2020 Ford F-250 SD transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

• Recall 22V256000Apr 14, 202223,165 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. A washer within the vehicle's transmission can disintegrate, causing metallic debris to become lodged in the 'Park' mechanism.

  Risk: Debris lodged within the 'Park' mechanism may prevent the vehicle from achieving or holding 'Park,' increasing the risk of a vehicle rollaway and a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace a gearset within the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 19, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S22.

• Recall 22V087000Feb 16, 2022247,445 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT · STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2022 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty vehicles equipped with gasoline engines and aluminum driveshafts. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.

  Risk: A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 7, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S09.

• Recall 20V365000Jun 23, 202013 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Super-Duty F-250, F-350, and F-550 diesel pickups. The transmission torque converter damper plate was not tempered, resulting in a brittle damper plate that may fracture and cause the engine to stall or require increased brake pedal effort in order to stop the vehicle.

  Risk: An engine stall or requiring additional braking effort to stop the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission assembly, free of charge. This recall began July 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S33.

What owners say

1. Filed Oct 6, 2026ALTransmission & Drivetrain

   The transmission can remain in 7 gear and not downshift when stopped. The only fix is putting it in park. The transmission also has intermittent rough gear changes and problems downshifting while stopping. Dealership updated the TCM which only made the issue worse. Ford stated that I should go to another dealer to see if they could replicate the issue (local dealer said they couldn’t replicate the problem)

   NHTSA complaint #11769407 · source
2. Filed Oct 6, 2026ALTransmission & Drivetrain

   The transmission can remain in 7 gear and not downshift when stopped. The only fix is putting it in park. The transmission also has intermittent rough gear changes and problems downshifting while stopping. Dealership updated the TCM which only made the issue worse. Ford stated that I should go to another dealer to see if they could replicate the issue (local dealer said they couldn’t replicate the problem)

   NHTSA complaint #11769406 · source
3. Filed Aug 24, 2026TXSteeringTransmission & Drivetrain

   Subject: Request for Review of Recall Remedy Effectiveness – Ford Recall 24S78 / NHTSA Recall 24V-957 Vehicle: 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty 6.7L Power Stroke VIN: [XXX] To Whom It May Concern: I am submitting this letter to document a significant safety event involving my 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty and to request that NHTSA consider whether the current recall remedy associated with Ford Recall 24S78 / NHTSA Recall 24V-957 adequately addresses vehicles that are already…

   NHTSA complaint #11759093 · source
4. Filed Jul 28, 2026OKTransmission & Drivetrain

   DEF heater failure will cause increased emissions. The warning light flashes. I have seen details where there are issues with the wiring harness for the DEF heater.

   NHTSA complaint #11753244 · source
5. Filed Jul 23, 2026TNTransmission & Drivetrain

   10r140 paired with 6.7 powerstroke in a 2020 f250 build date 11/19 at the Kentucky plant. My truck specs and build date and location is in the timeframe of the planetary gear recall, ford has also issued tsb’s about the cdf bushing that should have been a recall because it is a design flaw on every 2020-2022 model truck. It’s not fair that we should have to pay for a tsb bc we don’t have warranty left. My truck has 84,000 miles but is out of the 5 years warranty period.…

   NHTSA complaint #11752304 · source
6. Filed Jul 9, 202680,256 miTXTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V256000 (Power Train); however, the recall repair could not be completed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that a thrust washer was missing from the output planetary assembly and had disintegrated, contaminating the transmission case, transfer case, torque converter, cooling lines, and radiator. The missing washer caused the planetary gear to shift and…

   NHTSA complaint #11749392 · source
7. Filed Jun 12, 202660,000 miFLFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the vehicle had become inoperable due to a transmission failure. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11743767 · source
8. Filed Feb 4, 2026COTransmission & Drivetrain

   Transmission had multiple internal failures with c,d,f clutch and intermediate clutch transmission pumping failing. Truck has 85,167 miles

   NHTSA complaint #11715515 · source
9. Filed Jan 28, 2026NCTransmission & Drivetrain

   2020 Ford F250 with 85,000 miles. We purchased new and all maintenance has been done on time and by Ford Service. Transmission began jerking when going from park to drive (or reverse). Noticeable lunging of the vehicle when putting into gear. This began in December 2025. This is a safety concern if anyone is in front of or behind the vehicle when this happens. The truck jumps. Now the transmission is not shifting gears smoothly when the truck is in motion. This is a known…

   NHTSA complaint #11714005 · source
10. Filed Dec 20, 2025CASteeringTransmission & Drivetrain

    Sometime sudden decrease of power , f250 truck rpm goes high while parking with engine on and now pitman arm broke off causing no control of steering . Having it push safely off the road , contact dealership but no parts to fix and timely how long it takes to get part to fix problem. 2020 ford f250 start but very unsafe to operate with no control of the steering

    NHTSA complaint #11706235 · source
11. Filed Nov 10, 2025TXTransmission & Drivetrain

    The transmission would hang up in 7th gear when stopping at red light, caution light or stop signs without warning. It would roll like normal when letting of brakes however when out in the middle of traffic stop signs or caution lights the truck would not move and would not shift as it was hung in 7th gear. The only way to get the truck back in 1st gear was to place the truck in park and turn the ignition off then restart the vehicle. This has happened 3 different times post…

    NHTSA complaint #11698586 · source
12. Filed Nov 7, 2025100,000 miTXTransmission & Drivetrain

    The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, the transmission failed to downshift from seventh gear, causing the vehicle to jerk. The transmission warning light was illuminated, and the message "Power Train Malfunction - Reduce Power" was displayed on the Ford Mobile App. The contact's neighbor, an independent mechanic, diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The…

    NHTSA complaint #11698250 · source

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