Reliable Auto DB

2020 Ford F-150 reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 726 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford F-150 over 7 years — 58 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most F-150 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 100. NHTSA has 11 recalls on file, including Headlights, Back-over prevention, software, and Labels.

2018 Ford F-150 crew cab
Photo by Bull-Doser, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain
Complaints

726

Per year

58

Recalls

11

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (345 of 726), then Engine (128) and Electrical system (83). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 37,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 5,780 and 75,810 miles. Those filings include 19 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 13 that report an injury.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 F-150 has 1,324 complaints, 54 per year, and the 2021 has 1,011 complaints, 109 per year. The 2020 has about the same number of complaints per year as 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 F-150. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (11)

Recall exterior lighting, headlights 2026-06-09 · NHTSA campaign 26V373000
Summary 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."
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.
Vehicles affected 91,198
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 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 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 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 electrical system, starter 2020-08-10 · NHTSA campaign 20V467000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 431
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 exterior lighting, headlights 2020-02-21 · NHTSA campaign 20V097000
Summary 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."
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.
Vehicles affected 166,196
Recall tires, bead 2019-12-18 · NHTSA campaign 19V903000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 33
Recall electrical system, 12V/24V/48V battery, cables 2019-11-12 · NHTSA campaign 19V805000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 135,725
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 (726 total)

Powertrain
345
Engine
128
Electrical system
83
Visibility and wipers
24
Visibility
23
Warnings
18
Service brakes
17
Speed control
15
Structure, body
14
Fuel and propulsion system
12
Air bags
10
Back-over prevention
8
Adaptive cruise control
7
Steering
7
Suspension
7
Automatic emergency braking
6
Engine and engine cooling
6
Sunroof
6
Automatic transmission
5
Latch
5
Blind spot detection
4
Forward collision avoidance
4
Latches, locks, and linkages
4
Seats
4
Side or rear glass
4
Structure
4
Catalytic converter
3
Exterior lighting
3
Lug nuts
3
Seat belts
3
Camera
2
Electronic latch
2
Exterior
2
Hydraulic brakes
2
Motor
2
Parking brake
2
Rear automatic braking
2
Rear window
2
Tires
2
Wheels
2
Windshield
2
Accelerator pedal
1
Assist
1
Axle assembly
1
Axle hubs
1
Camera system
1
Chest clip, buckle, and harness
1
Coil springs
1
Door
1
Electrical
1
Emission control
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Gasoline fuel system, storage
1
Headlights
1
Insert and padding
1
Instrument cluster
1
Integrated starter
1
Liftgate
1
Starter
1
Steering wheel
1
Transmission control module
1
Upper ball joint
1
Warning
1
Show 55 more Show less
Crash-flagged

19

Fire-flagged

4

Injury reports

13

Death reports

0

Of the 231 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 37,000 miles. The middle half fall between 5,780 and 75,810 miles.

Complaints filed per year

472020652021622022912023130202418520251462026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Truck suddenly shifted from gear 8 to gear 2 then 4 reducing my speed suddenly causing other vehicles to almost hit me at around 40 mph. I drove home with the transmission erratically shifting up and down Even though I…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-20
  • "The contact owned a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact's spouse, who was seated in the front…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-17
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle jerked abnormally, experienced a transmission shifting delay between gears, and occasionally slipped out of gear. The contact stated…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-15
  • "The 10R80 transmission failed internally due to the defective CDF clutch drum assembly. Vehicle experienced dangerous gear dropping/slipping. Forced to pay out of pocket at an independent shop for a total rebuild. I…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-09
  • "Transmission slips gears and sometimes shifts violently. I took the truck to a Ford dealership for an assessment and was told I need to replace the whole transmission. I also have a problem with oil consumption from the…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-09

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 2WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 Ford F-150 Super Crew Diesel PU/CC 2WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2020 Ford F-150 Super Crew Diesel PU/CC 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2020 Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 2WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 Ford F-150 Supercab Diesel PU/EC 2WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2020 Ford F-150 Supercab Diesel PU/EC 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars
2020 Ford F-150 Supercab PU/EC 2WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 Ford F-150 Supercab PU/EC 4WD 4 stars 4 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
F-150 two-wheel drive BASE PAYLOAD LT TIRE 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 21 28 24 MPG $3950
F-150 two-wheel drive flex-fuel BASE PAYLOAD LT 5L, 8-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 16 21 18 MPG $3600
F-150 5.0L two-wheel drive flex-fuel GVWR over 7599 lb 5L, 8-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 15 20 17 MPG $3800
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 17 23 19 MPG $3400
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 21 29 24 MPG $3950
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive 2.7L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 20 26 22 MPG $2950
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive flex-fuel 5L, 8-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 17 23 19 MPG $3400
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive flex-fuel 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Rear-wheel drive 19 25 22 MPG $2950
F-150 pickup two-wheel drive Limited 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 17 22 19 MPG $3400
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 20 25 22 MPG $4300
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 16 22 18 MPG $3600
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive 2.7L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 18 23 20 MPG $3250
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive flex-fuel 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 18 23 20 MPG $3250
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive flex-fuel 5L, 8-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 15 21 18 MPG $3600
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive Limited 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 17 21 19 MPG $3400
F-150 pickup four-wheel drive XL/XLT 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 21 28 24 MPG $3950
F-150 RAPTOR four-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 15 18 16 MPG $4050

Specs and fitment

13th generation, 2015–2020
Body styles Pickup truck
Oil 5W-20 (3.5L Ti-VCT/3.3L V6, 5.0L V8); 5W-30 (2.7L/3.5L EcoBoost, 3.0L Diesel) , 6 qt capacity
Tire size 245/70R17 to 275/55R20
Towing capacity 13,200 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA recall 17V-652 (Ford campaign 17S33) covered approximately 1.1 million 2015-2017 F-150 trucks (and 2017 Super Duty) for side door latches that could freeze after water gets into the latch, or a bent or kinked actuation cable; either condition can result in a door opening while driving although it appears to be closed. Ford's remedy inspected the door latch actuation cables and installed water shields over the latches at no charge. Separately, NHTSA recall 26V-237 (Ford campaign 26S28) covers 2015-2017 F-150 trucks built with the 6R80 six-speed automatic transmission for degradation of the electrical connections in the transmission lead frame from thermal cycling and vibration, which can make the Powertrain Control Module momentarily read an incorrect Transmission Range Sensor position and command an unintended downshift, at most from 6th gear to 2nd. The resulting abrupt wheel speed reduction could cause the rear tires to slide.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Ford F-150 Next year 2021 Ford F-150 See every Ford F-150 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Ford F-150 reliable?

Owners have filed 726 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford F-150 over 7 years — 58 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most F-150 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 100. NHTSA has 11 recalls on file, including Headlights, Back-over prevention, software, and Labels.

What are common problems with a 2020 Ford F-150?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (345 of 726), then Engine (128) and Electrical system (83). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 37,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 5,780 and 75,810 miles. Those filings include 19 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 13 that report an injury.

Is the 2020 Ford F-150 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 F-150 has 1,324 complaints, 54 per year, and the 2021 has 1,011 complaints, 109 per year. The 2020 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Ford F-150 been recalled?

The 2020 Ford F-150 has 11 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 F-150?

Owners have filed 726 complaints about the 2020 Ford F-150 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Ford F-150 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Ford F-150 is 20.1 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is my Ford F-150?

2009-2014 is the 12th generation, 2015-2020 is the 13th generation (first all-aluminum body), and 2021-present is the 14th generation.

Does the towing capacity apply to every F-150 trim?

No. The listed figure is the generation's best-equipped maximum (specific engine, cab, and Max Trailer Tow Package); a base XL or Raptor will tow significantly less.

Is the F-150 Lightning included in this data?

No, the F-150 Lightning EV is tracked as a separate model in this catalog; this page covers only the conventional gas and hybrid F-150.