2020 Ford Expedition · symptom sheet
Transmission hesitates when accelerating
- 27owner reports
- 71,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
27 of the 148 reports of transmission shudder on the 2020 Expedition describe hesitation when accelerating.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (148 reports) · also: jerking or hard shifts, transmission slipping
Tick what matches of 27 reports
Hesitation when accelerating on other Expedition years
No other Expedition model year has enough reports of hesitation when accelerating for a sheet of its own. See every Expedition year.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside transmission shudder for a car that pauses before it goes. You press the gas, and for a beat nothing happens, or the engine revs and then the car catches up. What makes it distinct from the wider sheet is timing: the complaint isn't a rough shift at speed but a delay right when you need to move.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (22 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
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.
All 18 recalls on the 2020 Ford Expedition, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Expedition
Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.
None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 59,158 and 97,000 miles, from the 12 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The transmission has been having problems for a year. Ford changed the valve plate in transmission due to hesitation and then jerky gear shifting. Problem is still happening. Car hesitates when shifting gears and then jerks. Sometimes the car will no shift gears and go when needed. Almost got in a wreck because it would not accelerate.”
Filed Jan 30, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 27 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 62 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 40 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 40 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 35 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 26 reports