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2020 Ford F-150: Recalls and Reported Problems

Every NHTSA safety recall recorded for this model year, what owners report most often, and how to check whether one specific vehicle still has open work.

By VIN Lookup Research DeskPublished 2026-08-27Reviewed 2026-09-15United States
NHTSA dataModel-year data describes the production run, not the car in front of you.

Two identical F-150s can differ entirely: one may have had every recall repaired, the other none.

Direct answer

NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls for the 2020 Ford F-150, alongside 543 owner complaints filed with the agency, most often about power train. Eligible recall remedies are generally free through the manufacturer's approved repair process, even after the warranty ends; some software remedies are delivered remotely. Federal no-charge coverage has an age limit for vehicles first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. Check the specific VIN — a previous owner may already have had the work done.

2020 Ford F-150 at a glance

11NHTSA safety recallsCampaigns covering this model year
543Owner complaintsFiled with NHTSA, unverified
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What owners report most

These are the vehicle systems named most often in complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford F-150. A complaint is an unverified owner report: it does not establish a defect, and a high count can simply reflect a popular model. Use it to decide where an inspection should look hardest.

Most-reported systems, 2020 Ford F-150 (NHTSA complaints)
Vehicle systemComplaints
Power Train233
Engine100
Electrical System69
Unknown Or Other63
Visibility38
Forward Collision Avoidance21

Recall campaigns for the 2020 Ford F-150

Each campaign below is an official NHTSA record. An eligible remedy is generally free through the manufacturer’s approved process, which may be an authorized service visit or remote software update. Federal no-charge coverage has a 15-year first-sale limit measured at the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. A campaign covers a production range, so only a VIN lookup confirms whether a particular vehicle is included and whether the work is still outstanding.

NHTSA recall campaigns recorded for the 2020 Ford F-150
CampaignComponentIssue
26V373000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. When the headlight switch is turned from "Autolamps" to "Headlamps On," the Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) may remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as…
25V442000BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWAREFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-…
24V852000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requireme…
22V250000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGESFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
20V575000BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or dis…
20V467000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLYFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 vehicles. An incorrect attachment nut may have been used to attach the battery positive (B+) power supply cable to the starter motor, possibly affecting the electrical conductivity, resulting in excess heat and electrical arcing.
20V197000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ranger and F-150 vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions and certain 2020 Expedition vehicles equipped with a "police" package. The transmission shift cable lock clip may not be fully seated, allowing the transmission to actually …
20V097000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated fro…

NHTSA records 11 campaigns in total for this model year; the 8 most recent are listed above. Run the VIN through NHTSA’s free lookup for the complete, vehicle-specific list.

How to check one specific F-150

  1. Copy the 17-character VIN from the windshield or driver-door label — not from the listing.
  2. Run it through NHTSA’s free recall lookup to see open campaigns for that exact vehicle.
  3. Ask the seller for repair documentation on any campaign that shows as completed.
  4. Check title, odometer, and total-loss history separately; recalls say nothing about a vehicle’s past.
  5. Book an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the systems owners report most.

What this data cannot tell you

  • Whether a specific vehicle is included in a campaign, or whether its recall work was completed — only a VIN lookup answers that.
  • Whether a complaint is accurate. NHTSA publishes owner reports without verifying them.
  • How reliable the model is overall: complaint volume tracks how many vehicles were sold as much as how they hold up.
  • Anything about title brands, accident history, odometer records, or liens on an individual vehicle.
Evidence

Primary sources behind this page

Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.

  1. Recalls Lookup by VINNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  2. Vehicle recall remedy age limitNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  3. NHTSA Recalls APINational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  4. NHTSA Complaints DatabaseNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  5. Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Quick answers

2020 Ford F-150 questions

How many recalls does the 2020 Ford F-150 have?

NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls covering the 2020 Ford F-150 as of 2026-09-15. Whether a specific vehicle is affected — and whether the repair was already done — depends on its VIN.

What are the most common 2020 Ford F-150 problems?

Owners most often report power train, engine, electrical system issues to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports and do not establish a defect, but they show where to focus an inspection.

Are Ford recall repairs free?

Generally, yes for eligible vehicles, even after the warranty ends. Federal law limits the required no-charge remedy when a vehicle was first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; a manufacturer may still cover an older vehicle voluntarily. Check the VIN with the manufacturer for the approved remedy, which may be a dealer visit or a remote software update.

Can I check recalls on a specific 2020 Ford F-150 VIN?

Yes. NHTSA's free VIN lookup reports open recalls for an individual vehicle, including whether the repair is still outstanding. Model-level lists like this page cannot tell you that.