Diagsheet

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 Sep 9, 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

3
10
6
11
3
1

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.

22V-256Apr 14, 2022
Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. A washer within the vehicle's transmission can disintegrate, causing metallic debris to become lodged in the 'Park' mechanism.

Risk and remedy
Risk: Debris lodged within the 'Park' mechanism may prevent the vehicle from achieving or holding 'Park,' increasing the risk of a vehicle rollaway and a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace a gearset within the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 19, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S22.
20V-365Jun 23, 2020
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Super-Duty F-250, F-350, and F-550 diesel pickups. 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.

Risk and remedy
Risk: An engine stall or requiring additional braking effort to stop the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission assembly, free of charge. This recall began July 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S33.

NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the F-250 Super Duty

EA95-012opened Mar 31, 1995
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1992 to 1994

Failure of serpentine belt. Closed may 28, 1996, led to recall 96I-003.

NHTSA summary
AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED.
PE94-087opened Nov 18, 1994
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1994

Trns oil cooler line fails. Closed mar 31, 1995.

NHTSA summary
FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT SYSTEM (SERPENTINE BELT) IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO ADDRESS CONCERNS RELATED TO BELT TRACKING OR WEAR.FORD MAINTAINS THAT THE SUBJECT CONDITION DOES NOT PRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO HIGHWAY SAFETY, ARGUING THAT THE LOW INCIDENCE OF FAILURES ALLEGING SAFETY CONSEQUENCES (I.E., FIRES, FLUID LEAKS, AND/OR ACCIDENTS) IS STRONG EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THIS CLAIM.FORD HAS INDICATED RECEIPT OF 4,445 FIELD REPORTS AND 46891 WARRANTY CLAIMS CONCERNING THE SUBJECT CONDITION. FORD MAINTAINS THAT THE LOW NUMBER OF REPORTED HOSE RUPTURES AND/OR FIRES, RELATIVE TO TOTAL BELT FAILURES, SHOWS THAT THE PROBLEM IS A DURABILITY CONCERN THAT PRESENTS VERY LITTLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.FORD INTENDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMIN A SERVICE BULLETIN SCHEDULED FOR PUBLICATION THE WEEK OF MARCH 13, 1995.ODI HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL CLAIMS ALLEGING THAT INCIDENTS OF BELT FAILURE ARE CAUSING COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO ADJACENT FLUID SYSTEMS (E.G., POWER STEERING HOSE, COOLANT HOSE, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER HOSE).RELEASE OF THESE FLUIDS WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE, IF EXPOSED TO A SUFFICIENTLY HOT SURFACE AREA.THE AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE FOR TRANSMISSION OIL MAY BE AS LOW AS 300 C (570 F), WHILE POWER STEERING FLUID AND ENGINE COOLANT ARE GENERALLY HARDER TO IGNITE (CLOSER TO 500 DEGREE C (900 DEGREEF)).DAMAGE TO BATTERY CABLE INSULATION HAS ALSO BEEN ALLE
PE91-064opened Apr 9, 1991
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 1991

Transmission fluid fires. Closed jul 5, 1991.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available

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.

421
222
623
724
1025
226

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.

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