2020 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet

Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing

28owner reports
59,100median miles
$5,369median quote
0involved a crash

Newest report Sep 3, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

137 of the 730 complaints on this car are about the engine. 28 of those describe engine failure.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026

No crash reportedin 28 reports

Tick what matches of 28 reports

a knocking or ticking noise first

the engine seized

oil light or low oil

the engine was replaced

it was covered by a warranty or extension

I was denied coverage

Engine failure on other F-150 years

201627 reports 201754 reports 201891 reports 201953 reports 202028 reports

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: 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.

What this problem usually is

These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (27 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the engine covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the F-150

EA23-002opened Sep 29, 2023

Engine · model years 2021 to 2022

Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.

PE13-018opened May 22, 2013

Engine · model years 2011 to 2013

Reduced power during hard acceleration. Closed apr 7, 2014.

DP05-005opened Sep 22, 2005

Engine · model years 1997 to 2004

Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.

EA93-022opened Jul 30, 1993

Engine · model years 1991 to 1992

Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed aug 31, 1994.

PE93-010opened Mar 2, 1993

Engine · model years 1991 to 1992

Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed jul 30, 1993.

None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.

What owners paid

8 of the 28 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,900 to $15,000.

$4,900$5,369$15,000

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 23,000 and 80,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.

Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

Service bulletinSSM 51665May 26, 2023
Some 2021-2023 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L engine may exhibit an upper engine thump/knock noise coming from the left cylinder head. This condition is most noticeable at idle and may lessen at higher engine speed or while driving.
Service bulletin21B10-S2Jul 31, 2021
It may be possible that an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after your vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time, or as a knocking noise when ...
Service bulletin21N03Jul 31, 2021
In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after the vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time or as a knocking noise ...

What owners wrote

“The engine started running loud and making a knocking noise. Took it to the dealership and they said it needs a new engine. Regular maintenance performed by Ford. There were no warning lights that came on prior to the engine failure. They say the engine is on back order.”
Filed Apr 27, 2026

“A ticking, rattling, or knocking noise from the engine The noise occurs when starting the engine after a long period of inactivity and when the engine is idling after warming up.”
Filed Mar 3, 2025

“Since new it has used 3qts of oil every 5000 miles. It has been to two different Ford shops and they say there is nothing wrong with it and refuse to do anything with it. A new engine should not be using oil. I've been a mechanic for over 50 years. No engine that I ever built used oil. This is unacceptable”
Filed Feb 19, 2024 · 5,000 miles

“engine makes a metallic noise, spark knock sound at lower speeds 10- 40 mph. Talk to ford dealer and was told to drive it till it codes. There was nothing they could check otherwise. There is 39,000 miles on it.”
Filed Nov 3, 2021 · 39,000 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 28 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found