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2020 Ford Expedition EL problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2020 Ford Expedition EL has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 46owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 0fire reports
- 8injuries reported
46 complaints, against an average of 209 for the other 8 Ford Expedition EL model years.
Every Ford Expedition EL model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
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What goes wrong with the 2020 Ford Expedition EL?
The components named most often in the 46 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2020 Ford Expedition EL owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 46 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does the seat belt not latch or retract properly in my 2020 Ford Expedition EL?11 owners · 23.9%
- Why does my 2020 Ford Expedition EL transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?5 owners · 10.9%
- Why does my 2020 Ford Expedition EL stall, lose power or shut off while driving?4 owners · 8.7%
- Why does my 2020 Ford Expedition EL idle rough, misfire or hesitate?4 owners · 8.7%
- Has the 2020 Ford Expedition EL had transmission failures?4 owners · 8.7%
Fault codes 2020 Ford Expedition EL owners mention
Diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote in their complaints. Open a code to see what it meant on other cars and whether a recall names it.
Has the 2020 Ford Expedition EL been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2020 Ford Expedition EL as of November 2, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
What do 2020 Ford Expedition EL owners report?
12 of the 46 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
My car is a 2020 Ford Expedition Max with under 39,000 miles. A major transmission issue was just discovered while getting the 40,000 mile service. I believe it is the same issue as described under Recall 26S48. The car suddenly shifted into Neutral while driving on the freeway two separate times. The car is currently at the dealership, they got a P07E code, but did not experience the issue themselves.
The 10 speed transmission has ALWAYS slipped and never shifted correclty. Taken to shop multiple times and was told thats just how the transmission changes on the newer Ford 10 speed transmissions. Had the car 3 years and now I got a code saying the transmission is slipping in between 9-10 gears and 3-4 gears. The truck has ALWAYS done it but now it's gotten worse and no WARRANTY. Looks like THOUSANDS or millions have this problem and no clue how I'm responsible for a faulty transmission Ford knows is bad on their side. Terrible customer service where this is not fixed under a recall until the…
Was trying to merge into traffic by accelerating but the transmission was not shifting properly or slipping which caused me to almost be in a wreck due to this problem. Took vehicle to dealer and was told the transmission needs replaced due to a cdf drum inside transmission. Said there is a tsb for the issue but no recall. Said it's a known issue but I have to pay for a new transmission. Also have issues with the park brake setting while still moving which will also damage the transmission and there is a recall for that but no remedy yet. Why would I put a new transmission in and pay for it…
While operating the vehicle, the seatbelt retractor unexpectedly misfired and deployed with explosive force directly adjacent to my left ear. As a military veteran who already manages service-connected tinnitus, the concussive sound—comparable to a gunshot—significantly aggravated my condition, resulting in elevated ringing and heightened health impacts. Furthermore, the seatbelt mechanism is now permanently locked in a compromised position. This creates an unsafe driving environment, as it squeezes me tightly against the seat and distances me improperly from the steering wheel. This failure…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 50-55 MPH and approaching the interstate, the roof molding detached from the vehicle. The driver and the contact became aware that the passenger’s side was loosened and were concerned another portion or component of the molding might detach. The mounting retainer was still in place. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was confirmed that there were no recalls or warranty coverage on the vehicle. The contact provided an estimate for the repair. The issue was normal usage and wear and tear. The…
The aluminum around the cup holders has been peeling for over a year. It sliced my finger and my [XXX] foot. It is VERY sharp and I am currently holding it down with tape. There is a safety recall but no solution. When will there be a solution for this? Next, all my seatbelts immediately lock once retracted out to buckle. This makes moving around in the seat hard since it automatically locks and when trying to buckle. If you don’t pull it out far enough to buckle, it will lock where it is and you have to retract it back to unlock it. There is a recall for this too with the front seat belts but…
The parking pawl is engaging during speeds of about 25-30 mph when switching gears. This happens randomly at times and puts everyone in my car at risk because I lose all horsepower to my car. I have to wait until my car drops to about 20 mph to begin accelerating again. The component has not been inspected but does have a current recall. However upon speaking with Ford representatives the remedy will not be available until after April of 2027. I have had the car read for codes and the code stated that it was stuck in park. This is also causing damage to my transmission as it is now skipping…
Beginning XXX, the vehicle's restraints control module repeatedly warned of a fault with the passenger seatbelt retractor pretensioner circuit, via in-vehicle warning light and Ford app alert. This warning recurred on XXX, and again on XXX, each instructing the owner to contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible. On XXX, the vehicle was brought to Clement Ford in [XXX] for diagnosis. Service technician [XXX] confirmed via text message that the diagnostic codes were secondary codes tied to the open recall for the seatbelt pretensioners, and stated that "the pretensioners have been placed…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure), and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the parts to be available. The contact stated that after pulling into the driveway and shifting into park(P), the parking brake engaged independently, causing the vehicle to jerk into park. The failure was intermittent. The following morning, the gear shifter shifted hard into…
Recurring dangerous transmission defect in my 2020 Ford Expedition (3.5L EcoBoost, 10-speed 10R80, ~136,826 mi). It has lost power and shifted violently multiple times, each a crash risk. 1) ~Aug 22, 2026: Accelerating to pass on the highway, the whole vehicle shut down. I lost all power INCLUDING power steering and had to coast off the road. It restarted after stopping. Losing power and steering while passing at speed is extremely dangerous. 2) Weekend of ~Aug 29-31, 2026: Going up a slight residential driveway, the transmission slipped (engine revved, vehicle didn't move) then slammed into…
The vehicle disengages and loses power, feels like it shifts to park and won’t go.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving over 10 MPH with her husband inside the vehicle, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated, and the brakes independently engaged. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the battery was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that a software update for the rearview camera was performed. The manufacturer was not…
2020 Ford Expedition EL: questions owners ask
Is the 2020 Ford Expedition EL reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Expedition EL; the most common categories were power train (26, 56.5%), seat belts (13, 28.3%), structure (6, 13%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 1 complaint mentions a crash, 8 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Ford Expedition EL?
Across 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are power train (56.5% of complaints), seat belts (28.3% of complaints), structure (13% of complaints), service brakes (6.5% of complaints), engine (4.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2020 Ford Expedition EL have any recalls?
As of November 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2020 Ford Expedition EL. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does the seat belt not latch or retract properly in my 2020 Ford Expedition EL?
11 of the 46 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Ford Expedition EL (23.9%) describe seat belts not latching, retracting or locking. One owner wrote: "While operating the vehicle, the seatbelt retractor unexpectedly misfired and deployed with explosive force directly adjacent to my left ear." (NHTSA complaint 11767966, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2020 Ford Expedition EL transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?
5 of the 46 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Ford Expedition EL (10.9%) describe harsh, jerky or delayed transmission shifting or shuddering. One owner wrote: "In 2025, our 2020 Ford Expedition had harsh, erratic shifting, then would lurch during shifts or lose power. Ford service replaced the valve body plate and reset the transmission software." (NHTSA complaint 11768260, October 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2020 Ford Expedition EL stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
4 of the 46 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Ford Expedition EL (8.7%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Vehicle regularly shifts harshly, and on multiple occasions has completely lost power/forward movement as if the transmission completely disconnected from the vehicle. The vehicle would then reengage with a harsh lurch." (NHTSA complaint 11767001, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2020 Ford Expedition EL idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
4 of the 46 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Ford Expedition EL (8.7%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "While operating the vehicle, the seatbelt retractor unexpectedly misfired and deployed with explosive force directly adjacent to my left ear." (NHTSA complaint 11767966, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2020 Ford Expedition EL had transmission failures?
4 of the 46 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Ford Expedition EL (8.7%) describe transmission failure, slipping or a replaced transmission. One owner wrote: "In 2025, our 2020 Ford Expedition had harsh, erratic shifting, then would lurch during shifts or lose power. Ford service replaced the valve body plate and reset the transmission software." (NHTSA complaint 11768260, October 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Expedition EL
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2020 only. How these reports are made.