 2021

2 injured · crash · 5,000 miles

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY NEW FORD F-150 KING RANCH ON THE ABOVE DATE TRAVELING ON THE HENRY HUDSON PARKWAY (MANHATTAN) SOUTHBOUND. MY TRUCK WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR BY AN UNKNOWN VEHICLE AND CAUSED US TO SPIN OUT 2 TIMES AT 60 MPH AND HIT THE CENTER CONCRETE DIVIDER ALMOST DIRECTLY HEAD ON. WE HIT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK.. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CANISTERS ON THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS OPENED AND THE POWDER WAS ALL OVER BUT THE BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I DON'T THINK THIS WAS NORMAL AND I FEEL IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. THERE WAS $31,000 DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WHICH WASN'T TOTALED. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THIS AGENCY WILL LOOK INTO FOR ME?

NHTSA complaint 11407893, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed September 11, 2024

1 injured · fire · towed · 65,000 miles

The contact owned a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that his employees had driven the vehicle to a work site. While at the work site, the vehicle caught fire while the engine was off. An employee stated that flames appeared to have come from the vehicle's dashboard. An attempt was made to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher; however, the flames quickly engulfed the vehicle. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed as a result of the fire. One of the contact's employees suffered first and second-degree burns to the face. The employee was taken to a hospital where they were treated for their injury. A police report was not filed. The

NHTSA complaint 11614006, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed August 14, 2026

Transmission shifts from a higher gear to 1st when going over 60, also transmission has a hard time shifting skips 2nd, 4th, and sometimes 6th gear.

NHTSA complaint 11756943. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed August 13, 2026

Went to speed up as I was approaching a ramp going uphill and almost towards the top the truck decided to down shift to first gear going about 45 mph. No accident occurred as no one was around me.

NHTSA complaint 11756860. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed August 11, 2026

Harsh shifting in between gears. Jerky shifting and shudders while shifting as well

NHTSA complaint 11756107. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed August 11, 2026

MY PICKUP HAS THE 10R80 TRANSMISSION. IT CURRENTLY SLIPS IN LOWER GEARS AND SOMETIMES NO 10TH GEAR

NHTSA complaint 11756118. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed August 11, 2026

Vehicle had hard and sudden shifting and grinding noise coming form gears. Sudden shifting would result in abrupt change in speed. Two repairs were made by a Ford dealership totaling just over $10,000 including replacing transfer case and transmission. There was no vehicle warning indicators that notified me of this problem.

NHTSA complaint 11756168. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed August 11, 2026

Truck equipped with the 10R80 downshifted from 10th gear to 1st gear while on the freeway doing 80mph. NOT SAFE AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint 11756186. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford F-150

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2025	101	12	—
2024	183	10	—
2023	397	12	—
2022	576	23	—
2021	979	29	—
2019	1,305	9	—
2018	2,270	18	3
2017	1,407	17	—
2016	2,017	13	—
2015	1,677	13	3
2014	1,516	8	1
2013	2,972	3	4
2012	1,776	4	2
2011	2,184	6	—
2010	842	1	—

Other 2020 Ford models

Escape 1,580 Explorer 1,189 Ecosport 391 Expedition 386 Edge 307 Escape Hybrid 283 F-250 SD 260 F-350 SD 186

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file , published August 20, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API , most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file , published 2026-08-19.

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst