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2020 Ford F-450 SD problems

The most common problem on the 2020 Ford F-450 SD is engine and cooling. It has fewer complaints than a typical F-450 SD model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
10
Service bulletins
305
Worst area
Engine

The worst 2020 Ford F-450 SD problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Engine
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Engine
    1

Recalls 10

Fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pumpReported March 17, 2026 · 9,839 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, 2021-2022 F600, and 2022 F750 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V957. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
Risk
High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed mailed April 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S17. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on March 18, 2026.

Recall number 26V158000 · Recall details

Back over prevention: softwareReported October 10, 2025 · 291,901 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The 360-degree view camera system may not display a rearview image properly in certain lighting conditions.
Risk
A rearview camera image that does not display properly can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the image processing module software, free of charge.This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 30, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were mailed May 19, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on October 13, 2025.

Recall number 25V686000 · Recall details

Steering: columnReported September 19, 2025 · 115,539 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column upper shaft may detach from the steering column and result in a loss of steering control.
Risk
A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the steering column, and repair or replace the upper shaft as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S94. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning September 23, 2025.

Recall number 25V626000 · Recall details

Fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pumpReported December 20, 2024 · 295,449 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, F600, and 2021-2022 F-650, F750 vehicles. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
Risk
High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) and Transmission Control Module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S78.

Recall number 24V957000 · Recall details

Equipment: other: owners/service/other manualReported June 9, 2023 · 691,133 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
Risk
Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.

Recall number 23V420000 · Recall details

Back over prevention: sensing system: cameraReported August 26, 2022 · 277,040 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.
Risk
Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.

Recall number 22V644000 · Recall details

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkagesReported April 14, 2022 · 652,996 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
Risk
Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.

Recall number 22V250000 · Recall details

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

Visibility: windshield: critical fastenersReported February 18, 2021 · 79,017 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 and 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Risk
In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and reinstall the windshield, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C06.

Recall number 21V090000 · Recall details

Back over prevention: sensing system: cameraReported September 23, 2020 · 620,246 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk
Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.

Recall number 20V575000 · Recall details

See all 10 recalls for the 2020 Ford F-450 SD

Defect investigations

Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter LeakOpened May 9, 2024, still open

The Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) has received 27 complaints alleging diesel fuel leaks due to a fracture in the secondary fuel filter housing in model year (MY) 2015-2021 Ford Motor Company (Ford) F-250, 350, 450, and 550 Super Duty vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. Of these complaints, 12 describe an engine compartment fire. The proximity of the secondary fuel filter to high heat sources creates a potential for autoignition thermal events and fires. ODI has contacted the vehicle manufacturer, Ford, and the filter manufacturer, Allevard Sogefi USA (Sogefi), and learned that the low-pressure fuel system is capable of a maximum operating pressure of 8.5 Bar, while the secondary fuel filter is only tested to seven (7) Bar during the manufacturing process. Additionally, changes starting in 2022 by both Ford and Sogefi align with a lack of similar complaints on MY 2022 and newer vehicles. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to evaluate the severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related problems. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to

PE24014

Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 NoncomplianceOpened August 3, 2021, still open

On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (the federal safety agency Recall No. 20V‑575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rear Visibility. Ford's recall described the noncompliance as insufficient electrical conductivity within the printed circuit board (PCB) internal to the camera leading to intermittent rearview camera operation. The supplier of the cameras was Magna Electronics.According to Ford's chronology in the Part 573, during the period February-April 2020, Ford identified and monitored warranty claims pertaining to intermittent or inoperative rearview cameras. Ford reviewed supplier product changes, focusing on changes introduced by the supplier in the October-November 2019 time frame. The Part 573 stated that the issue was brought to Ford's Critical Concerns Review Group (CCRG) for review on May 12, 2020.On July 7, 2020, the federal safety agency's Vehicle Research and Testing Center (VRTC) informed the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a trend of MY 2020 Escape vehicles with rearview camera malfunctions. ODI contacted Ford the next day, providing five Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging inoperative rearview cameras. On July 15, 2020, Ford met with the federal safety agency to discuss the rearview camera issue. In a subsequent August 24, 2020 meeting, ODI and the federal safety agency's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) met with Ford to discuss the recall status and additional VOQs. Ford presented rate and scope data for many of its MY 2020 products during the August 2020 meeting indicating high failure rates for certain models.This RQ is being opened to investigate both the timeliness and scope of Ford's rearview camera recall (20V‑575), and Ford's compliance with reporting requirements.The subject reports referenced in the opening resume are identified by the following ODI reference numbers which can be reviewed at 11349813, 11344126, 11342696, 11341486, 11340254, 11337274, 11331444, 11330875, 11329235, 11316960, 11343521, 11341884, 11337226, 11344018, and 11339573.

RQ21002

Power Tailgate Release SystemsOpened January 15, 2021, closed January 10, 2024

In January 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ21-001) to assess allegations of post-recall remedy uncommanded tailgate openings in model year (MY) 2017-2019 F-250/350/450 Ford trucks. Besides the recall remedy launched in January 2020, Ford also implemented a production update in November 2019. At the time of the RQ opening, ODI had received eleven (11) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs). ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Ford in February 2021. In numerous meetings after receiving their IR response, Ford highlighted the drop in claims since the recall and production update and communicated how they were unable to verify the owners’ complaints or replicate the concern. Despite this, Ford began developing ways to prevent uncommanded tailgate openings from various human, mechanical or electrical causes. Based on testing, Ford issued a Customer Satisfaction program, 21M05-S1/S2/S3, to further address the potential of unintended tailgate openings. This work was applied to vehicles being produced as of December 20, 2021. The program began for already delivered vehicles on July 22, 2022. The covered models include 2017-2022 F-250, 350, 450, 550, 650 and 750 Super Duty and 2020-2022 F-600 Super Duty trucks. ODI has received 39 VOQs between February 24, 2020, and December 15, 2023, alleging uncommanded tailgate openings. In a detailed analysis, none of the vehicles in the VOQs were found to have received the Customer Satisfaction update. Since ODI has not received any complaints of post-Customer Satisfaction program tailgate openings, this office is closing this Recall Query. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to

RQ21001

Technical service bulletins for the 2020 Ford F-450 SD 305

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 305 bulletins for the 2020 Ford F-450 SD

What 2020 Ford F-450 SD owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 6, 2026 · Engine · NJ

I own a 2020 Ford F-450 equipped with the 7.3L Godzilla gasoline engine, currently with approximately 81,000 miles. The vehicle developed an engine misfire and illuminated check engine light. I initially brought the truck to an independent mechanic, believing the issue could be something minor, such as spark plugs. After inspecting the vehicle, the independent mechanic suspected a lifter failure and advised that the engine needed replacement. I then brought the truck to Chapman Ford for a second opinion. The Ford dealership identified low compression in cylinder 1 and also recommended replacing the engine. The engine has a ticking noise, and both repair facilities provided estimated replacement costs ranging from $15,000 to $17,000. Currently, the truck still starts, runs, and drives, despite the check engine light and diagnosed mechanical issues. I am concerned that continued operation could result in sudden engine failure or loss of power while driving, particularly because this is a commercial work truck used to transport materials and equipment. At approximately 81,000 miles, I believe this type of major engine problem is premature and raises concerns about the reliability and safety of the 7.3L gasoline engine. The estimated cost of replacement also places a substantial financial burden on my business. I recently became aware of the federal safety agency defect petition DP26-011 regarding reported failures involving Ford's 7.3L gasoline engines, including concerns about lifter failures and low oil pressure. I am submitting this complaint to formally document my vehicle's condition and request that the federal safety agency consider this case as part of its ongoing investigation into potential engine defects. I am concerned that other owners of similarly equipped vehicles may experience comparable failures, potentially resulting in unsafe driving conditions.

Compare the 2020 Ford F-450 SD

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Questions about the 2020 Ford F-450 SD

Is the 2020 Ford F-450 SD reliable?

Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2020 Ford F-450 SD, fewer than a typical F-450 SD model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2020 Ford F-450 SD?

Engine and cooling, with 1 complaint.

How many recalls does the 2020 Ford F-450 SD have?

10 recalls, covering fuel system, diesel, back over prevention and steering.

What year does the Ford F-450 SD have bad engine?

The Ford F-450 SD model years with the most engine complaints are 2008 (39 complaints) and 2006 (10 complaints).

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