Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Ford Expedition owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at 10-20 MPH a week after purchasing the vehicle brand new, the vehicle started jerking. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact continued driving. However, the failure recurred while driving the entire day. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was normal as she had just started driving vehicle. The failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. Additionally, the contact stated that there was steam coming through the AC vents. The contact also stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, indicating that the catalytic converter was damaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while depressing the lock panel with the numbers on the driver's side door, the seat unintendedly moved forward, and the seat belt retracted, and the driver was squeezed in the seat. The contact turned off the vehicle and seat belt to returned to the original position. The contact stated that coolant was added to the coolant reservoir; however, the vehicle was leaking coolant. The contact was unsure if the cap was positioned correctly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V344000 (Seat Belts) and 26V368000 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and remained for five days. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the seat needed to be adjusted. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact returned the vehicle to the same dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that a hose on the transmission had not been installed correctly. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred two more times, and the vehicle was returned to the same dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with failed front cover seals and an oil leak with metal shavings in the cylinder. The contact stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred in July 2023 and the front cover seals failed and were replaced under warranty. The contact stated that the vehicle then had a coolant leak, and the coolant hose was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly jerked and hesitated, prompting thee contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway to turn off the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The service engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle shuddered with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while the vehicle was idling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where diagnostic codes: P0011, P0012 and P0016 were retrieved. The dealer determined that the crankshaft chain was stretched and needed to be replaced in bank #1 and bank #2, along with the pretensioners and phasers. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 98,800.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed catalyst converter. The contact was informed that the catalyst converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure had occurred on three separate occasions and the catalyst converter was replaced by the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not assist. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle experienced jerking and shuddering while shifting gear with the Power Train fault message displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the camshaft timing chain, phasers, and variable valve timing solenoid were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 91,034.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle at start-up. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with a defective cam phaser. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle for the failure and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and stalled, but independently regained motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
Related recalls
Engine
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.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed.
Engine complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2020 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 55 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2020 Ford Expedition, 13% of the model year's 425 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Ford Expedition engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 25V-628 (engine, Sep 19, 2025). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2020 Ford Expedition engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.