2020 Ford Expedition: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 370 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, electrical, and seat belts. The 10 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020- Owner complaints
- 370
- Recalls
- 16
- 1 urgent
- Crashes reported
- 4
- 19 injuries
One recall on this model year told owners to park outside until the repair was done.
Do not buy until you have dealer paperwork or a recall lookup showing it was completed for this VIN.
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/10 checked
2020 Ford Expedition: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/4
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Expedition is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Ford Expedition. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 19 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Expedition that averages well under the EPA 19 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Transmission slipping and harsh shifts
38,094–60,020 miles
Seat belt locking or retractor failure
65,000–66,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Ford Expedition, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Transmission233No crashes
The 10-speed automatic slips, slams into gear, hesitates, and drops out of gear, often while passing or climbing at highway speed. Several reports describe the transmission going into park at speed and cutting all power, often with no warning lights. Hard and delayed shifts often start between about 38,094 and 60,020 miles. Some vehicles have had more than one transmission replaced, and dealers cite a worn CDF drum or clutch in some cases. Three reports involve fire, including fluid leaking onto the exhaust, and two involve injuries.
Electrical211 crash
The truck can shut off, lock itself in park, or lose all electrical power, and auto stop/start can stall the engine when pulling away from a light. The center screen and instrument cluster go black or flicker, taking GPS, Bluetooth, the camera, and safety features with them. Dealers blamed the APIM in some cases. Three reports involve fire, including a parked vehicle burning and a 120V outlet that arced. Owners also say dealers cannot get replacement battery junction boxes. In one crash report, the air bags did not deploy.
Seat belts17No crashes
Belts lock, cinch tight, or fire their pretensioner with a loud bang, whether the vehicle is parked or moving. Some owners notice a burning smell and the air bag light afterward. These events account for all three injury reports, which include chest pain and a cut. Other belts will not retract or release until the engine is turned off, and dealers diagnosed failed retractors at around 65,000 to 66,000 miles. Most of the remaining filings say a seat belt repair cannot be done yet because the parts are back-ordered.
Engine14No crashes
Many of these filings actually describe the transmission: slipping, hard shifts at speed, jerking when pulling away, and slipping into neutral for a moment while passing. The true engine faults are split coolant hoses, a rattle at start-up traced to cam phasers, a stretched chain that needs new tensioners and phasers, and failed front cover seals. The seal failures led to low oil pressure and metal shavings in the cylinder. A few owners also report the engine shutting off while driving.
Body and structure9No crashes
Panoramic sunroof glass bursts while driving and sprays glass into the cabin. All five injury reports come from this. Center console chrome trim peels into sharp edges that cut fingers. In freezing weather, door latches stop working and will not open from inside, which owners tie to a Ford service bulletin. Other reports describe roof rack parts flying off on the highway, a power liftgate that will not close with the engine off, an air conditioning leak that soaks the carpet, and early exhaust rust.
Wipers and visibility8No crashes
Panoramic moonroof glass shatters or explodes with no impact, usually while driving. The bang is loud enough that some drivers mistake it for a tire blowout, and glass can fall into the cabin. The rear window also shatters on its own while the vehicle is parked, in two reports at about 17,143 and 18,000 miles. One owner describes a leaking moonroof that needed the whole system replaced at 40k miles. Another is waiting on a repair part that is not yet available.
Airbags62 crashes
In two crash reports the bags do not deploy, one of them a head-on collision. The opposite failure also appears: a front bag goes off unexpectedly while driving and causes head or neck injuries, in one case along with a driver seat belt that tightened and came loose. The warning light also comes on with a message that the passenger bag may not work. One dealer traced this to a seat belt buckle tension sensor at about 62,935 miles.
Brakes41 crash
Braking can be lost suddenly. Reports describe a pedal that sinks to the floor with the brake fluid gone, and a front brake line worn through where it rubs the steering column. In one crash, the pedal only pulsed and automatic emergency braking did not stop the vehicle before a rear-end collision. Another report describes violent jerking, a brake warning light, and a burning smell at about 104,550 miles. With only 4 complaints, no clear mileage pattern appears.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Expedition owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Incident happens every 1k miles or more. Car is in motion driving. Press down on throttle and transmission drops to 1st gear. A bunch clicking and thumping sounds are heard. Car doesnt accelerate(can be at 70mph), starts to slow quickly until gears change. Also 4H is jerky as well as sport mode. Very unsafe to be traveling on the highway trying to overtake a vehicle and then your car fails.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2024
Automatic transmission making abrupt and lurching gear changes (even coming out of Park) in addition to mechanical sounds. Safety has not been an issue, so far. The situation has not been inspected by dealer or any other mechanic. Vehicle still under warranty with less than 8,000 miles. No warning messages have surfaced. Never involved in crash or flooding.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2022
I’m reporting a parts‑availability problem with Ford recall 22S36/22S48 on my 2020 Expedition. My VIN shows the recall in FordPass and my dealer confirmed it, but they cannot get the replacement battery junction box. I was advised to contact larger dealers because parts are not being supplied. This is a fire‑risk recall, and the delay prevents the safety repair. Please document the shortage and ensure Ford provides adequate parts.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2026
I was sitting at the kitchen table with my children doing some painting projects for Halloween and my car started smoking, my alarms started going off and within a matter of minutes my car was completely engulfed in flames, I grabbed my kids and ran outside as the car was close to our house and we then called 911. By the time the fire department arrived the car was a complete loss, and my house has sustained minor damages.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
Every time I put seatbelt on in passenger side it locks up and it stays in that position until I take it off. I can pull on it and it will not move at all I will unusually have to take it off and put on again just for the same thing to happen.this happens with front seats belts not sure if back ones do the same I just know I can not put on back seat belt it’s seems they are made for kids only.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2024
While I the vehicle was on, the seat belt malfunctioned. The issue appears to be the same one described in the recall. During the incident, the belt tightened / locked unexpectedly and caused significant pressure to my chest. Since then I’ve been experiencing chest pain. The air bag light in the car is now on.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2026
Less than 74,000 miles and coolant hoses split. According to service department they have had an increase in hoses rupturing indicating a fault in the hoses.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2024
The SUV was driving smoothly at 55mph speed, suddenly I hit the break and tried to reaccelerate and felt a hard transmission shift, felt like metal hitting metal, felt like it was forced to shift to drive mode from parking mode. After that I started using 93 octane rated gasoline, do not observe the problem too much. I will really scary and unsafe, the whole SUV shook hard for 2sec.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2025
How the 2020 compares with other Expedition years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks second for owner complaints among 9 Expedition years, about 2.3 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Transmission23356
- Electrical2112
- Seat belts178
- Engine1426
- Body and structure94
- Wipers and visibility84
Where the 2020 fits in the Expedition's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the third model year of the Expedition's fourth generation (2018–2024).
Recalls to confirm (16)
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V628000EnginePark outsideSep 2025
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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's numbers for this recall are 22S36 and 22S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 23, 2025.
26V402000TransmissionJun 2026
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 on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
26V368000Body and structureJun 2026
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.
26V344000Seat beltsMay 2026
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 will need the new repair completed.
25V442000Backup cameraJun 2025
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.
25V197000Seat beltsMay 2025
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.
25V346000ElectricalMay 2025
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.
24V099000Seat beltsFeb 2024
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.
22V250000Wipers and visibilityApr 2022
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.
20V574000Seat beltsSep 2020
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.
20V575000Backup cameraSep 2020
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.
20V366000SeatsJun 2020
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.
20V262000ElectricalMay 2020
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.
20V217000Seat beltsApr 2020
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.
20V197000TransmissionApr 2020
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.
19V633000SeatsAug 2019
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.".
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.
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2020 owner complaints, side by side
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- 2020 Ford Expedition370
