2020 Ford Expedition transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a delay in the transmission shifting gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the transmission to be reprogrammed. The failure recurred, and the transmission was shifting roughly, and the vehicle lost automotive power while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a drum body failure, incorrect gear ratio, and metal shavings were found inside the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,600.

NHTSA complaint #11757042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving over 10 MPH with her husband inside the vehicle, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated, and the brakes independently engaged. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the battery was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that a software update for the rearview camera was performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact stated that the dealer refused to provide the telephone number for the manufacturer. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (POWER TRAIN); and the VIN was included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA complaint #11755462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I was driving home from vacation on I-77 in Virginia, and felt large jolt and heard several clicking type noises. Two separate service engine lights immediately came on the dashboard, and I was able to safely pull over. I had my vehicle towed to a nearby dealership to be looked at by a mechanic. The mechanic indicated the existence of safety recall notice 26S48/(NHTSA 26V402). I spoke with the mechanic who removed the diagnostics lights on the dashboard as prescribed by Ford, and attempted to see if they would be triggered again by driving the vehicle around. I described what had happened and the mechanic immediately said the description of this safety recall seems to be the culprit as to what was experienced. The parking pawl engaged while I was on I-77 traveling 70mph, causing the transmission to inadvertently shift into park causing the jolt and sounds I described. I contacted the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and Ford manufacturer directly regarding this recall, and was told as there is no remedy available. I have several concerns as the remedy is not expected until 5/31/2027 which is way too long of a period to have to wait when my vehicle has clearly been diagnosed with this recall issue, as shifting into park while driving presents a MAJOR safety risk that puts lives in danger. Furthermore, the parking pawl can cause significant damage to the vehicle's transmission and may make me liable for significant repair costs that 100% could be avoided by Ford providing a remedy in a reasonable amount of time. I need my vehicle to either be repaired, repurchased, or provided a loaner car by the dealership while I await this remedy to avoid this situation from happening and resulting in me having to pay for a new transmission or worse potentially causing an accident. This vehicle was inspected by the state of Pennsylvania in 2026.

NHTSA complaint #11754918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The transmission shifts very hard the first time accelerating after slowing down.

NHTSA complaint #11752432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started coasting, and thirty seconds later the vehicle operated as intended. The contact then heard a loud sound coming from the front of the vehicle. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

NHTSA complaint #11752155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure) and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and stalled and needed to be towed on several occasions. An unknown dealer was initially notified of the failure during an oil change appointment, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had become undrivable and was parked at the residence. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11751505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V368000 (Structure), 26V402000 (Power Train), 26V344000 (Seat Belts) and 25V197000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while shifting the transmission into park(P) or drive(D), the vehicle lunged forward. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA complaint #11751518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The transmission frequently has harsh and delayed shifting it is concerning that this leads to unsafe conditions while driving as the vehicle is not as responsive as it should be. The transmission has been replaced once and rebuilt three times by the dealer.

NHTSA complaint #11751533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

2020 Ford Expedition MAX. Ford issued Safety Recall 26S48 / NHTSA 26V402 confirming a transmission park pawl defect causing potential rollaway and crash risk. Remedy not available until Q2 2027. Vehicle has experienced the exact defect symptoms since at least November 2025 including stuck-in-park diagnostic codes and shifting anomalies. Prior to November 2025 the transmission failed to execute a commanded shift at approximately 65mph while passing another vehicle on an expressway causing sudden unexpected deceleration with family members present — a near-miss consistent with the park pawl defect Ford now confirms. An authorized Ford dealer visit in June 2026 for computer reprogramming included verbal acknowledgment of transmission concerns but no documentation on the repair order. Eight days later Ford issued Recall 26S48. Separately this vehicle has generated over 1,400 Restraints Indicator Lamp Warnings logged in Ford’s own connected vehicle app since at least April 2023. Restraints warnings began within 30 days of purchase at under 400 miles. Ford issued Recall 26S34 / NHTSA 26V344 for Front Seatbelt Retractor inspection on this vehicle. On multiple dealer visits spanning 2021 to 2026 service advisers verbally acknowledged the restraints warning but documented no concern and performed no diagnostic action on repair orders. Ford’s telematics platform received all warnings in real time with no proactive owner notification. Remedy not available for either recall.

NHTSA complaint #11751145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

on July 1st 2026The car violently slammed into park while in traffic. Took the car to the ford dealership the dealership advised me that the " PARKING PAWL" was damaged and was part of Fords recall. There is currently no fix for this recall and nothing they could do. Called Fords customer service they advised no fix and could continue to drive car. The car has since slammed into park while driving in traffic on July 10 And July 11th.

NHTSA complaint #11750025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH and accelerating, the vehicle failed to change gears as intended or shut off completely. The "Shift System Failure" warning message was displayed. The contact stated that the failure was recurrent. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402 (Power Train). A dealer was contacted and diagnosed the failure as a power control module fault, but there was no remedy available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA complaint #11749307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled on several occasions, and the instrument panel turned blank, forcing the contact to coast to the side of the road to restart the engine. Additionally, when shifting from Park to Drive, the vehicle shuddered violently and unintendedly shifted into Park. The contact associated these failures with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train). The contact also stated that the cup holder was collapsing inward, and the text or coating on every control button in the vehicle was peeling off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but no diagnostic trouble code was found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

NHTSA complaint #11748502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My 2020 Ford Expedition has a transmission problem. The vehicle has harsh shifting, slipping, hesitation, jerking/lunging, and abnormal shifting while driving. The problem happens during gear changes and creates a safety concern because the vehicle may hesitate, slip, or shift unexpectedly in traffic. I took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. The technician diagnosed the issue and recommended replacing the transmission. I believe this may be related to a known Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission defect. I am requesting that NHTSA review this complaint and investigate this safety issue.

NHTSA complaint #11748100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle has intermittent shift issues. Transmission will shift to neutral while in motion. Issue is not terrain specific. Poses extreme safety issue has been looked at and not found by mechanic. Ongoing issue since I took ownership in Nov. 2024.

NHTSA complaint #11747999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The vehicle has experienced repeated critical transmission failures and currently has four active Federal Safety Recalls with no available remedy. The transmission has failed four separate times, requiring four transmission assemblies within approximately 68,795 miles. The latest failure produced DTC P07F7 (Gear 10 Incorrect Ratio) and was confirmed by the Ford dealer and an independent inspector as an internal transmission failure. Symptoms included harsh engagement, delayed shifting, hesitation, slipping, and repeated powertrain malfunction messages. The vehicle was out of service for 26 consecutive days during the most recent repair. A NHTSA VIN lookup shows four active unrepaired recalls: a transmission rollaway hazard affecting the parking system (26S48), two seatbelt pretensioner recalls involving inadvertent deployment or failure to retract (25S31 and 26S34), and a chrome trim recall involving sharp edges (26S38). All four recalls currently have no remedy available, with estimated repair dates extending into late 2026 and 2027. These defects affect critical safety systems including the power train, seat belts, and parking system. The rollaway hazard recall indicates the vehicle may move unexpectedly even when shifted into Park, creating a serious risk of injury or collision. The seatbelt pretensioner recalls involve components that may deploy without warning or fail to retract, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The chrome trim recall involves sharp edges that may injure occupants. Combined with repeated transmission failures, these issues create multiple simultaneous safety risks. The problems have been confirmed by the Ford dealer and an independent inspector. Warning symptoms occurred before each failure, including harsh shifting, slipping, hesitation, and powertrain alerts. The combination of unresolved Federal Safety Recalls and repeated transmission failures makes the vehicle unsafe to operate.

NHTSA complaint #11747617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

When attempting to accelerate (gently) on the highway, the vehicle hunted for gears and shook violently and have zero acceleration. A wrench flashed on the screen of car. Felt like it went to neutral as engine rpm's increased rapidly accompanied with a loud thunk. Thankfully we were in a safe spot to just coast and exit the highway.

NHTSA complaint #11747532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure), 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission started slipping. After releasing the accelerator pedal and slowing down, the engine made a revving sound, and the transmission failure was self-corrected and shifted to the proper gear. While starting the vehicle or while driving at various speeds, the transmission hesitated shifting into the intended gear. There was an unknown warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle in March of 2026, the Carfax report stated that the transmission had been replaced, and the contact purchased the vehicle under the belief that the vehicle was equipped with a new transmission. In May, the vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the valve body had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact emailed the dealer about the diagnostic results and the needed repair. The dealer confirmed the failure. The dealer replaced the valve body, but the failure persisted. The dealer then diagnosed in June that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,467.

NHTSA complaint #11747120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Failed Component & Availability: Ford 10R80 10-speed transmission (Power Train). Available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: My family is put at extreme risk in two ways. 1) Sudden loss of motive power, slipping, and violent engagements at highway speeds create an imminent rear-end collision risk. 2) This exact vehicle is now under Safety Recall 26S48 (NHTSA 26V402) for unintended vehicle rollaway. Ford explicitly states a remedy is not available until Q2 2027, forcing us to drive an unfixable, inherently dangerous vehicle for another year. Confirmation & Inspections: Yes, reproduced and confirmed by Tomball Ford. The latest catastrophic internal failure was physically inspected and confirmed by an independent Old Republic Auto Warranty inspector. The Tomball Ford technician explicitly documented the cause as "outdated internal components" aligning with TSB 25-2476. Warnings & Symptoms: Violent shifting, delayed engagement, and "Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power" dash warnings. The latest catastrophic failure triggered hard fault DTC P07F7 (Gear 10 Incorrect Ratio). Cause Summary: Chronic manufacturing defect inherent to the Ford 10R80 / 10R60 transmission family. This vehicle has required FOUR (4) transmission assemblies in under 70,000 miles (repairs in Nov 2022, Feb 2023, and June 2026). During the most recent failure (May-June 2026), the vehicle was out of service for 26 consecutive days. Despite 4 failed transmissions and an active unfixable safety recall, Ford Corporate just denied our request for a replacement vehicle, abandoning my family in a documented rolling hazard.

NHTSA complaint #11747151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The vehicle at highway speed failed to accelerate or hold speed. Warning text came up on dash. Vehicle rpm increased yet vehicle failed to accelerate or hold speed. Vehicle felt like it went into nuetral. This happened several times. Vehicle driven to dealer for transmission repairs. Code P07E6 stored in ECM.

NHTSA complaint #11745087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The transmission (10R80) in the 2018-2022 Ford Expedition and Ford F-150 vehicles are failing at an alarming rate. There are hard shifts, hesitation, and some vehicles, like mine, drop out of gear at highway speeds putting myself and my family at risk of a traffic collision. The repairs are in the many thousands and there are tens of thousands of transmissions that are failing. Something needs to be done to protect the consumer.

NHTSA complaint #11745165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the transmission was shifting in and out of eighth gear, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that the transmission occasionally failed to shift into eighth gear. While decelerating, the vehicle responded, and the transmission shifted roughly. The failure became persistent over time. There was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the vehicle. The transmission fault message was displayed. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that there were no issues or recalls on the VIN related to the failure. The dealer informed the contact about a diagnostic test to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist who informed the contact about a transmission replacement and the cost to rebuild the transmission. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #11744269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle trasmisson will randomly shift into neutral and loose all power. It does pickup and go back into the correct gear within 5 seconds. Intermittent power loss at higher speeds and on busy roadways does cause safety concerns. Transmission oil has been changed and checked repeatedly. This has been a continuing problem since I took ownership 2 years ago. I have complained to ford directly with no response or remedy. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times but nothing seems to be a remedy. No lights come on and no vehicle notifications were given. The transmission temp did go up to 207F at the last instance and eventually cooled back down to 196F. This has happened while traveling on flat roads and up hill. There seems to be no difference on terrain or speed.

NHTSA complaint #11743694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

We purchased a used 2020 Ford Expedition Max Platinum, VIN [XXX] , from Deacon Jones dealership. The vehicle currently has 128,888 miles. At the time of purchase, we were assured the SUV was in “tip-top shape” because it had previously belonged to a manager’s friend and had supposedly been well maintained and serviced. However, within only two weeks of purchasing the vehicle, the transmission began slipping out of gear while accelerating, causing the vehicle to lose power and fail to move properly. This is an extremely dangerous safety issue, especially considering I travel frequently to doctors’ appointments and regularly transport my seven grandchildren in this SUV. In addition to the transmission failure, the main electrical system controlling the dashboard frequently glitches and malfunctions, even after Ford performed a software update. These ongoing electrical problems create additional safety concerns and make the vehicle unreliable. We immediately contacted the dealership after the problems began. Their only offer was $750 toward a transmission replacement that will cost over $5,000. We simply do not have that kind of money, especially while continuing to make monthly payments of $850 on a vehicle that is unsafe to drive. We have also since discovered the vehicle had previously been involved in an accident that was never reported to us before the sale. What is most concerning is that this vehicle appears to have received an inspection sticker despite clearly not undergoing a proper inspection. A transmission that slips out of gear and significant electrical malfunctions should never have passed inspection. This places not only my family at risk, but also everyone else on the road. We have written several letters to Ford regarding the safety concerns surrounding this vehicle and the danger it poses to our family. Unfortunately, Ford responded stating they would not assist us in any way. It is extremely disappointing INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 55

NHTSA complaint #11740002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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 the highway. • Hard Shifting/Clunking: Violent gear changes that cause the whole vehicle to jar physically. • Gear Hunting: The car hesitates and shifts up and down erratically instead of holding a gear. • Limp Mode: Sudden, dramatic loss of power where the car refuses to accelerate properly in traffic. These are serious safety hazards that put our family in harm's way. These failures happen consistently with our children in the car, and they have happened to our teenage son while he was driving. We purchased this car used from Sawgrass Ford. The earliest service documentation I currently have readily accessible showing that this vehicle was brought to Ford for transmission-related concerns is from February 2024—less than seven months after we purchased the vehicle from Sawgrass Ford. Since that time, there has been a significant service history related to this recurring issue.

NHTSA complaint #11737008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Shortly after purchasing this vehicle used in May 2024, we began experiencing hard and erratic shifting, particularly between 4th to 5th and 7th to 8th gears. On August 12, 2024, a Ford dealership performed a PCM update, which provided only temporary and partial improvement. The issue was never fully resolved. In January 2025, the vehicle was diagnosed with a failed CDF drum within the 10-speed transmission. We paid $4,610.13 out of pocket for this repair. Despite this repair, the same transmission issues have persisted. The vehicle continues to exhibit hard, delayed, and unpredictable shifting that affects drivability. Most recently, we were advised that additional transmission work may be required, potentially including a full rebuild or replacement estimated at approximately $9,200. We have also incurred additional diagnostic costs related to this repeat failure. The erratic shifting creates inconsistent and sometimes delayed acceleration, which raises safety concerns when merging into traffic, crossing intersections, or maintaining consistent vehicle speed. Based on our research and discussions with a transmission specialist, this issue appears to be common among 2020 model vehicles equipped with this transmission, suggesting a potential defect rather than normal wear and tear. This ongoing failure, even after a major repair, raises serious concerns about the reliability and safety of the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11736730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

On at least 5 separate occasions the vehicle has slowed significantly and failed to downshift in order to accelerate. This has been accompanied by high transmission temps and power train warnings. In one instance the vehicle slowed to below 40 mph on an expressway with a speed limit of 70. Eventually the vehicle will downshift with a harsh and erratic shift which will then accelerate the vehicle. I'm at the point where it does not feel safe to have the vehicle on the expressway.

NHTSA complaint #11736590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SUV jerks when shifting, hard shifts, transmission fails to shift preventing driver to speed up resulting in hazardous driving condition when entering a highway. Metal shards recovered from transmission fluid checks. Occurs consistently when moving to higher speeds, i.e. acceleration from red light to green light. Or entering highways, freeways when acceleration is needed.

NHTSA complaint #11735709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.