The 2020 Navigator uses Ford's 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, a platform known for power but plagued by significant engine durability issues when oil maintenance lapses and under heavy towing loads. These are luxurious trucks that demand religious maintenance or face catastrophic repair bills.
Symptoms: Sudden violent knocking under light acceleration or low-RPM pulling, Immediate loss of power, engine shuts down, Metal debris in oil, scored cylinder walls, Often misdiagnosed as rod knock until teardown
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or replacement required. LSPI causes piston ring land failure and cylinder wall damage. 30-40 labor hours for short block replacement, more if heads are damaged. Ford extended warranty on some VINs but 2020s often excluded.
Estimated cost: $12,000-18,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks and Internal Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid weeping at cooler connections near radiator, Pink fluid mixing with coolant in overflow tank, Delayed shifts or slipping when fluid cross-contaminates, Overheating transmission warnings on dash
Fix: External lines are 2-3 hours to replace. Internal cooler failure requires radiator replacement AND complete transmission flush/filter service to remove coolant from trans. If coolant circulated long, expect transmission rebuild. 8-12 hours total with trans service.
Estimated cost: $1,200-3,500
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle and Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise on cold start that disappears when warm, Loss of boost pressure, sluggish acceleration, Check engine light with underboost codes P0299 or P0234, Excessive black smoke under hard acceleration
Fix: Wastegate actuator arms wear and rattle, eventually stick. Turbo replacement required on these integrated units, cannot rebuild wastegate separately. 8-10 hours per side, often both turbos show wear simultaneously. Ford updated design in later years.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration felt through floorboard at idle in gear, Visible sag of transmission tail when inspected on lift, Exhaust system contact noise over bumps
Fix: Rear transmission mount fails from weight of 10-speed trans in this application. Rubber separates from metal bracket. 1.5-2.5 hours labor, straightforward job but requires trans support. Use upgraded polyurethane aftermarket mounts for longevity.
Estimated cost: $350-600
Fuel System Low-Pressure Pump and Filter Clogging
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Extended cranking before engine starts, especially when hot, Stumbling or hesitation during moderate acceleration, Limp mode activation under load with fuel pressure codes, Fuel gauge reading erratically
Fix: In-tank low-pressure pump module fails or filter screen clogs from ethanol-related debris. Requires fuel tank drop. 4-5 hours labor. High-pressure direct-injection pumps also fail but less common on 2020s. Use top-tier fuel to minimize deposits.
Estimated cost: $900-1,500
Body Control Module Software Glitches
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Power liftgate operates intermittently or not at all, Interior lights staying on after exit, draining battery, SYNC infotainment system freezing or rebooting randomly, Door ajar warnings with all doors closed
Fix: Software bugs in BCM affect multiple convenience features. Ford issued TSBs and recall 20S42 for BCM reprogramming. 1 hour diagnostic plus 0.5 hour for reflash at dealer. Rarely requires module replacement unless corrupted. Keep vehicle on latest software.
Estimated cost: $150-300
Cam Phaser Rattle and Timing Chain Stretch
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud rattling from engine on cold starts lasting 3-5 seconds, Check engine light with cam/crank correlation codes P0016-P0019, Rough idle and reduced fuel economy, Rattling gets progressively worse and lasts longer
Fix: EcoBoost cam phasers wear with age and oil quality issues. Timing chain stretch follows. Requires front engine teardown: both timing chains, phasers, tensioners, guides. 18-22 hours labor. Catch early before chain jumps timing. Critical to use Ford-spec 5W-30 oil and 7,500-mile intervals max.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000
Owner tips
Use only Ford WSS-M2C946-A spec oil (Motorcraft 5W-30 synthetic blend minimum) and change every 5,000-7,500 miles maximum — EcoBoost engines are extremely sensitive to oil quality and extended intervals invite LSPI and phaser failure
Avoid lugging the engine below 1,500 RPM under load; downshift when towing to keep boost out of the LSPI danger zone (1,500-2,500 RPM at high load)
Check transmission fluid color every oil change — pink/red is good, brown or milky means cooler failure is happening
Keep fuel system clean with top-tier gas and occasional injector cleaner; direct injection means carbon buildup and fuel system longevity issues
Buy only with comprehensive warranty or detailed service records proving religious oil changes; the EcoBoost engine is a ticking time bomb without proper care, and a $15,000 rebuild will total the truck's value quickly.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. A short circuit within the battery junction box can cause an engine fire while driving or parked.
Consequence: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's numbers for this recall are 22S36 and 22S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 23, 2025.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE · 25V442000
2025-06-27
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER · 25V197000
2025-05-23 · RQ24015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Consequence: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S31. Some vehicles in this recall that were previously inspected under recall 24V-099 and did not have parts replaced will need to have this new recall remedy completed.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE · 25V346000
2025-05-23
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Navigator vehicles that were repaired incorrectly under recall 20V262. The Pre-Collision Assist features, such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, are not functional due to a software error.
Consequence: Inoperative pre-collision assist features that fail to perform as expected can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S56.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 24V852000
2024-11-08
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER · 24V099000
2024-02-09 · PE23021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Consequence: Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Additionally, dealers will install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S06.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 23V598000
2023-08-25
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator, 2018-2021 Lincoln Navigator, 2022-2023 Ford Transit, and 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. The rearview camera, or 360-degree view camera if equipped, may not display a rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
Consequence: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, and update the software and wiring as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023 to Lincoln owners. Ford vehicle owners notification letters were mailed March 4, 2024. Ford remedy parts are anticipated 2nd Quarter 2024. Ford's number for this recall is 23S48.
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."
Consequence: 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.
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.
Consequence: 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.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY · 20V366000
2020-06-23
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The attachment bracket for the driver's side second-row seat headrest may not have been sufficiently welded to the seat frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
Consequence: An improperly welded headrest bracket may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began July 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C12.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with camera-only Pre-Collision Assist feature. Vehicles built with the optional radar-plus-camera Pre-Collision Assist system are not affected. Due to incorrect coding of interfacing modules, the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, and the driver cannot access the menu functions necessary to enable the Pre-Collision Assist feature.
Consequence: If the driver is unaware that the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, they may rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram software for the Body Control Module, Antilock Braking System, Instrument Panel Cluster and Headlamp Control Modules, and reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S20.
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