2020 Ford Expedition: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Sep 2, 2026 · Transmission · TX

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency 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.

Filed Jul 19, 2026 · Seat belts · AL

We recently purchased a certified pre-owned 2020 Ford Expedition Max Limited with approximately 70,000 miles. Since purchasing the vehicle, it has experienced several issues, particularly with the transmission. Before the transmission was replaced, the dealer attempted to repair it twice but was unable to resolve the problem. After the replacement transmission was installed, the same symptoms returned within one to two weeks, including harsh shifting, shuddering, and harsh engagement when shifting into reverse and park. In addition, the front seat belts and the captain’s chair seat belts have locked up multiple times. I also received a recall notice for the replacement transmission that was installed about a month ago, with an estimated repair timeframe of the second quarter of 2027. There is currently no repair available for the seat belt issue either. There have been no warning lights or messages displayed for any of these problems. I am concerned that these ongoing issues put both my safety and my child’s safety and the public at risk while operating or riding in this vehicle.

Filed Jul 6, 2026 · Body, Electrical · 31,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled on several occasions, and the instrument panel turned blank, forcing the contact to coast to the side of the road to restart the engine. Additionally, when shifting from Park to Drive, the vehicle shuddered violently and unintendedly shifted into Park. The contact associated these failures with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train). The contact also stated that the cup holder was collapsing inward, and the text or coating on every control button in the vehicle was peeling off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but no diagnostic trouble code was found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

Filed Nov 2, 2025 · Transmission · MI

2020 Ford Expedition FX4. Towing a four wheeler and motorcycle on the expressway. The suv was in tow / haul mode and on cruise. The car downshifted to go up a incline and made a booming noise and then composed its self. Shortly after, I tried to pass a car, and the trans downshifted, made a couple of loud clunks, shuddered, lost all power. After a couple terrifying seconds it composed itself, found gear and maintained speed, acceleration was not possible as the trans would go out of gear. Further down the road, it did the same thing, clunk, clunk out of gear, no power. There were NO warning lights. I took it out of tow mode and tried both sport and standard settings, both had similar issues. This was the scariest situation I have ever been in with a car mechanical issue. Note: We were ~120 miles into the 160mile trip. The OAT temperature was ~45 degrees. Trans temp showed 250 degrees when acting up, and dropped to 220 by the time the trip ended. Odometer shows ~77k. CPO, dealer maintained.

Filed Jun 9, 2025 · Transmission · 40,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and attempting to overtake a semi-truck, the vehicle shuddered, lost motive power, and made an abnormal clunking and winding sound. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal and while driving from a complete stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to Krapohl Ford (1415 E Pickard St, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858), where the transmission shifter cables were reset through a computer update; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the cause of the failure could not be determined; however, the dealer recommended the transmission be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Filed Mar 29, 2025 · Transmission · CA

While driving on a highway at approximately 40mph, attempted to pass a slower vehicle. I accelerated and the vehicle dropped down in gear, started shuddering, lost power and the MIL light started flashing. I pulled to the side of the road and the vehicle shifted into another gear and seemed to operate normally. Vehicle is currently at the Ford dealership, where they say that I need a new transmission.

Filed Feb 12, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · CA

While driving on a highway at approximately 70mph, attempted to pass a slower vehicle. I accelerated and the vehicle dropped down in gear, started shuddering, lost power and the MIL light started flashing. I pulled to the side of the road and the vehicle shifted into another gear and seemed to operate normally. Vehicle is currently at the Ford dealership, where they say that I need a new transmission, due to the CDF drum failure.

Filed Jan 2, 2024 · Transmission · 65,600 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the RPMS increased; however, the vehicle failed to respond and downshifted. The message "Transmission Fault" was displayed. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact stated that after 15 minutes, the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound and shuddered while the transmission shifted into gear. The contact continued driving at low speeds. The dealer was notified of the failure. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was a manufacturer’s defect; however, the vehicle was not covered under warranty due to the mileage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 65,600.

Filed Dec 1, 2023 · Engine · 98,000 miles · PA

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 federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 98,800.

Filed Nov 28, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · 91,034 miles · PA

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.

Filed Sep 13, 2023 · Transmission · WI

My SUV had shudders and vibrations while making turns. I took it into a local Ford dealer and they couldn’t find the problem. They said they did an “engine relearn” and that I should drive it for one thousand miles to see if it gets better. I drive it to Kentucky from Wisconsin and back; the problem got worse. I took it back in to the same dealer and they then figured out that it was the front differential and it needed to be completely rebuilt and the cost would be $3200!

Filed May 2, 2023 · Transmission · TX

At approximately 35,000 miles we started noticing a harsh shift. We have taken the vehicle into the Ford Dealership 3 times and they have made repairs each time (overhauled main control valve body replacing the separator plate and channel plate, replaced the torque converter, replaced a broken seal inside C-clutch, replaced main valve body, flushed transmission cooler and lines). Each time the vehicle appears fine, but the harsh shift returns, typically within a couple thousand miles. The harsh shifting occurs when it shifts into 5th gear. At one point the vehicle stopped all forward movement and left me and my daughter blocking lanes of traffic at a very busy intersection - putting ourselves and other motorists in danger. Each time we take the vehicle in, the dealership test drives the vehicle and confirms the harsh shifting. One of the dealer techs stated they've had a lot of problems with the Ford 10 speed transmission. The transmission shifts start out fairly mild, but then get more intense pretty quickly. The harsh shifts have made loud clunking noises, caused the vehicle to lunge or shudder during shifts, and have almost felt like we were struck by something. On a roadtrip the transmission actually shifted hard enough that it woke my wife up who was in a deep sleep.