The transmission began malfunctioning by having hard shifting issues and losing power in some gears. An indicator on the dash lit up resembling a mechanics open-end wrench. Research online showed that the vehicle should not be driven and taken immediately to a mechanic or dealership. If driven especially pulling a heavy load like the fifth wheel that I bought the truck to tow the transmission could fail causing a serious safety issue. I immediately took the vehicle to a certified Ford dealership. At the dealership they informed me that parts in the transmission had failed and that it was the same exact condition as shown in recall 20S33. The noted recall was for trucks manufactured in January and February of 2020. My truck was manufactured March of 2020. The time warranty had expired for the vehicle but the mileage warranty was for 60,000 mi and the truck failed at $29,800. The transmission failed due to a manufacturing defect but I was billed over $9,800 for the repair. I have attached photos of the work order and receipt.
2020 Ford F-350 SD: harsh or hard shifting
9 of the 189 complaints about the 2020 Ford F-350 SD describe harsh or hard shifting.
- owner complaints
- 9
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- recalls
- 3
Harsh or hard shifting by model year
- 20241
- 20231
- 20221
- 20209
- 20192
- 20181
- 20172
- 20152
- 20091
- 20012
- 20001
- 19991
What owners say
Transmission lunges forward or reverse when placed into gear from park. Transmission fails to shift or hard shifts while moving through low range. Shifting is soft or prolonged in some higher range with a noticeable lag.
CDF cylinder failure in transmission leading to multiple hard shifts that could cause loss of traction and slick roads.
The transmission slips and hard shifts. I honestly believe the dealership knew and sold it to us knowing since we found out afterwards it's a known issue and in the bulletin about the truck.
Ford 10R140 Transmission Issues: Transmission has harsh engagement, clunks and slams into gear. Transmission gets stuck in between gears while in motion at all speeds while driving on city streets or on the freeway. Transmission LURCHES forward when shifting from park into drive even when applying the brake and when the parking brake is engaged. This transmission is UNSAFE and UNRELIABLE!!!!
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at various speed, the transmission was slipping while downshifting and upshifting. The contact also stated that there was a hard shift, and the vehicle would lose motive power and lunge forward. The wrench warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer representative went to the residence to perform a software update however, the failure persisted, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
My transmission is experiencing a grinding and groaning noise and has occasional harsh shifting. I took it to the dealer and they are saying it’s not part of the recall.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-350 The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V256000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated the vehicle was starting to display hard shifting. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the wrench light was illuminated intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission experienced rough shifting and the maintenance warning light was displayed. The transmission later became stuck in 7th and 3rd gears and the vehicle went into limp mode reducing the speed to 35 mph. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer, but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 152,000.
Service bulletins that may apply
- For 20202026 vehicles equipped with the 10R140 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak...
- This bulletin supersedes 24-2249
- This bulletin supersedes 25-2549
- This article supersedes TSB 24-2249 to update the claim quantity of the torque converter nuts, part number...
- For 20172026 vehicles equipped with a 10R transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure...
- This article supersedes TSB 23-2160 to update the parts list
- This article supersedes TSB 25-2200 to update the parts list to add the new camshaft and tappet service...
- This article supersedes TSB 23-2076 to update the powertrain control module (PCM) software level...
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- 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: axle assembly
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-350 Super Duty pickup trucks equipped with 6.7L diesel engines and Dana model 275 rear axles. The rear axle housing may not support the load of the pickup truck and deform, which could result in driveshaft separation.
- Risk
- Driveshaft separation may result in a loss of drive power, or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the axle housing for deformities, and repair or replace the housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall 21S31.
Recall number 21V536000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter
- 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-350 SD harsh shifting
Is harsh or hard shifting a common problem on the 2020 Ford F-350 SD?
9 of 189 owner complaints about the 2020 Ford F-350 SD (5%) 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-350 SD?
There are 3 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-350 SD
Fuel pump 19Check engine light 15Loss of power 14Won't shift 10Jerking 9Stalling 9Door locks 8Power steering loss 8Backup camera 6Engine failure 6Hesitation 6Slipping 6Transmission failure 5
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