Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Ford F-250 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact called on behalf of her husband who owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while her husband was driving on the highway at 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled, with the "Low Power Mode" message displayed, and within 3-5 seconds there was a large cloud of smoke coming from the front end of the engine bay, and the vehicle proceeded to slow down. The driver pulled over onto the side of the highway. The vehicle was not able to be restarted; however, while attempting to restart the vehicle there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed. The contact was advised that the high-pressure fuel pump was faulty and had exploded, causing metal shards to enter the engine. The contact was informed that the engine and the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, while driving 40 MPH approximately two months later, the vehicle was running rough and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with a high-pressure fuel pump failure, causing the fuel system to become contaminated. The dealer determined that the fuel system needed to be replaced. The dealer submitted a diagnostic report to the manufacturer. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure, and a case was filed. The vehicle was not repaired and was pending the manufacturer's decision regarding the coverage of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle lurched forward and hesitated to accelerate. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the transmission randomly shifted gear and the gear selector failed to match the gear selection. During the failure, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the "WRENCH" symbol was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V197000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 65,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph on the highway, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle went into limp mode causing the speed to suddenly reduce to 30 MPH. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the failure was due to an engine software update. A software update was performed but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the NOX sensor was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that an engineer would be sent to examine the vehicle. No further information was available. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 72,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated, the vehicle started shuddering and lost motive power. The message "Engine Failure" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with high-pressure fuel pump failure. The dealer diagnosed that the fuel injectors, the high-pressure fuel pump, and the fuel lines needed to be replaced, Additionally, the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) fuel tank needed to be cleaned. The dealer informed the contact that the repair was covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,942.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, another driver on the road informed the contact that the vehicle was leaking diesel fuel with an abnormally strong diesel odor. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that an unstated filter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while stopped in the driveway, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The hill assist, traction control, brake, fuel empty, and the engine overheating warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle went into battery-saving mode. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle sputtered and lost power. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that a mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that after turning the ignition switch to the off position and removing the ignition key, the engine remained running. Additionally, the maintenance wrench icon illuminated, and the warning message "Reduced Power Mode" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
Engine complaints in other F-250 SD years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2020 Ford F-250 SD?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2020 Ford F-250 SD, 11% of the model year's 267 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2020 Ford F-250 SD engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2020 Ford F-250 SD, though it has 14 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2020 Ford F-250 SD engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 40% before 25,000 miles.
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.