The Lemon Index2020 Ford Expedition.
The 2020 Ford Expedition is worse than average by owner complaints: 112 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 154, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 18 recalls, and it gets 18 to 19 mpg combined. The best Ford Expedition year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 425 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Expedition year. 2020 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 40K to 88K miles on the car (100 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 41K–91K miles
- seat belts complaints mostly came at 60K–100K miles
Recalls 18
- transmission & drivetrain 2026
The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
- body structure 2026
The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.
- seat belts 2026
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.
Show all 18 recalls
- engine 2025
A short circuit within the battery junction box can cause an engine fire while driving or parked.
- back over prevention 2025
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.
- seat belts 2025
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.
- electrical 2025
The Pre-Collision Assist features, such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, are not functional due to a software error.
- equipment 2024
The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard.
- seat belts 2024
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.
- equipment 2023
The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints.
- visibility 2022
The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
- back over prevention 2020
Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.
- seat belts 2020
The seat belt tension sensor may incorrectly classify a child occupant as an adult.
- seats 2020
The attachment bracket for the driver's side second-row seat headrest may not have been sufficiently welded to the seat frame.
- electrical 2020
Vehicles built with the optional radar-plus-camera Pre-Collision Assist system are not affected.
- seat belts 2020
The front passenger seatbelt buckle's Belt Tension Sensor (BTS) may malfunction and may result in the seat occupant being misclassified.
- transmission & drivetrain 2020
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.
- seats 2019
Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 177 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some 2020 F150/Nautilus/Expedition/Transit/Edge/Escape/Mustang vehicles built on or before…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenRearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance2021
- ClosedSeat belt retractor pretensioner inadvertent deployment2024–2025
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Expedition SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Expedition SUV 2WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ford Expedition EL SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Expedition EL SUV 2WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400–3550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
When accellerating in 5th, or6th gear trans slips out hard and car wont accelerate for 1 to 2 seconds. It displays being in 1st while this happens before it goes back into precious gear and starts driving.
2020 Ford Expedition owner · NHTSA complaint 11473465
More owner reports
Transmission slamming into gear up and down. Could cause an accident.
NHTSA complaint 11538272
The transmission keeps slipping while driving. It has been happening for over 6 months. Continuous visits to FORD and they are unable to find the problem. Now, we noticed our transmission temperature is rising to 240 degrees.
NHTSA complaint 11556571
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Ford Expedition reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 154; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Expedition year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2020 Ford Expedition problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (57%), engine (14%) and electrical (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Expedition have?
18 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Ford Expedition get?
18 to 19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 Ford Expedition safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2020 Ford Expedition problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 40,000 and 88,400 miles. The middle report was at 63,000 miles, from 100 complaints.
Does the 2020 Ford Expedition have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 57% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2020 Ford Expedition cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 to $3550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Ford Expedition have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Ford Expedition year is better than the 2020?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2012 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works