2020 Ford Expedition Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · 425 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Expedition years
More complaints than other years 8th of 33 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
5 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 425 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Expedition. That ranks 8th out of 33 Expedition model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (266 complaints, 63%), typically at around 65,300 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 7 fires, 27 injuries. There are 18 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

Ford Expedition
A 2025 Ford Expedition Platinum MAX photographed during the 2025 New York International Auto Show , inside the Javits Convention Center , at Hudson Yards, Manha. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2020 Ford Expedition problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Power Train266 · ~65,300 mi
Unknown or Other59 · ~3,622 mi
Engine51 · ~97,500 mi
Seat Belts39 · ~66,230 mi
Electrical System35 · ~49,500 mi
Structure22 · ~87,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control15 · ~85,000 mi
Visibility10 · ~68,305 mi
Air Bags9 · ~57,968 mi
Service Brakes9 · ~55,975 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Power Train problems26663%65,300“lose power” (6%)$9,600
Unknown or Other5914%3,622——
Engine problems5112%97,500——
Seat Belts399%66,230——
Electrical System358%49,500——
Structure225%87,000——
Vehicle Speed Control154%85,000——
Visibility102%68,305——
Air Bags92%57,968——
Service Brakes92%55,975——
Back Over Prevention82%52,500——
Forward Collision Avoidance72%———
Exterior Lighting61%30,450——
Fuel/propulsion System51%———
Engine and Engine Cooling41%87,017——
Lane Departure41%———
Steering41%25,450——
Seats31%106,920——
Visibility/wiper31%1,600——
Carry Handle, Shell, Base10%———
Electronic Stability Control (esc)10%900——
Other/i Am Not Sure10%———
Service Brakes, Hydraulic10%117,000——
Suspension10%3,622——
Trailer Hitches10%———
Wheels10%3,622——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2024, with 116 complaints
2020: 7202072021: 112021112022: 242022242023: 702023702024: 11620241162025: 902025902026: 1072026107

n = 425 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2020 Ford Expedition recalls (18)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Power train:automatic transmissionJun 24, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V402000 · 741,195 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Structure:interior panels:center consoleJun 9, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V368000 · 548,463 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

Seat belts:pretensionerMay 27, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V344000 · 419,967 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: 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.

EnginePark outsideSep 19, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V628000 · 4,632 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Back over prevention:softwareJun 27, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V442000 · 200,237 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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.

Fix: 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.

Seat belts:pretensionerMay 23, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V197000 · 112,951 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: 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.

Electrical system:body control module:softwareMay 23, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V346000 · 556 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Inoperative pre-collision assist features that fail to perform as expected can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: 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.

Equipment:other:labelsNov 8, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V852000 · 27,678 vehicles

Problem: 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."

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.

Fix: 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.

Seat belts:pretensionerFeb 9, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V099000 · 77,574 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: 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.

Equipment:other:owners/service/other manualJun 9, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V420000 · 691,133 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkagesApr 14, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V250000 · 652,996 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

Seat beltsSep 23, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V574000 · 123 vehicles

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

Risk: In the event of a crash, the incorrect classification would enable the passenger air bag to deploy instead of disabling it, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Fix: 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.

Back over prevention: sensing system: cameraSep 23, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V575000 · 620,246 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Seats:mid/rear assemblyJun 23, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V366000 · 2,620 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: An improperly welded headrest bracket may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking; electrical system: instrument cluster/panelMay 8, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V262000 · 25,081 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: If the driver is unaware that the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, they may rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: 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.

Seat beltsApr 16, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V217000 · 1,355 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide the intended level of protection, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)Apr 3, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V197000 · 55,158 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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.

Fix: 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.

Seats:mid/rear assembly; seats:front assembly:reclinerAug 28, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V633000 · 639,137 vehicles

Problem: 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."

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.

Fix: 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance (RQ21002) — opened Aug 3, 2021, still open, led to recall 26V104.
  • Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment (RQ24015) — opened Nov 15, 2024, closed Jul 23, 2025, led to recall 25V197.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The little cubby in my car where I keep my phone charger literally sliced the side of my finger open. I was just reaching in there like I normally would, and somehow the edge caught my finger and cut it so badly that it took a piece of the side of my finger off. I never would have imagined…

Unknown or Other · received Oct 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11771292

My car is a 2020 Ford Expedition Max with under 39,000 miles. A major transmission issue was just discovered while getting the 40,000 mile service. I believe it is the same issue as described under Recall 26S48. The car suddenly shifted into Neutral while driving on the freeway two separate times…

Power Train · received Oct 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11771474

The 10 speed transmission has ALWAYS slipped and never shifted correclty. Taken to shop multiple times and was told thats just how the transmission changes on the newer Ford 10 speed transmissions. Had the car 3 years and now I got a code saying the transmission is slipping in between 9-10 gears…

Power Train · received Oct 13, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11770936

When the vehicle is in motion, the transmission shifts very hard (with a loud audible "bang") between gears 4 and 5, and intermittently power is lost to the wheels (again, while the vehicle is in motion, you depress the accelerator, the engine revs up, but the vehicle does not accelerate). Once you…

Power Train · received Oct 13, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11770956

I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the driver airbag assembly on my 2020 Ford Expedition. The driver-side steering wheel airbag cover has split open along the factory tear seam to the point that the airbag material is exposed. There was no collision or airbag deployment associated…

Air Bags · received Oct 7, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769716

Other Ford Expedition years

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2020 Ford Expedition?

Owners most often report power train, unknown or other, engine problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 266 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2020 Ford Expedition?

Yes, 18 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2020 Ford Expedition a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Expedition model years, the 2020 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.