2020 Ford F-250 SD problems & reliability
259 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford F-250 SD, alongside 14 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
2 complaints report injuries (2 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 73 | 28% |
| Steering | 44 | 17% |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 34 | 13% |
| Suspension | 29 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 27 | 10% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 10% |
| Engine | 26 | 10% |
| Unknown OR Other | 25 | 10% |
| Structure | 12 | 5% |
| Back Over Prevention | 9 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 56,000 miles (middle 50% between 8,900 and 95,375 miles), based on 96 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“DEF heater failure will cause increased emissions. The warning light flashes. I have seen details where there are issues with the wiring harness for the DEF heater.”
Power Train · filed Jul 28, 2026
“10r140 paired with 6.7 powerstroke in a 2020 f250 build date 11/19 at the Kentucky plant. My truck specs and build date and location is in the timeframe of the planetary gear recall, ford has also issued tsb’s about the cdf bushing that should have been a recall because it is a design flaw on every 2020-2022 model…”
Power Train · filed Jul 23, 2026
“The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V256000 (Power Train); however, the recall repair could not be completed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that a thrust washer was missing from the output planetary assembly and had…”
Power Train · filed Jul 9, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter Leak
Preliminary Evaluation PE24014 · opened May 9, 2024 · open
- Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance
Recall Query RQ21002 · opened Aug 3, 2021 · open
- Power Tailgate Release Systems
Recall Query RQ21001 · opened Jan 15, 2021 · closed Jan 10, 2024
Technical service bulletins
298 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford F-250 SD. The 10 most recent:
Customer Satisfaction Program 25M01 Certain 2021 Model Year F-150 3.0L Diesel Engine and 2020-2022 Model Year Super Duty with 6.7L Diesel Engine Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Sensor Replacement, If Required After Dealer…
25M01 · Other · issued Jul 28, 2026
This article supersedes TSB 25-2572 to update the Parts List to correct the part number LC3Z-6006-L to LC3Z-6781-A, remove the flex plate bolts AL3Z-6379-BA from the parts list as these bolts are in kit LC3Z-6781-A…
TSB 26-2256 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 19, 2026
This bulletin supersedes 25-2549. Reason for update: To add 2020 model year chassis cab vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an incorrectly illuminated malfunction indicator…
TSB 26-2216 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 6, 2026
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…
SSM 54720 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 2, 2026
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
25N17 · Other · issued Mar 25, 2026
This article supersedes TSB 24-2249 to update the claim quantity of the torque converter nuts, part number and claim quantity of the front support assembly bolt washers, and part number change of the fluid pan from the…
TSB 26-2088 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 5, 2026
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated…
SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 24, 2026
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…
SSM 54589 · Other · issued Feb 17, 2026
For 2017 2026 vehicles equipped with a 10R transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure has been made in the WSM, located in Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing. This updated procedure improves the…
SSM 54592 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 17, 2026
Some 2017-2026 F-Super Duty vehicles may exhibit a pull/drift condition during braking. This may be due to the brake pads needing to be broken in. Repeated, heavy brake applications may assist to resolve the pull/drift…
SSM 54448 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 16, 2025
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2020 Ford F-250 SD has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2020 Ford F-250 SD?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 56,000 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.