2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 31owner reports
- 84,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
74 of the 263 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 31 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 31 reports
Transmission shudder on other F-250 Super Duty years
No other F-250 Super Duty model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every F-250 Super Duty year.
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 (4 reports) and the clutch (4 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.
A washer within the vehicle's transmission can disintegrate, causing metallic debris to become lodged in the 'Park' mechanism.
The transmission torque converter damper plate was not tempered, resulting in a brittle damper plate that may fracture and cause the engine to stall or require increased brake pedal effort in order to stop the vehicle.
All 15 recalls on the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the F-250 Super Duty
Failure of serpentine belt. Closed may 28, 1996, led to recall 96I-003.
Trns oil cooler line fails. Closed mar 31, 1995.
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 60,597 and 100,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 13 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty 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 a harsh reverse to drive engagements with no diagnostic trouble codes (DTC).
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: * An illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with DTC P07F7 * Loss of 10th gear.
Some 2020-2022 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a 10R140 automatic transmission may exhibit harsh reverse to drive engagements without diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).
Some 2020 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a 6.2L or 7.3L engine and a 10R140 transmission may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P07F7 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM) and a ...
9 more on the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty page.
What owners wrote
“Trucks Transmission is harsh engagement, hard shift delayed shift. Hangs up in gear, throwing wrench light and codes since 2022, Other trucks of same year and manufacture date and plant made are matching this Truck, but truck was not included in Safety recall. Took to Dealer 3 times prior stated couldn't find anything wrong. Truck is equipped with 10R140 automatic Transmission .”
Filed Apr 3, 2025
“Vehicle hesitates while trying to pull out onto a busy highway, therefore, causing major concern in getting hit by another vehicle while pulling out.”
Filed Mar 5, 2025
“Truck lunges forward when at stop light, in drive and foot on the brake. Almost rear ended another driver. Did this several times. Also, when merging on highway and try to pick up speed the truck bogs down and hesitates almost got into two accidents because of this. Also loud clunking and banging on start up and when idling.”
Filed Dec 31, 2024
“While driving at various speeds the transmission/powertrain has jerking shifting, loss of power, inability to increase speed, hesitates in speed, hard shifting, clunking noises. It hesitates from 4th to 5th gear, hesitates from 9th to 10th gear, and will drop from 10th gear straight down as low as 4th gear with the RPMs of the engine going dangerously high.”
Filed Jul 23, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 31 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 41 reports
- Diesel fuel system or injector problems 36 reports
- Fuel pump failure 34 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 29 reports