2020 Ford Expedition engine problems

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

55 owners have reported engine problems with the 2020 Ford Expedition, 13% of all complaints about this model year. The typical problem appeared around 94,017 mi.

Engine complaints
55
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Related recalls
1
Median mileage
94,017 mi

Specific components reported

Engine covers: stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating.

ComponentComplaints
Engine51
Engine and engine cooling3
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor1

Engine complaints across Ford Expedition years

220053520071320114620137132015253420171161342019555920211072023532025
Engine complaints by model year. The 2020 is highlighted.

Mileage when the problem appeared

Under 10k310k–30k30k–60k660k–100k3100k–150k150k+
Complaints that list mileage, grouped by odometer reading.

Related recalls

  • Recall 25V628000Sep 19, 20254,632 vehiclesPark outside
    ENGINE

    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.

    Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

    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.

What owners say

  1. Filed Jun 17, 2026106,920 miCAEngineSeats & Seat Belts
    The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while depressing the lock panel with the numbers on the driver’s side door, the seat unintendedly moved forward, and the seat belt retracted, and the driver was squeezed in the seat. The contact turned off the vehicle and seat belt to returned to the original position. The contact stated that coolant was added to the coolant reservoir; however, the vehicle was leaking coolant. The contact was unsure if the cap…
    NHTSA complaint #11744803 · source
  2. Filed May 11, 2026FLEngineTransmission & Drivetrain
    We have recurring safety issue with our car that has not been fixed despite multiple service visits to both Grieco Ford and Sawgrass Ford. They keep sending it back as “cannot duplicate”. We have contacted Ford Corporate and they also will not assist. We purchased this car used from Sawgrass ford and purchased an extended warranty with the car. The car issues include: Slipping into Neutral: The transmission unexpectedly loses gear engagement while merging or accelerating on…
    NHTSA complaint #11737008 · source
  3. Filed Feb 23, 2026GAEngine
    Loss of Use due to unavailability of safety recall parts I am writing to formally express my extreme dissatisfaction and concern regarding the ongoing mechanical failures of our 2020 Ford Expedition Max. To date, this vehicle has undergone two major transmission interventions, yet it remains in an unsafe, undrivable condition due to a recurring powertrain defect and a high-risk safety recall. Our experience with this vehicle has been defined by persistent failures and…
    NHTSA complaint #11719963 · source
  4. Filed Nov 14, 2025PAEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    The SUV was driving smoothly at 55mph speed, suddenly I hit the break and tried to reaccelerate and felt a hard transmission shift, felt like metal hitting metal, felt like it was forced to shift to drive mode from parking mode. After that I started using 93 octane rated gasoline, do not observe the problem too much. I will really scary and unsafe, the whole SUV shook hard for 2sec.
    NHTSA complaint #11699359 · source
  5. Filed Aug 25, 2025TXEngineTransmission & Drivetrain
    Ongoing problem already had 2 repairs done to transmission. Gears o not shift properly when the gears go from 3-4 and 6-7. If I am not careful when I press on the gas and try to accelerate it does not shift gears and gets stuck on and my truck will not move more than 5-10 mph while I am trying to get on the highway at times with trailers coming full speed ahead behind me. I have reported this issue many times. There has been no remedy. The gears get stuck and make a jerking…
    NHTSA complaint #11682958 · source
  6. Filed Aug 25, 2025TXEngineTransmission & Drivetrain
    Recall issue with Catalytic converters causing check engine light to come on. I took in for recall to reset check engine light. Repair did not do anything to vehicle as check engine light comes on for a few days and goes away for a few days and the cycle repeats up until this day it continues to happen. When they did the reset Ford let me know that they reset the check engine issue for recall but I would have to pay about $5k for getting new converters if I wanted to because…
    NHTSA complaint #11682945 · source
  7. Filed Aug 20, 2025TNEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain
    We own a Ford Expedition 2020. In 2023, we started noticing jerky, harsh, and aggressive “slips” when the vehicle was trying to change gears - upon multiple occasions. But, in 2024, we experienced three, major, different instances - all were extremely scary and it was miraculous they didn’t cause accidents, car pile ups, or worse! The first instance, the vehicle jerked and sputtered just as I was pulling out into a busy intersection. I thought it was going to die in the…
    NHTSA complaint #11681820 · source
  8. Filed Jul 15, 2025SCEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain
    On several occasions the engine has slipped/stalled. Vehicle has only 27k miles on it, single owner. When moving from a stoplight the engine "slipped", all lights came on "service alert" or something similar. Vehicle recovered but I am very uneasy as I am a [XXX] female usually [XXX] and often on a very busy section of [XXX]. (This has occurred multiple times) When increasing speed, as to pass a vehicle or otherwise, vehicle is unresponsive or lags. To be clear this happens…
    NHTSA complaint #11673694 · source
  9. Filed Jun 14, 2025SCEngineTransmission & Drivetrain
    The transmission is consistently hesitating to switch gears, very jerky gear shift, and will sometimes completely fall out of gear. You could so easily lose control if this happened on the highway. Thank goodness we weren’t on a busy street. This isn’t the first reporting according to a simple search online and there should be a recall for safety reasons. This could be life or death for someone driving on the highway.
    NHTSA complaint #11666925 · source
  10. Filed May 15, 2025TNEngineTransmission & Drivetrain
    Transmission has extremely hard downshifting which has required the tea be replaced. Vehicle will downshift so hard it feels like you have been rear ended. Vehicle has to be put into neutral and then back into drive. This is very hazardous.
    NHTSA complaint #11661261 · source
  11. Filed May 12, 2025MOEngineTransmission & Drivetrain
    This suv has 10 speed transmission that has faulty harsh shifting hesitation, acceleration problem when shifting on highway or in situations when you need to slow down and or accelerate. This has happened many times while trying to get on the highway and switching lanes. I have almost been run over because it stalled someone is going to get killed. I have had the Powertrain control module pcm reprogramed twice and it keeps happening. Ford is aware of this. They need to get…
    NHTSA complaint #11660492 · source
  12. Filed Apr 30, 202597,000 miTNEngine
    The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle at start-up. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with a defective cam phaser. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle for the failure and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure.…
    NHTSA complaint #11657918 · source

Other 2020 Ford Expedition problem areas

Back to all 2020 Ford Expedition problems →

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology