2020 Ford Expedition reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Ford Expedition holds 414 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 14 per year. Expedition years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 13 complaints per year. NHTSA has 18 recalls on file, including Automatic transmission, Center console, and Pretensioner.

2018 Ford Expedition XLT — Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

414

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (260 of 414), then Engine (51) and Seat belts (37). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 62,935 miles, and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 87,925 miles. Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 7 that report a fire, and 19 that report an injury.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Expedition has 500 complaints, 9 per year, and the 2021 has 232 complaints, 28 per year. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2020 Ford Expedition. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (18)

Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2026-06-24 · NHTSA campaign 26V402000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

Remedy Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.

Vehicles affected 741,195

Recall Center console 2026-06-09 · NHTSA campaign 26V368000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 10, 2026.

Vehicles affected 548,463

Recall seat belts, pretensioner 2026-05-27 · NHTSA campaign 26V344000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.

Vehicles affected 419,967

Recall Engine 2025-09-19 · NHTSA campaign 25V628000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. A short circuit within the battery junction box can cause an engine fire while driving or parked.

Remedy Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's numbers for this recall are 22S36 and 22S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 23, 2025.

Vehicles affected 4,632

Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 25V442000

Summary 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.

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.

Vehicles affected 200,237

Recall seat belts, pretensioner 2025-05-23 · NHTSA campaign 25V197000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.

Remedy Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S31. Some vehicles in this recall that were previously inspected under recall 24V-099 and did not have parts replaced will need to have this new recall remedy completed.

Vehicles affected 112,951

Recall electrical system, body control module, software 2025-05-23 · NHTSA campaign 25V346000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Navigator vehicles that were repaired incorrectly under recall 20V262. The Pre-Collision Assist features, such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, are not functional due to a software error.

Remedy Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S56.

Vehicles affected 556

Recall Labels 2024-11-08 · NHTSA campaign 24V852000

Summary 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."

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.

Vehicles affected 27,678

Recall seat belts, pretensioner 2024-02-09 · NHTSA campaign 24V099000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.

Remedy Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Additionally, dealers will install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S06.

Vehicles affected 77,574

Recall Owner's manual 2023-06-09 · NHTSA campaign 23V420000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."

Remedy Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.

Vehicles affected 691,133

Recall visibility, windshield wiper, linkages 2022-04-14 · NHTSA campaign 22V250000

Summary 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.

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.

Vehicles affected 652,996

Recall Seat belts 2020-09-23 · NHTSA campaign 20V574000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition vehicles. The seat belt tension sensor may incorrectly classify a child occupant as an adult.

Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S54.

Vehicles affected 123

Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2020-09-23 · NHTSA campaign 20V575000

Summary 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."

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.

Vehicles affected 620,246

Recall seats, middle or rear assembly 2020-06-23 · NHTSA campaign 20V366000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The attachment bracket for the driver's side second-row seat headrest may not have been sufficiently welded to the seat frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."

Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began July 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C12.

Vehicles affected 2,620

Recall electrical system, instrument cluster 2020-05-08 · NHTSA campaign 20V262000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with camera-only Pre-Collision Assist feature. Vehicles built with the optional radar-plus-camera Pre-Collision Assist system are not affected. Due to incorrect coding of interfacing modules, the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, and the driver cannot access the menu functions necessary to enable the Pre-Collision Assist feature.

Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram software for the Body Control Module, Antilock Braking System, Instrument Panel Cluster and Headlamp Control Modules, and reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S20.

Vehicles affected 25,081

Recall Seat belts 2020-04-16 · NHTSA campaign 20V217000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition vehicles. The front passenger seatbelt buckle's Belt Tension Sensor (BTS) may malfunction and may result in the seat occupant being misclassified.

Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seatbelt buckle, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S17.

Vehicles affected 1,355

Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, gear position indicator 2020-04-03 · NHTSA campaign 20V197000

Summary 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.

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.

Vehicles affected 55,158

Recall seats, front assembly, recliner 2019-08-28 · NHTSA campaign 19V633000

Summary 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."

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.

Vehicles affected 639,137

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (414 total)

Powertrain

260

Engine

Seat belts

Electrical system

Structure

Speed control

Visibility

Air bags

Back-over prevention

Service brakes

Forward collision avoidance

Exterior lighting

Fuel and propulsion system

Engine and engine cooling

Lane departure

Steering

Seats

Visibility and wipers

Carry handle, shell, and base

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Hydraulic brakes

Other or not sure

Suspension

Trailer hitch

Wheels

Show 17 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Of the 99 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 62,935 miles. The middle half fall between 40,000 and 87,925 miles.

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"The parking pawl is engaging during speeds of about 25-30 mph when switching gears. This happens randomly at times and puts everyone in my car at risk because I lose all horsepower to my car. I have to wait until my car…"
Speed control, Unknown or other, Service brakes · filed 2026-09-21
"Beginning XXX, the vehicle's restraints control module repeatedly warned of a fault with the passenger seatbelt retractor pretensioner circuit, via in-vehicle warning light and Ford app alert. This warning recurred on…"
Seat belts · filed 2026-09-21
"The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the transmission independently shifted into park(P), and the rear wheels locked up. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the…"
Powertrain · filed 2026-09-16
"The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure), and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts for the recall…"
Powertrain, Seat belts, Structure · filed 2026-09-16
"During 2025/early 2026 the chrome peeled up around the center console. We carefully folded it back down, thinking it was just tape. I was cut twice across finger tips during this time. Then we got the recall notice from…"
Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-15

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2020 Ford Expedition EL SUV 2WD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	3 stars
2020 Ford Expedition EL SUV 4WD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2020 Ford Expedition SUV 2WD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	3 stars
2020 Ford Expedition SUV 4WD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Expedition two-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (10-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	17	23	19 MPG	$3400
Expedition four-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (10-speed)	Part-time four-wheel drive	17	22	19 MPG	$3400
Expedition MAX two-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (10-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	17	23	19 MPG	$3400
Expedition MAX four-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (10-speed)	Part-time four-wheel drive	16	21	18 MPG	$3600

Specs and fitment

4th generation, 2018–2024

Body styles SUV, Extended-length SUV (MAX)

Oil 5W-30 synthetic blend (3.5L EcoBoost) , 6 qt capacity

Tire size 275/65R18 (XL/XLT) to 285/45R22 (King Ranch/Platinum)

Known issues for this generation

Ford service message SSM 49914 covers 2018-2021 Expeditions and Navigators on which the power liftgate becomes inoperative; the repair is a rear gate trunk module software update rather than a hardware replacement. A separate 2020 bulletin, 20-2421, addresses 2018-2019 vehicles whose doors become difficult to latch, lock, or unlock after water intrudes into the door handle cables, corrected by replacing the mini latch module.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Ford Expedition Next year 2021 Ford Expedition See every Ford Expedition model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Ford Expedition reliable?

What are common problems with a 2020 Ford Expedition?

Is the 2020 Ford Expedition more reliable than the years next to it?

Has the 2020 Ford Expedition been recalled?

The 2020 Ford Expedition has 18 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Ford Expedition?

Owners have filed 414 complaints about the 2020 Ford Expedition with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Ford Expedition get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Ford Expedition is 18.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is the 2016 Ford Expedition?

3rd generation, EcoBoost V6 refresh (2015-2017).

Does the Ford Expedition have power liftgate problems?

On some 2018-2021 Expeditions the power liftgate stops working; Ford's service message SSM 49914 fixes it with a rear gate trunk module software update.