2020 Ford Expedition · symptom sheet
Transmission fails or needs replacement
- 40owner reports
- 68,795median miles
- $5,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 5, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
261 of the 416 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 40 of those describe transmission failure.
Tick what matches of 40 reports
Transmission failure on other Expedition years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the end of the road for a transmission: the car stops moving under its own power, or a shop says the unit has to be replaced or rebuilt. Half of the owners here mention a warning light or message, and a quarter mention it happening again or to a second unit.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (40 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.
What owners paid
5 of the 40 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $850 to $9,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 45,000 and 80,000 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“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.”
Filed May 5, 2026
“I got a brand new transmission put in at the beginning of the year but my whole car spits and sputters and shakes going 45 and when I am backing up it throws me forward(almost in the car in front of me) instead of reversing and making a loud clinking noise”
Filed Nov 25, 2025
“Transmission stalls, shifts hard, shutters,. Had the transmission rebuilt about four months agoand similar issues are already starting with the rebuilt transmission.”
Filed Nov 6, 2025
“While driving on a highway at approximately 40mph, attempted to pass a slower vehicle. I accelerated and the vehicle dropped down in gear, started shuddering, lost power and the MIL light started flashing. I pulled to the side of the road and the vehicle shifted into another gear and seemed to operate normally. Vehicle is currently at the Ford dealership, where they say that I need a new transmission.”
Filed Mar 29, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 40 reports involved a crash. 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
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 148 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 62 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