2020 Ford F-150 inspection checklist

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“MY WIFE AND I WERE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT IN HOT SPRINGS ARKANSAS ON MARCH 8, 2022. ANOTHER VECHICLE RAN INTO US ALMOST HEAD ON AT AN ESTIMATED 30 MPH. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF OUR TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. MY WIFE HAS SOME BROKEN BONES IN HER BACK AND HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT PAIN SINCE THE ACCIDENT.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“The contact owned a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that his employees had driven the vehicle to a work site. While at the work site, the vehicle caught fire while the engine was off. An employee stated that flames appeared to have come from the vehicle's dashboard. An attempt was made to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher; however, the flames quickly engulfed the vehicle. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed as a result of the fire. One of the contact's employees suffered first and second-degree burns to the face. The employee was taken to a hospital where they were treated for their injury. A police report was not filed. The decal from a storage unit was melted, a blinker cover on an RV was destroyed, and several nearby trees were damaged. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be inspected; the cause of the fire remained unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“My 2020 Ford F-150 with the 10R80 transmission has been involved in transmission failures on multiple occasions. The last 2 incidents nearly resulted in car accidents. I had complete power failure while moving through an intersection and was narrowly avoided by another vehicle that thankfully was able to steer clear of my decelerating truck. I would have been hit on the driver side at around 45 mph. my vehicle rolled to a stop after hitting the curb on the other side of the road. I then sat with the truck off for 5 minutes, then turned it back on, got power back, and drove straight to the dealership. Lights flickered on the screen indicators saying "Pre Collision off, wrench light on, and complete loss of the gear screen." Ford had the truck for 2 weeks and replaced the transmission wiring harness saying there was a loose connection. The day after I picked the truck up I was accelerating from a stopped position at a light. Around 7th gear and around 45 mph the entire truck suddenly downshifted into 1st gear with a loud bang causing me to launch forward. It almost felt like my truck hit something as I went from 45 mph to about 20 mph in one second. The vehicle behind me honked his horn, slammed on his brakes, and swerved around me into the other lane - another accident narrowly avoided. I pulled over shut the truck down, turned it back on and drove some 10 miles never going over 40 mph. The wrench light was on. The drive modes were unavailable. The gear shift screen was gone. I was not able to get more than 3,000 rpms while driving giving me very little acceleration. Ford currently has the vehicle again. I am terrified to get back in this truck. There appears to be NO SOLUTION to the problems and I simply can't risk my life or someone else's by taking a chance of driving this truck again. Ford knows there are transmission problems. They are unable to solve it. I do not know what to do as I still have $44,000 to pay it off.”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 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 for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rear Visibility. Ford's recall described the noncompliance as insufficient electrical conductivity within the printed circuit board (PCB) internal to the camera leading to intermittent rearview camera operation. The supplier of the cameras was Magna Electronics.According to Ford's chronology in the Part 573, during the period February-April 2020, Ford identified and monitored warranty claims pertaining to intermittent or inoperative rearview cameras. Ford reviewed supplier product changes, focusing on changes introduced by the supplier in the October-November 2019 time frame. The Part 573 stated that the issue was brought to Ford's Critical Concerns Review Group (CCRG) for review on May 12, 2020.On July 7, 2020, NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Testing Center (VRTC) informed the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a trend of MY 2020 Escape vehicles with rearview camera malfunctions. ODI contacted Ford the next day, providing five Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging inoperative rearview cameras. On July 15, 2020, Ford met with NHTSA to discuss the rearview camera issue. In a subsequent August 24, 2020 meeting, ODI and NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) met with Ford to discuss the recall status and additional VOQs. Ford presented rate and scope data for many of its MY 2020 products during the August 2020 meeting indicating high failure rates for certain models.This RQ is being opened to investigate both the timeliness and scope of Ford's rearview camera recall (20V-575), and Ford's compliance with reporting requirements.The subject reports referenced in the opening resume are identified by the following ODI reference numbers which can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov: 11349813, 11344126, 11342696, 11341486, 11340254, 11337274, 11331444, 11330875, 11329235, 11316960, 11343521, 11341884, 11337226, 11344018, and 11339573.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“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 required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems." 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. 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.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and braking or steering assist. The engine could also stall. Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S40.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 trucks equipped with 17-inch spare tires. The spare tire could have been damaged when it was installed on the rim. The damage can cause the tire to rapidly lose air pressure or detach from the wheel, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spare tire, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S55.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“Ford 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 from the "Autolamps" switch position to "Headlamps On." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment." DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“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. 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. 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.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“Ford 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. Electrical arcing can increase the risk of a fire. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the starter motor B+ power supply attachment nut, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S40.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“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." Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash. 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.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“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. Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash. 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.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“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." 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. 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.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“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. 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. 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.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“Ford 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 intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment." Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6. 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“Certain 2017-2020 Model Year F-150 Equipped with a 3.5L GTDI Engine Powertrain Control Module Reprogram for Cam Phaser Rattle Reports of Transmission Shudder after PCM Reprogram: Dealers are instructed to stop performing this field service action until further notice. This shudder is under investigation.”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after the vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time or as a knocking noise when the engine is idling after it is warmed up. These concerns should be addressed by the updated calibration provided in FSA 21B10. However, for peace of mind, Ford is providing an extended warranty for customers who receive the PCM update under program 21B10 prior to December 31, 2021 and continue to experience cam phaser noise after receiving that PCM update, A cam phaser that has developed an undesirable noise does not affect the vehicle safety, performance, or emissions. ”

The records describe a problem worth checking before purchase.

“In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after the vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time or as a knocking noise when the engine is idling after it is warmed up. These concerns should be addressed by the updated calibration provided in FSA 21B10. However, for peace of mind, Ford is providing an extended warranty for customers who receive the PCM update under program 21B10 prior to December 21, 2021 and continue to experience cam phaser noise after receiving that PCM update.”