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2020 Ford F-250 SD: harsh or hard shifting

16 of the 272 complaints about the 2020 Ford F-250 SD describe harsh or hard shifting.

owner complaints
16
of this car's complaints
6%
recalls
2
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls and 55 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Harsh or hard shifting by model year

  • 2024
    1
  • 2023
    1
  • 2022
    1
  • 2021
    4
  • 2020
    16
  • 2019
    4
  • 2017
    4
  • 2016
    1
  • 2015
    1
  • 2011
    2
  • 2008
    1
  • 2005
    1
  • 2004
    3
  • 2003
    1
  • 2002
    1
  • 2000
    1

What owners say

Filed Jul 23, 2026 · Transmission · TN

10r140 paired with 6.7 powerstroke in a 2020 f250 build date 11/19 at the Kentucky plant. My truck specs and build date and location is in the timeframe of the planetary gear recall, ford has also issued tsb’s about the cdf bushing that should have been a recall because it is a design flaw on every 2020-2022 model truck. It’s not fair that we should have to pay for a tsb bc we don’t have warranty left. My truck has 84,000 miles but is out of the 5 years warranty period. Symptoms I am having with my transmission are: Harsh engaging to drive and reverse Flair shifts bad sometimes almost like it goes into neutral between changing gears Has shifted from 4th to 1st instead of 4th to 5th or 6th, then it started shifting normal right after. Had my factory 3250rpm limiter not been moved to 4500rpm the truck would have locked the rear wheels up and possible caused driveline damage or other damaged. Also had a car been behind me when this happened I would have been in a wreck because it slammed to a low speed and the car would have rear ended me. Slips in 4th and 7th gear the most but sometimes in other gears Bumps when it shifts a lot of the gears Sometimes shudders and shakes and will almost make like a pop noise Will clunk on downshift from 5-3 Sometimes clunks when upshifting 3-5 I have had the truck looked at by an independent diesel mechanic I use and he said there is a problem somewhere in the transmission, it’s either planetary gear or cdf bushing has moved or the drum itself has cracked. The component itself has not been inspected because the only was to inspect this is to tear the transmission down. The pan has been dropped and had a lot of metal material on the magnet. No codes on the dash but my mechanic said I had dtcs stored for the transmission. I have created a case claim with Ford trying to see if they will extend the recall for the known issue but I have had zero luck with them. I have videos of the issues but can’t upload them on here.

Filed Nov 10, 2025 · Transmission · TX

The transmission would hang up in 7th gear when stopping at red light, caution light or stop signs without warning. It would roll like normal when letting of brakes however when out in the middle of traffic stop signs or caution lights the truck would not move and would not shift as it was hung in 7th gear. The only way to get the truck back in 1st gear was to place the truck in park and turn the ignition off then restart the vehicle. This has happened 3 different times post bringing the truck to silsbee ford for a ecm and tcm reprogram. Originally called dealer back to reports extreme rough shifting and was told they did not mess with anything in the transmission and it was not due to anything they did, never received a call back from manager. No warning lights messages ever appeared to show the transmission had failed to down shift into first gear at the stop lights. All three of these events happened while my 7 year old child was in the truck and two of the times it was a near miss and narrowly avoided accidents. Prior to this since around 50,000 miles truck would shift rough with rough engagement into 3,4th,5th,6th, gears with frequent flare shifts and was told by dealers this was normal characteristic of the transmission.

Filed Sep 16, 2025 · Transmission · AL

Known issue identified with this particular make, model and year truck in 2021; rough shifting, wrench light illuminating, failure to shift gears appropriately, stuck in certain gears risk of stalling, stopping, unable to shift down appropriately inspected by dealer and mechanics Ford document shows planetary needle bearing inside ring gear assembly generates contamination back in 2021/2022; unable to confirm fix was performed on this vehicle

Filed May 28, 2025 · Transmission · CO

When shifting into drive the truck will lurch forward, a very hard shift. It also does the same thing in reverse. Several times the if my foot was not pressing very hard on the brake when shifting into drive or reverse the truck would lurch forward several feet. It there was an obstruction or person in front of the truck it would have put them at risk of being hit. While driving on cruise control it is very slow to shift and will skip multiple gears when shifting down when going up a hill. Sometimes also going downhill. This can cause the truck to slow down rapidly without a brake indicator which could cause a rear end collision if there is someone following closely. The truck is only 4.5yrs old and has 60,597miles. Symptoms started about 3-4months earlier when truck was well under 60,000 miles however I was unable to get it to the dealer until 60,597 which puts the truck out of warranty. The dealer was able to reproduce the issues and performed a code reset as well as a reprogram and the issue was not resolved. Dealer tore down the transmission and said one of the clutch packs in the transmission has failed along with several other parts. It is now requiring a full rebuild or replacement. There were no warning lights, alarms or messages. Date below is approximately when symptoms started occurring. I do not yet have my vehicle back so do not have the full report from the dealer. I will submit when I receive my vehicle back.

Filed Apr 3, 2025 · Transmission · NY

Trucks Transmission is harsh engagement, hard shift delayed shift. Hangs up in gear, throwing wrench light and codes since 2022, Other trucks of same year and manufacture date and plant made are matching this Truck, but truck was not included in Safety recall. Took to Dealer 3 times prior stated couldn't find anything wrong. Truck is equipped with 10R140 automatic Transmission .

Filed Feb 18, 2025 · Transmission · OK

Transmission failure, 10 speed Ford transmission. Failure noted by delayed shifting between gears, and momentary loss of power when accelerating to highway speed. Ford has had numerous failures in its 10 speed transmission, and class action suits have been filed. The quoted repair costs are $8,360, at Seth Wadley Ford in Perry, OK.

Filed Dec 31, 2024 · Transmission · WA

Truck lunges forward when at stop light, in drive and foot on the brake. Almost rear ended another driver. Did this several times. Also, when merging on highway and try to pick up speed the truck bogs down and hesitates almost got into two accidents because of this. Also loud clunking and banging on start up and when idling.

Filed Dec 26, 2024 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that when driving, at various speeds, the transmission would do a hard shift, giving a jerking sensation. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the dealer and to the federal safety agency Hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Jul 23, 2024 · Transmission · AR

While driving at various speeds the transmission/powertrain has jerking shifting, loss of power, inability to increase speed, hesitates in speed, hard shifting, clunking noises. It hesitates from 4th to 5th gear, hesitates from 9th to 10th gear, and will drop from 10th gear straight down as low as 4th gear with the RPMs of the engine going dangerously high.

Filed Feb 23, 2024 · Transmission · LA

Delayed shifting are not shifting at all they reset the transmission numerous times but still having the same issue. It’s all part of the adaptive learning transmission system that Ford has.

Filed Jan 31, 2024 · Transmission · TX

Bushing sliding down the cdf clutch hub causing fluid pressure to bleed by on sealing ring causing multiply/potential problems. Vechile was inspected by ford after going in for a recall that was already on the transmition due to the planetary 4 assembly and this problem was found. The recall didn't fail this part did and put debris throughout the transmition. When taken in, it had a hard shift while driving and while putting it in gear. Truck has 98,500 miles, but had been doing this for about 5 to 6 months. Ford required us to drop of the truck for 4 to 6 weeks before they would look at it. We couldn't make an appointment for the recall.

Filed Jan 11, 2024 · Transmission · OH

The truck slips out of gear for no reason, suffers very hard shifts causing the truck to jerk, and skips gears making it impossible to drive safely. Also, I lost power on the freeway several times and the truck would up shift and down shift erratically causing issues maintaining speed in traffic. I took the truck to the Ford dealer and was told I needed a new transmission. Ford has issued a recall for the Diesel truck with this transmission but refuses to repair other trucks with the same faulty transmission. This truck costs almost $60,000 new, was built in January 2020 with a faulty and dangerous transmission but ford is refusing to help their customers.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmissionReported April 14, 2022 · 23,165 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. A washer within the vehicle's transmission can disintegrate, causing metallic debris to become lodged in the 'Park' mechanism.
Risk
Debris lodged within the 'Park' mechanism may prevent the vehicle from achieving or holding 'Park,' increasing the risk of a vehicle rollaway and a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace a gearset within the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 19, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S22.

Recall number 22V256000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmission: torque converterReported June 23, 2020 · 13 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Super-Duty F-250, F-350, and F-550 diesel pickups. The transmission torque converter damper plate was not tempered, resulting in a brittle damper plate that may fracture and cause the engine to stall or require increased brake pedal effort in order to stop the vehicle.
Risk
An engine stall or requiring additional braking effort to stop the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission assembly, free of charge. This recall began July 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S33.

Recall number 20V365000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2020 Ford F-250 SD harsh shifting

Is harsh or hard shifting a common problem on the 2020 Ford F-250 SD?

16 of 272 owner complaints about the 2020 Ford F-250 SD (6%) mention harsh or hard shifting. The model year with the most reports is 2020.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2020 Ford F-250 SD?

There are 2 recalls and 55 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2020 Ford F-250 SD

Fuel pump 36Loss of power 27Check engine light 24Stalling 15Jerking 14Hesitation 13Transmission failure 12Engine failure 9Knocking 8Fire or smoke 8Won't shift 6Wipers 6Backup camera 5Door locks 5

All model years of the Ford F-250 SD

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