2020 Ford F-250 SD: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 25, 2026 · Electrical · TX · fire

I was driving the truck and suddenly smoke came out from behind the radio. I stopped and checked and saw that the truck was on fire. I immediately tried to turn it off with the few water bottles that I had with me. I had no luck and the entire truck burned up.

Filed Jan 27, 2026 · 98,000 miles · MS · fire

The contact owned a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, he smelled a burning odor, but assumed it was coming from outside. Two minutes later, smoke filled the cabin. No warning light was illuminated. The contact heard flames coming from the dashboard. The contact pulled over and safely exited the vehicle. The contact saw that the engine compartment had caught on fire before the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. A police officer was driving behind the vehicle and witnessed the fire. A police report was filed. Firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire. The contact was unsure whether a fire department report had been filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Filed Dec 22, 2025 · Fuel system · 45,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal knocking sound, and there was excessive smoke coming from the exhaust pipes, before the vehicle shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where the entire fuel system was replaced due to metal shavings contamination from the high-pressure fuel pump(HPFP). The vehicle was repaired at the owner’s expense. The contact later received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel), which the contact related to the failure. The manufacturer was contacted for reimbursement; however, the manufacturer informed the contact that reimbursement could only be provided once the recall remedy was available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

Filed Oct 27, 2025 · SC

Leaving him with Grandbaby and when we stopped I went to get her out of her car seat but the passenger side rear would not unlock. What would happen if the car was on fire and the door lock would not work properly. The driver said will rarely work properly with the physical key itself and now the auto locks don't work. Cannot believe this is not required to be repaired as it really jeopardizes the safety of infants in car seats. Such a easy fix for this type of possible safety issue. I have 3 Ford trucks and 1 Ford Explorer but very concerned the newest is a accident waiting to happen with one of my Grandkids and these inoperative locks.

Filed Aug 11, 2025 · Fuel system · CA

On July 31st, I was driving my 2020 F-250 in town, traveling approximately six miles from one location to another. Upon arriving at my destination, I noticed smoke coming from under the engine bay. When I opened the hood, I discovered diesel fuel had leaked throughout the engine compartment. I immediately contacted my local dealership and brought the truck in for inspection. I was informed that the fuel filter was cracked. After doing some research, I learned that this appears to be a common issue with similar models, and in some reported cases, it has even led to vehicle fires. Fortunately, this did not occur while I was driving a longer distance, which could have put me and my family at serious risk. I’m raising this concern in hopes of further investigation and a resolution, given the potential safety implications.

Filed Jan 2, 2025 · Engine · 175,000 miles · AR

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 manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.

Filed Mar 26, 2024 · Electrical · TX

Truck turned off while driving on freeway and would not turn on was told it was battery replaced it did not fix it turn off while pulling trailer took it back to dealer after further search thwy foumd a bulletin and its a fuse box that gets corroded not properly sealed moister gets in and causes problem a safety problem people can wreck you from behined or catch on fire for electrical short in fuse box.

Filed Aug 16, 2023 · Fuel system · 28,000 miles · NC · fire

The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving up a slight incline and pulling a trailer a burning type odor was suddenly present inside the cabin and the check engine light had flashed on before the vehicle began to lose power and stalled. After lifting the hood smoke and flames were present coming from the engine compartment. The contact attempted to extinguish the flames using a fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful and the flames intensified and began to spread to the cabin of the vehicle. Eventually the vehicle was completely destroyed from the flames. A fire report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. A police report was not taken. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the incident. The contact also indicated that a motorist observed fuel leaking from under the vehicle prior to the incident. The failure mileage was 28,000.