2020 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Transmission hesitates when accelerating
- 28owner reports
- 88,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
28 of the 193 reports of transmission shudder on the 2020 F-150 describe hesitation when accelerating.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (193 reports) · also: jerking or hard shifts, transmission slipping
Tick what matches of 28 reports
Hesitation when accelerating 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: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
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 (24 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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 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.
Unintended transmission downshift. Closed jul 29, 2024, led to recall 24V-444.
Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.
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.
Transmission fluid fires. Closed jul 5, 1991.
None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 68,500 and 100,105 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“The transmission progressively became worse--skipping gears, lurching, clanking, hesitating and losing power. It became unsafe to drive. A complete rebuild of the transmission we required. There is a defect int he transmission that allows bushing/rings to move around.”
Filed Oct 23, 2025
“the truck has sudden jerking, Harsh shifting, The truck lunging forward unexpectedly, Hesitations during acceleration, Unexpected losses of power this is on a recall for several other 2020 f150 trucks and it never did this till recently”
Filed Nov 24, 2024
“Very hard shifting while driving and hesitates shifting while driving; both upshifting and downshifting. Occasionally gets stuck in a lower gear when driving. Hesitates when shifting between drive and reverse. Has progressively gotten worse over time.”
Filed Jun 28, 2024
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 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 86 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