2020 Ford Expedition problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (228) · Seat Belts (30) · Engine (16)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Expedition model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
101 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (18)
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2026-06-24 · campaign 26V402000 · 741,195 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable
Structure:interior Panels:center Console 2026-06-09 · campaign 26V368000 · 548,463 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.
Risk: Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 10, 2026.
Seat Belts:pretensioner 2026-05-27 · campaign 26V344000 · 419,967 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls w
Engine 2025-09-19 · campaign 25V628000 · 4,632 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. A short circuit within the battery junction box can cause an engine fire while driving or parked.
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at
Back Over Prevention:software 2025-06-27 · campaign 25V442000 · 200,237 vehicles
Defect: Ford 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, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Seat Belts:pretensioner 2025-05-23 · campaign 25V197000 · 112,951 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S31. Some vehicles in this recall that were previously inspected under recall 24V-099 and did not have parts replaced will need to have this new recall remedy completed.
Electrical System:body Control Module:software 2025-05-23 · campaign 25V346000 · 556 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Navigator vehicles that were repaired incorrectly under recall 20V262. The Pre-Collision Assist features, such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, are not functional due to a software error.
Risk: Inoperative pre-collision assist features that fail to perform as expected can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S56.
Equipment:other:labels 2024-11-08 · campaign 24V852000 · 27,678 vehicles
Defect: Ford 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 requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Seat Belts:pretensioner 2024-02-09 · campaign 24V099000 · 77,574 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Additionally, dealers will install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S06.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-06-09 · campaign 23V420000 · 691,133 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
Risk: Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages 2022-04-14 · campaign 22V250000 · 652,996 vehicles
Defect: Ford 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.
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.
Seat Belts 2020-09-23 · campaign 20V574000 · 123 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition vehicles. The seat belt tension sensor may incorrectly classify a child occupant as an adult.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the incorrect classification would enable the passenger air bag to deploy instead of disabling it, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S54.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2020-09-23 · campaign 20V575000 · 620,246 vehicles
Defect: Ford 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 distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2020-06-23 · campaign 20V366000 · 2,620 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The attachment bracket for the driver's side second-row seat headrest may not have been sufficiently welded to the seat frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
Risk: An improperly welded headrest bracket may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began July 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C12.
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking 2020-05-08 · campaign 20V262000 · 25,081 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with camera-only Pre-Collision Assist feature. Vehicles built with the optional radar-plus-camera Pre-Collision Assist system are not affected. Due to incorrect coding of interfacing modules, the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, and the driver cannot access the menu functions necessary to enable the Pre-Collision Assist feature.
Risk: If the driver is unaware that the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, they may rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram software for the Body Control Module, Antilock Braking System, Instrument Panel Cluster and Headlamp Control Modules, and reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S20.
Seat Belts 2020-04-16 · campaign 20V217000 · 1,355 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition vehicles. The front passenger seatbelt buckle's Belt Tension Sensor (BTS) may malfunction and may result in the seat occupant being misclassified.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide the intended level of protection, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seatbelt buckle, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S17.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (Prndl) 2020-04-03 · campaign 20V197000 · 55,158 vehicles
Defect: 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 be in a different gear than the gear shift position selected by the driver.
Risk: If the transmission selection does not match the indicated gear selection, and the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the shift cable locking clip installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S18.
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2019-08-28 · campaign 19V633000 · 639,137 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl
Risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
Service bulletins (177)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-22 · SSM 55100 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for various ford and lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover j-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. use service part w709919-s901 if the j-clip is completely detached from the seat cover and w715386-s424 if the clip is still partially a
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection 2026-04-02 · SSM 54720 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
various 2020-2026 ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (blis) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "blind spot system fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (ipc). this may also be accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs)
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-25 · 25N17 · Other
advance notice – customer satisfaction program 25n17 certain 2015-2025 model year multiple vehicle lines rear view camera replacement if required after dealer evaluation
Electrical System 2026-02-17 · SSM 54589 · Other
some 2019-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with sync3 may experience various connectivity concerns with the ford app lincoln app including but not limited to: missing activation prompt pop-upon the vehicle's center display screen when attempting to activate vehicle through the ford app linco
Unknown Or Other 2025-12-02 · 25L02 · Other
special field action 25l02 certain 2017-2024 model year california emissions-certified vehicles transmission control assembly reimbursement
Power Train 2025-11-12 · SSM 54366 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2015-2021 ford and lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated mil with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0011, p0012, p0014, p0015, p0016, p0017, p0018, p0019, p0021, p0022, p0024 and/or p0025. pinpoint test hk in the powertrain control and emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) or in section 303-14 of th
Showing the 6 most recent of 177 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-29 · Power Train“2020 ford expedition 10 speed transmission numerous times while driving in the [xxx]/[xxx] area we were attempting to merge into traffic. while trying to merge, we pressed the gas in order to merge into traffic and the powertrain seized up with a total loss of power (it was basically like it went into neutral) and the rpm’s jumped to 6000-7000 rp…”
2026-10-27 · Power Train · 150,500 mi“the contact owns a 2020 ford expedition. the contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. the contact stated that there was a grinding sound coming from the engine and the engine was raised; however, the vehicle failed to drive forward. additionally, the pow…”
2026-10-26 · Power Train“when accelerating hard, the vehicle attempted to downshift the transmission, but failed and all power was suddenly lost. vehicle transmission was loud and grinding. warning lamps stating shift failure was displayed but disappeared quickly. after removing acceleration, transmission seemed to slip into gear and normal acceleration was restored. a…”
2026-10-15 · Unknown Or Other“the little cubby in my car where i keep my phone charger literally sliced the side of my finger open. i was just reaching in there like i normally would, and somehow the edge caught my finger and cut it so badly that it took a piece of the side of my finger off. i never would have imagined something as simple as reaching into the little compartment…”
2026-10-15 · Power Train“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 …”
2026-10-13 · Power Train“when the vehicle is in motion, the transmission shifts very hard (with a loud audible "bang") between gears 4 and 5, and intermittently power is lost to the wheels (again, while the vehicle is in motion, you depress the accelerator, the engine revs up, but the vehicle does not accelerate). once you brake and come to a stop, the vehicle accelerates…”
2026-10-13 · Power Train“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 i…”
2026-10-07 · Air Bags“i am reporting a potential safety defect involving the driver airbag assembly on my 2020 ford expedition. the driver-side steering wheel airbag cover has split open along the factory tear seam to the point that the airbag material is exposed. there was no collision or airbag deployment associated with this failure. ford previously issued ssm 5078…”
2026-10-04 · Vehicle Speed Control“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 b…”
2026-10-01 · Power Train“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. this did not fix the harsh shifting; it only cleared the warning lights when the harsh shifting occurred. now in 2026, shifting and gear sticking have continued …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.