2020 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 86owner reports
- 36,000median miles
- $9,000median quote
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Sep 8, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
528 of the 730 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 86 of those describe stalling. Only transmission shudder is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 86 reports
Stalling on other F-150 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: 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 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.
An incorrect attachment nut may have been used to attach the battery positive (B+) power supply cable to the starter motor, possibly affecting the electrical conductivity, resulting in excess heat and electrical arcing.
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.
The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and braking or steering assist.
All 11 recalls on the 2020 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the F-150
Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Open, led to recall 26V-237.
Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Closed jan 30, 2026.
Low-pressure fuel pump failure. Closed sep 19, 2025, led to recall 25V-455.
Unintended transmission downshift. Closed jul 29, 2024, led to recall 24V-444.
Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.
Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.
Reduced power during hard acceleration. Closed apr 7, 2014.
Fuel tank strap failure due to corrosion. Closed aug 19, 2011, led to recall 11V-385.
Fuel tank strap corrosion/rust. Closed may 23, 2011.
Cng regulator leak. Closed feb 27, 2009.
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.
Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.
Ford f-series dual fuel tank leakage. Closed nov 4, 1999, led to recall 93V-125.
Automatic transmission control. Closed aug 27, 1998, led to recall 97V-147.
Failure transmission park engagement/loc. Closed sep 16, 1997, led to recall 97V-147.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed aug 31, 1994.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed jul 30, 1993.
Transmission fluid fires. Closed jul 5, 1991.
None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.
What owners paid
19 of the 86 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,900 to $11,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 12,000 and 68,500 miles, from the 34 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 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.
Some 2017-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with 3.3L, 3.5L EcoBoost, or 5.0L engines may exhibit stalling, lack of power, low fuel rail pressure and/or DTCs P0087 or P008A after a repair was made that required the removal of the fuel line that connects ...
Some 2017-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost engine, 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 2.7L EcoBoost or 5.0L engine, 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.0L engine, may exhibit a high pitched squeal or whistle type noise from the ...
Some 2017-2020 Model year vehicles equipped with 3.3L, 3.5L EcoBoost, or 5.0L engines may exhibit stalling, lack of power, low fuel rail pressure and/or DTCs P0087 or P008A after a repair was made that required the removal of the fuel line that connects the ...
Some 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit excessive oil consumption of greater than 1L (1 quart) in 4,800 km (3,000 mi) with no visible oil leaks.
What owners wrote
“I was driving at normal highway speeds for probably around 45 minutes. When I tried to accelerate around a slower car, I lost all power to the gas pedal and then it slammed into 5th gear as I slowed down, I sped back up and it was sluggish and slow to accelerate and then violently shifted from 5th to 9th as if those were the only two gears I had. I was able to make it home, but it was a very dangerous situation.”
Filed Jul 28, 2025
“Transmission is being replaced for a 2nd time due to erratic downshifting at highway speeds. Going from 10th to 1st to 5th and back to 10th gear. Then loss of power.”
Filed Apr 30, 2025
“While driving on the highway the truck shut off. A message appeared (Auto StartStop Shift to P, Then Restart Engine) This is an ongoing issue. It has happened three times already while driving. After the error message appears I stop, the turn the truck back on and it works perfectly. The issue is that the truck turns of while going at any speed. I have already replaced the battery.”
Filed Jan 27, 2025
“The 10 R 80 transmission is unstable and can cause the driver to downshift to make up for a shutter in drive train. Ford calls it normal operation. Secondly, the adaptive cruise control shuts off in traffic. At times unknown to the driver. Very unsafe.”
Filed May 30, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 86 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 193 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 75 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 66 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 44 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 32 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 28 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 26 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 25 reports