2020 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 193owner reports
- 65,600median miles
- $8,400median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
356 of the 730 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 193 of those describe transmission shudder, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 F-150.
Narrower sheets: Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear (107 reports) · Transmission slips (43 reports) · Transmission hesitates when accelerating (28 reports)
Tick what matches of 193 reports
Transmission shudder 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: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (23 reports), the valve body (5 reports), the clutch (5 reports) and the torque converter (3 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.
What owners paid
27 of the 193 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $5,000 to $9,800.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 40,000 and 90,400 miles, from the 87 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 8 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 of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed shift * Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes ...
Some 2017-2020 F-150, 2018-2021 Expedition/Navigator/Mustang, 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10R80 transmission may exhibit a harsh/delayed engagement and/or harsh/delayed shift, an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic ...
Some 2017-2023 F-150, 2018-2023 Expedition/Navigator/Mustang, 2019-2023 Ranger, 2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator/Transit and 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles equipped with a 10R60/10R80/10R80MHT transmission may exhibit a harsh/delayed engagement and/or harsh/delayed ...
Some 2017-2020 F-150, 2018-2021 Expedition/Navigator/Mustang and 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10R80 automatic transmission may exhibit a harsh engagement/harsh shift/delayed shift.
4 more on the 2020 Ford F-150 page.
What owners wrote
“Transmission shifted from 4th to 1st while driving a steady 25 mph, then lost all forward drive, the transmission slips, then will slam into gear. I parked it for two weeks until I could get it to the shop. Driving it to the Ford dealer today (2 September 2026) I had to stop the vehicle twice because the transmission was doing the same thing. Currently have 70K miles on it.”
Filed Sep 2, 2026 · 70,000 miles
“Transmission failed. Truck jerks at stop. Transmission went out at 68,000 miles. My dad has a 2019 with same problem and went out at 72,000 miles. Someone needs to hold ford accountable for this. Extended warranty didn't want to pay the full price. Now I am out of pocket $1,800. Going to file a lawsuit against Ford and the extended warranty company”
Filed Aug 4, 2026 · 68,000 miles
“The transmission has a history of harsh shifting and slipping. At 101,600 miles being told this is a known issue with the transmission and likely needs to be replaced.”
Filed May 12, 2026 · 101,600 miles
“Transmission shifts hard and downshifts with a huge clunk. Jerking the vehicle very big known issue for these trucks and am extremely low miles. Under 50k miles A bad safety issue and huge repair bill for the consumer.”
Filed May 1, 2026 · 50,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 193 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 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