2020 Ford Expedition: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Sep 21, 2026 · Acceleration, Brakes · GA

The parking pawl is engaging during speeds of about 25-30 mph when switching gears. This happens randomly at times and puts everyone in my car at risk because I lose all horsepower to my car. I have to wait until my car drops to about 20 mph to begin accelerating again. The component has not been inspected but does have a current recall. However upon speaking with Ford representatives the remedy will not be available until after April of 2027. I have had the car read for codes and the code stated that it was stuck in park. This is also causing damage to my transmission as it is now skipping gears and showing shifter sensor error. This started to appear around 8/21/2026

Filed May 11, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · FL

We have recurring safety issue with our car that has not been fixed despite multiple service visits to both Grieco Ford and Sawgrass Ford. They keep sending it back as “cannot duplicate”. We have contacted Ford Corporate and they also will not assist. We purchased this car used from Sawgrass ford and purchased an extended warranty with the car. The car issues include: Slipping into Neutral: The transmission unexpectedly loses gear engagement while merging or accelerating on the highway. • Hard Shifting/Clunking: Violent gear changes that cause the whole vehicle to jar physically. • Gear Hunting: The car hesitates and shifts up and down erratically instead of holding a gear. • Limp Mode: Sudden, dramatic loss of power where the car refuses to accelerate properly in traffic. These are serious safety hazards that put our family in harm's way. These failures happen consistently with our children in the car, and they have happened to our teenage son while he was driving. We purchased this car used from Sawgrass Ford. The earliest service documentation I currently have readily accessible showing that this vehicle was brought to Ford for transmission-related concerns is from February 2024—less than seven months after we purchased the vehicle from Sawgrass Ford. Since that time, there has been a significant service history related to this recurring issue.

Filed Apr 15, 2026 · Transmission · PA

While merging on to highway vehicle made loud clunk, transmission slipped and vehicle went into fail safe mode(limp mode). Vehicle would not accelerate when pushing on gas pedal for 8 seconds. Tractor trailer truck behind us slammed on its brakes as well as 3 other vehicles due to tractor trailer truck swerving in lanes to stop. Was almost rear ended by tractor trailer truck. Vehicle has TSB’s on 10 speed 10R80 transmissions but no recalls. Vehicle does not throw code so vehicle can not be assessed or repaired according to dealership and Ford motor company. This is a huge fatality risk and safety issue regarding multiple claims of the 10R80 transmissions in the newer ford expeditions.

Filed Feb 6, 2026 · Transmission · TN

My Ford Expedition (2-wheel drive) is experiencing jerking at variety of speeds, (changing gears, slowing down) and will sometimes get stuck in gear when I press the gas. Today, as I was entering the freeway, I pressed the accelerator and the transmission did not engage—there was no power at all until I released the gas pedal and pressed it again, at which point it finally engaged. This issue happens intermittently and is a serious safety concern, especially because I cannot predict whether the vehicle will hesitate or fail to respond when accelerating.

Filed Aug 25, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · TX

Ongoing problem already had 2 repairs done to transmission. Gears o not shift properly when the gears go from 3-4 and 6-7. If I am not careful when I press on the gas and try to accelerate it does not shift gears and gets stuck on and my truck will not move more than 5-10 mph while I am trying to get on the highway at times with trailers coming full speed ahead behind me. I have reported this issue many times. There has been no remedy. The gears get stuck and make a jerking motion and movement causing truck to slow and barely move. It is not just a one time thing so I cant give a specific date as it happens often.

Filed Aug 6, 2025 · Acceleration · 55,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 55,000.

Filed Jul 14, 2025 · Fuel system, Transmission · AL

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Powertrain Control Module (PCM), which manages engine-transmission communication and regulates cooling system performance, malfunctioned, resulting in a cascade of related failures: Transmission system: Delayed shifting, hesitation, and eventually a “transmission stuck in park” code. Cooling system: Repeated overheating that led to a ruptured radiator. These issues stem from the faulty PCM referenced in Ford Recall 24E13, issued on April 25, 2025. Yes, the failed components remain in the possession of Harbin Motor Company in Scottsboro, AL, where the vehicle is still located. The vehicle has not been repaired and is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? This vehicle was operated while exhibiting documented powertrain and overheating symptoms—including while transporting children. Harbin Ford repeatedly instructed continued use despite: Diagnostic scans on April 10, 2025 confirming PCM-related failures including “transmission stuck in park” and overheating. A coolant leak that occurred without warning lamps, leading to the radiator bursting. These failures put occupants at serious risk of breakdown or fire, especially in high-traffic or high-temperature driving conditions. Operating a vehicle with a malfunctioning PCM increases the likelihood of gear slippage, sudden deceleration, or complete transmission failure. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The issue has been repeatedly confirmed by Harbin Motor Company, an authorized Ford dealer: On April 10, 2025, a scan identified “transmission stuck in park,” overheating, and a third unidentified code. On May 15, 2025, the service manager Craig Davis confirmed the transmission had an internal issue requiring a full rebuild and located a coolant leak. These confirmations were documented via servi

Filed Nov 18, 2024 · Transmission · TX

We have experienced the problems of bad shifting, error codes, sudden deceleration, lack of acceleration and the vehicle going into "limp mode" over the past three years. These events have been extremely dangerous as they have occurred at highway speed multiple times and have occurred while towing a boat. We had taken it into the dealer in in September of 2022 and the dealer claimed they could not find a problem. It should be noted that the vehicle was under warranty at the time. We continued to experience the problems and took it to a different Ford dealer last week and they found the problem and stated the vehicle was subject to a TSB about the transmission and said the transmission must be replaced. And it was not covered by warranty or recall. I have researched the issue and there are hundreds of complaints about Ford's 10 speed transmission having problems. This is a dangerous problem and Ford is aware of it and will not take responsibility.

Filed Nov 18, 2024 · Transmission · TX

Vehicle does not shift properly usually during gears 3-7 and it skips and jerks really bad and it loses power. It happened as I was entering expressway and vehicle lost power and I almost got hit by a tractor trailer from behind.

Filed Jun 24, 2024 · Transmission · TX

Vehicle had transmission rebuilt per dealership to fix transmission jerking and skipping/getting stuck in gears both on HWY and regular roads. Since rebuilt happened less than 90 days ago, my Ford EXP. is still doing the same thing. This past week alone it has happened to me 3 times. Instance on reg road going from about 10-15mph to accelerate and pressed on the gas and vehicle would not move and jerked until it shifted and was able to speed up twice this happened between gears 2-4 this happened. Next time this happened family was on hwy heading out of town while on hwy shifting lanes vehicle jerked and transmission noises happened louder than other times and vehicle got stuck on gears 6-8 when finally able to move normally. We were told when the dealership rebuilt the transmission since warranty would not cover a new one, that this should fix the problem or maybe think of trading my truck in for a newer one.(really not the answer I was looking for). Ford needs to take responsibility for these Expeditions coming out faulty. I had already send to shop right after transmission rebuilt and they could not do anything because they could not reproduce the issue again so here I am 60 days later and again with the same issue

Filed Apr 16, 2024 · Transmission · TX

I had my 2020 Expedition looked at for transmission issues. Vehicle at times gets stuck and gears do not shift which causes vehicle to lose power both on the HWY and regular streets. I took into dealership on 3/20/24 they said they would have to get transmission module reset as this is a known issue with the expeditions. Well here I am 3 weeks later and vehicle is doing the same thing when I was driving down the street and attempted to switch lanes vehicle would not go into gear and sounded like something was breaking off of it. It has done this 3 times within the last 10 days. Vehicle at dealership now and tech is saying they can not reproduce issue so they can not fix. I told them I have done research on this issue and states that it could be selenoids. This is not something normal that should be happening to a 2020 expedition. Transmission issues were we can get injured from vehicle malfunctioning. I was stuck in the middle of an intersection when vehicle transmission malfunctioned on this occasion. other instance family was on the HWY their is no warning to when this is going to happen and speed is not a factor since it has happened on HWY and street driving.

Filed Feb 6, 2024 · Transmission · TX

While driving the car, it would completly lose power at arounf 45 mile per hour. It seems the transmission does not shift correctly. The automobile is completly unsafe to drive. Dealer says it will take 6 to 12 months to repair unless there is a recall (i have not found a recall yet). Thanks