2020 Ford Expedition EL

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 09/04/2026· STEERING

  The leather on the steering wheel keeps peeling off. It’s unsafe Becuse the steering wheel becomes slippery

• 09/03/2026· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  My 3rd / Center brake light assembly had to be replaced as it was not working. The issue was caused by condensation. I paid to have it replaced but feel this should be a warranty item. Root cause should be improper seal around light assembly. This would not be normal user “wear and tear”. It is improper design/mfg process. Since it is the high brake light this is a serious safety concern. Thank you

• 09/02/2026· POWER TRAIN,SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the parking brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that parts were unavailable to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive with the unrepaired seat belt recall. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure), and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

• 09/02/2026· SEAT BELTS

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. While entering the vehicle, the contact became aware that the front passenger’s side seat belt was locked but was able to be retracted. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (SEAT BELTS); however, the part to do the recall repair was 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

• 09/02/2026· POWER TRAIN

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered extremely while driving. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer confirmed the failure and stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.

• 09/01/2026· POWER TRAIN

  The car will lose power when trying to accelerate on the highway. The car’s transmission will completely shift out of a high gear while traveling 50+ mph at a time when you are trying to accelerate onto the highway or speed up to avoid another vehicle. The car’s transmission will shift to first and slow way down and you cannot regain power or speed for several seconds. This has happened multiple times over the last several months, sometimes multiple times a day.

• 08/31/2026· STRUCTURE

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V368000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

• 08/31/2026· SEAT BELTS

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while parking, the passenger removed their seat belt. As the seat belt retracted, there was a very loud explosion sound. A cloud of dust was observed, and the passenger-side seat belt became extremely tight. The contact stated that the vehicle shook, and the sound and movement originated from the passenger-side seat belt retractor housing. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to perform the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with the failure related to the recall; however, the dealer stated that the contact would have to pay out of pocket for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,849.

• 08/29/2026· SEAT BELTS

  My 13 year old daughter and I were driving home from softball practice, and mid conversation, without warning, it felt like something rammed into us from the side of my car. We were coasting at a cool 40 miles per hour and were winding down after a long day. My daughter yelped that her seatbelt was suffocating her. My mind was racing but I didn't see a vehicle that anywhere that looked like it actually hit us. After further researching the issue, I discovered that the massive boom we felt in my vehicle was most likely the pyrotechnic charge firing inside the seatbelt retractor assembly. My daughter's seatbelt instantly retracted tightly, and my daughter had to unbuckle quickly. I'm glad I was still with it enough not to stop right there because no doubt we would've been hit on the highway, and her sitting there without a seatbelt. We pulled over and inspected our vehicle but no sign of a wreck, confused we googled exactly what had happened and were in shock to find that the seatbelt had deployed like a bomb in our vehicle. The recall has been noted without a remedy on both the dealer's website as well as NHTSA, however, we were never notified by mail. The vehicle was inspected previously, and the dealership noted that it had the recall without communicating with us. This happened without warning, messages, or anything else. My driver side seatbelt did not work effectively like it would if we were indeed in a crash, so I felt like someone wrecked into us and I basically didn't have a seatbelt restraint because the vehicle did not recognize the deployment of the mechanism as a "wreck". My neck down to my back hurts and has continued to be sore from the incident. I have been hit by vehicles before over my lifetime, and this felt much harder than any hits I have encountered.

• 08/28/2026· ENGINE

  The vehicle disengages and loses power, feels like it shifts to park and won’t go.

• 08/26/2026· POWER TRAIN

  While highway driving, the transmission drops into neutral when accelerating and then jumps back to gear. This poses a huge safety risk when attempting to pass a vehicle because the car completely loses power. Dealership has looked at the transmission and acknowledges it is a “known issue”, but because it only happens sporadically, not a fix.

• 08/26/2026· POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

  Car is stalling out while driving it.

• 08/26/2026· POWER TRAIN

  When accelerating, if you push on the gas hard the car will shift into neutral/park and then shift back into gear. It doesn't matter if this happens at 20 mph or 75 mph. It is extremely unsafe. This shift fault code P07E6 is the code that populates. It is directly correlated with the recall 26S48/26V402. Ford won't even glance at it to consider it a part of the recall because " there is no fix for the recall yet " . This recall has directly damaged the transmission in my vehicle & other peoples vehicles. I have requested a remedy as my vehicle is no longer safe to drive on the highway due to the shift issue and I am met with we won't be able to address it until the recall fix is out. I have requested a loaner while we wait for the recall fix, which isn't going to be ready till 5/2027. Ford needs to consider the transmission damage this recall has caused on vehicles, the safety issues behind that damage, and they need to make it right.

• 08/26/2026· POWER TRAIN

  Ford has a recall out for the Parking Prawl. I have experienced my car rolling forward after shifting into park. The vehicle proceeded to move about 5 feet before I hit the brake and the vehicle shut down. I restarted the vehicle, reversed back into my parking space, kept my foot on the brake until the vehicle was shut down. I have been using the Parking Brake ever since. Before this incident occurred, I have been noticing my vehicle shifting sticking, skipping, and completely dropping out of any gear and going into neutral while on the road in motion. This is not safe, and I do believe it is all related.

• 08/26/2026· POWER TRAIN

  For the past month I have started noticing my ford expedition changing abruptly between certain gears. The problem progressively got more noticeable until last week while driving my Ford Expedition on the highway it lost power unexpectedly, feeling like it was about to stall while driving 65 mph and on the third lane while the car randomly downshifted from the 10th speed to the 6th. The person behind me almost rear ended me in the process. Just a couple of days after that (while waiting for my appointment with the dealership), I encountered another close call while entering a roundabout. The vehicle again felt like it was stalling, causing me to lose momentum in the middle of the intersection and this time almost getting hit on the side with both my young kids in the car. This is especially alarming because i am clearly not the only one to run into this problem yet no recall have been made or at least not on all the models that are affected. This issue is related to a known defect in the 10R80 transmission used in this vehicle, which I understand is widely reported among other owners of this model. I have an active repair and goodwill claim open with Ford regarding this transmission issue. I'm filing this complaint to document the safety risk this defect poses, particularly the loss of power in live traffic situations, and to ensure it's on record with NHTSA.

• 08/26/2026· POWER TRAIN

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission attempted to shift into park but downshifted from third gear into first gear instead. No warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to complete the recall repair were not available. The contact stated that the failure was persistent and once occurred while the contact's family occupied the vehicle, creating a safety hazard and rendering their only vehicle unsafe to drive. The dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 142,696.

• 08/25/2026· POWER TRAIN

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was 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 issue. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle abruptly stopped in the middle of the road. During one of the failures, the front driver’s side tire had a blowout. The failure reoccurred on several occasions. The failure mileage was 86,000.

• 08/25/2026· SEAT BELTS

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the front driver's side seat belt retractor pretensioner independently deployed. The contact stated that there was no crash or any impact to the vehicle to cause the inadvertent deployment. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder of the road and then driven to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, a diagnostic test was not performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V197000 (Seat Belts) and 26V344000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 66,230.

• 08/14/2026· POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHERCrash

  I have a 2020 Ford Expedition, , affected by NHTSA recall 26V402. The recalled condition has actually occurred on my vehicle. The vehicle failed to remain in Park and moved in reverse with the driver's door open. It struck a brick mailbox, severely damaged the driver's door, and I was pulled/dragged by the vehicle while my children were inside. This is an actual safety incident involving unintended vehicle movement, property damage, and a potential bodily-injury event." This just occurred and has not yet been inspected.

• 08/14/2026· POWER TRAIN

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a delay in the transmission shifting gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the transmission to be reprogrammed. The failure recurred, and the transmission was shifting roughly, and the vehicle lost automotive power while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a drum body failure, incorrect gear ratio, and metal shavings were found inside the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,600.

• 08/07/2026· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving over 10 MPH with her husband inside the vehicle, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated, and the brakes independently engaged. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the battery was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that a software update for the rearview camera was performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact stated that the dealer refused to provide the telephone number for the manufacturer. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (POWER TRAIN); and the VIN was included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

• 08/06/2026· Other/I am not sure

  Last week I took the cover off our car seat to wash and the foam on the headrest was cracked all the way through. I have no idea when this happened or even how it could have. This car seat is barely 2 years old. I’ve never been in an accident or dropped this seat, and it is not used improperly.

• 08/05/2026· POWER TRAIN

  I was driving home from vacation on I-77 in Virginia, and felt large jolt and heard several clicking type noises. Two separate service engine lights immediately came on the dashboard, and I was able to safely pull over. I had my vehicle towed to a nearby dealership to be looked at by a mechanic. The mechanic indicated the existence of safety recall notice 26S48/(NHTSA 26V402). I spoke with the mechanic who removed the diagnostics lights on the dashboard as prescribed by Ford, and attempted to see if they would be triggered again by driving the vehicle around. I described what had happened and the mechanic immediately said the description of this safety recall seems to be the culprit as to what was experienced. The parking pawl engaged while I was on I-77 traveling 70mph, causing the transmission to inadvertently shift into park causing the jolt and sounds I described. I contacted the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and Ford manufacturer directly regarding this recall, and was told as there is no remedy available. I have several concerns as the remedy is not expected until 5/31/2027 which is way too long of a period to have to wait when my vehicle has clearly been diagnosed with this recall issue, as shifting into park while driving presents a MAJOR safety risk that puts lives in danger. Furthermore, the parking pawl can cause significant damage to the vehicle's transmission and may make me liable for significant repair costs that 100% could be avoided by Ford providing a remedy in a reasonable amount of time. I need my vehicle to either be repaired, repurchased, or provided a loaner car by the dealership while I await this remedy to avoid this situation from happening and resulting in me having to pay for a new transmission or worse potentially causing an accident. This vehicle was inspected by the state of Pennsylvania in 2026.

• 08/04/2026· SEAT BELTS

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt retractor exploded, and the seat belts became inoperative. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V197000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,361.

• 07/31/2026· SEAT BELTS

  While driving on a public road, the recalled driver's side seatbelt pretensioner (Recall 26S34) spontaneously exploded without a crash. The seatbelt violently locked on my body, causing friction burns and bruising to my skin while the explosion caused hearing loss in my left ear. The vehicle is now un-driveable as the seatbelt no longer works and has been towed to a Ford dealership. The dealership has obtained possession of the vehicle stating it is not safe or legal to drive. We have contacted both the dealership and corporate ford for assistance with alternate transportation and have not been provided with any thus far. We have called 10 different times and visited the dealership in person twice & still no help. Since the incident, I experience high anxiety and stress whenever I am inside a motor vehicle. To add to this, the loss of my vehicle has caused severe logistical distress, disrupting my daily routine, which compounds my daily anxiety. It has been 10 days without any answers, only to be told if we don’t hear anything by mid August to call back and then we can escalate. This is unacceptable.

• 06/29/2026· POWER TRAIN,SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE

  The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure), 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission started slipping. After releasing the accelerator pedal and slowing down, the engine made a revving sound, and the transmission failure was self-corrected and shifted to the proper gear. While starting the vehicle or while driving at various speeds, the transmission hesitated shifting into the intended gear. There was an unknown warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle in March of 2026, the Carfax report stated that the transmission had been replaced, and the contact purchased the vehicle under the belief that the vehicle was equipped with a new transmission. In May, the vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the valve body had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact emailed the dealer about the diagnostic results and the needed repair. The dealer confirmed the failure. The dealer replaced the valve body, but the failure persisted. The dealer then diagnosed in June that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,467.