2020 FORD MUSTANG Power Train Problems

16 complaints about Power Train

16
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Power Train Complaints (16)

Sep 17, 2025

Description of the issue: The transmission has a recurring problem with shifting. When placing the vehicle into Reverse, it engages with a harsh and sudden jerk. When shifting from Reverse to Drive, there is a noticeable delay in engagement before the vehicle responds. These problems occur under normal operating conditions and are repeatable. Safety risk: This creates a significant safety hazard. The harsh jerking when shifting into Reverse can cause unintended movement, risking collisions or injury. The delayed engagement when shifting into Drive leaves the driver vulnerable in traffic situations (such as backing out of parking spaces or entering traffic), increasing the chance of an accident. Inspection/confirmation: The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealership. However, it has not been permanently resolved. Ford has issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) addressing this known transmission problem through a software update. Manufacturer/dealer involvement: When the vehicle was already connected to Ford’s diagnostic system for a Body Control Module recall, the dealer refused to apply the available TSB update for the transmission without charging an additional $280 “diagnostic” fee. This was despite the fact that Ford has officially acknowledged the issue and issued a TSB to address it. No permanent fix has been provided. Availability for inspection: The vehicle and transmission are available for inspection upon request.

Aug 28, 2025

1. 2020 Mustang Ecoboost is equipped from factory with redesigned block to minimize/eliminate coolant intrusion and or head gasket failure. I still had the dreaded "ecoboom" issue with coolant intrusion on two cylinders as a result of a broken head gasket and poor engine block design. Regular maintenance was perfomed and use primarily Top Tier 93 octane fuel. 5K mile interval 5W-50 oil changes according to manual using Ford spec oil full synthetic. Cold Start Misfires and excessive engine shaking are still occurring despite short block replacement by Ford and they won't diagnose properly. 2. Electrical/Audio. Issue with crackling audio, audio skipping and both iPhones and Androids having disconnection issues. Factory reset the Sync module twice, attempted reset by unplugging car battery and also checked alternator. Replaced car battery with fresh battery and issue persists. 3. Powertrain: The 10R80 Auto Transmission is extremely jarring and does not shift smoothly. Hesitates throughout gears, sluggish gears changes. Gives whiplash effect even after a filter and oil change for the transmission with OEM fluid and filter. Premature Transmission gasket housing failure as well causing ATF to leak onto ground.

Apr 30, 2025

The back up camera periodically has a black screen or a blue screen. The sound of an object getting closer some times works and sometimes doesn't. Also the lines showing where the tires are on the camera do not appear either. Transmission was replaced under warranty for several issues. It's the 10 speed version. However even with the new transmission. It tends to lag on gear 4 mainly.

Apr 6, 2025

Transmission Issue. Transmission slams into 2nd gear when downshifting from 3rd. Transmission has grinding noise when going from 4th to 5th. Potential safety issue due to potential transmission failure. Yes, problem is reproducible, however, it is awaiting inspection at Mike Patton Ford. No warning lamps. Car has had transmission issues intermittently since 4/2020. This issue started 2 weeks ago.

Sep 14, 2024

After driving for 2 blocks, my car would not drive when hitting the gas pedal, the engine only reved. Unable to move the car in any gear, pedestrians helped push my car out of the middle of the road. Towed the car to a Ford dealership because the Ford app on my phone said "shift solenoid stuck in off position". Upon diagnosis the dealership said yes the solenoid is stuck in the off position but now the gears are slipping and you need a brand new transmission. This is the 10r80 automatic transmission that has had problems like this nationwide. I don't understand how this has not been recalled yet. With 63,000 miles a transmission should not be failing. There have been hundreds of documented cases of this specific transmission failing for countless reasons involving internal components.

Apr 29, 2024

Flywheel broke while driving under normal conditions causing damage to clutch. Have to replace the entire assembly along with slave cylinder. When speaking to ford technician they stated it's a common issue

Aug 24, 2023

Transmission issue. Transmission is leaking fluid. Vehicle is currently at my home waiting to go to dealership during normal business hours. Car started smoking and running hot while getting off the interstate. I was in a travel lane when this happened. Huge safety risk. Fire department was called to ensure there was not a fire that started. Car was towed to my home until it can be towed to a dealer during working hours. General vehicle inspection done by fire department to ensure there was not a fire. They advised the car not be driven until it has been inspected by Ford. No warnings or indications there was a problem other than the smoke billowing from the engine.

Aug 19, 2023

Intermittent loss of throttle with wrench light. Engine goes into derate, have to shut off car, let sit for 3-5 minutes, restart then ok until it occurs again. Loss of throttle at any time is unsafe. Two Ford dealers have tried to repair with no luck. They have replaced the throttle pedal assembly, the throttle body, and now the PCM. Problem is still present. Have an ongoing Ford customer service case #CAS44568044-D6G8F8. Still awaiting resolution. Vehicle is still under 3/36 Base warranty. Problem has been ongoing for a little over a year now.

Aug 4, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact state that the while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a right turn, the vehicle failed to shift into 2nd gear and stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that upon inspecting under the hood of the vehicle, he noticed that the clutch fluid line had shifted back and forth causing the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that he smelled a burning fuel odor inside the engine. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle and drove the vehicle in 1st gear. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,923.

Mileage: 18,923

May 16, 2023

The transmission takes over when shifting from first gear. This is a automatic 10 speed that when first driven after setting overnight slips out of first and the engine revs on its own (foot removed from gas pedal) to between 4 and 6 thousand then slams into the next gear. This lurches the vehicle ahead and slams the rear pinion. trying to stop the car is difficult when it revs so high then slams into gear. This also happened in a full parking lot and could have lurched into people. I have had it at the ford dealer several times to fix, The first dealer rode with me and replicated the issue. The first dealer reached out to ford engineers and they suggested replacing the valve body in the transmission. (it was worse after the valve body change) The dealer told me they did change the valve body but there is no warranty information showing that. I have been without my car total of 5 weeks so far and they continue to tell me they cant replicate it. I have it on video and it does it almost daily when I drive it. I will not let my spouse drive the car because of this safety issue. This is the same issue that the f150 had in 2020.

Apr 24, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the reverse light, the rearview camera, the Cross Traffic System, the blind spot detector, the Lane Assist System, and other unknown features had ceased to work. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V382000 (Power Train) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the failure persisted after the repair. The check engine warning light was illuminated and a message advising to check the Owner's Manual was displayed. The contact stated that the recall remedy failed to fix the failures. The dealer was notified of the failure and submitted a case report to the manufacturer; however, the manufacturer declined to cover the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 2,700.

Mileage: 2,700

Apr 20, 2023

Engine tick after first oil change.transmission shifts hard

Aug 10, 2022 Crash

Caught in stop and go traffic at night for 45 minutes. Car started moving forward even though my foot was only on the brake pedal. My first thought was I'd accidentally pressed both the brake and gas pedals, but I could see my foot on the brake pedal since the under-dash area is lit in the Premium model. It happened for about one minute the first time, then happened again a couple minutes later. I hit the bumper of a tour bus during the second instance at about two mph. The tour bus driver apparently didn't notice the hit and changed lanes a few minutes later. I didn't see any damage to the tour bus, but my license plate bracket and license plate were bent, and the middle part of my bumper didn't snap back together correctly. The Ford dealer was unable to duplicate the problem, and the brakes and vacuum pressure module didn't show any leaks. The service advisor said it was impossible for the transmission to engage without pressing the gas pedal, but I suspect the 10-speed transmission since the engine rpm didn't appear to change. There were no warning lights before or after the incident and the service advisor said no codes had been set. In retrospect I should have tried putting the transmission in neutral, used the emergency brake,or turned off the ignition (but a tractor trailer was about ten feet behind me).

Feb 13, 2022 Crash

I was contacted by the NHTSA, after I had an accident in my 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost with the automatic transmission and ability to manually shift. I spoke with an Investigator by the name of [XXX]. The investigator wished me good luck, as it was relayed to me that I was the only one who had the problem which resulted in me having an accident. I have since then found multiple sites with multiple complaints of the same issue, and I was told that there’s a Fourth Class Action Suit right now that I should be a part of. Please have someone who is familiar with what’s going on with Ford call me at: [XXX]. Thank you for your help! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Jan 11, 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle was jerking and shaking uncontrollably. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred increasingly while driving on the interstate. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. Then the vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that no issues were found. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to a second dealer; Don Rich Ford Co Inc (221 E Montgomery St, Villa Rica, GA 30180) who diagnosed the grille shutter and the sensor fuel injectors had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to a third dealer; Pugmire Ford (1 Ford Way, Carrollton, GA 30116) who diagnosed that the valve body and other unknown components of the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that he has sustained back injuries due to the failure but had not sought medical assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 23,600.

Mileage: 23,600

Sep 15, 2020

THE ACTUAL GETRAG DEFECTIVE AND FAULTY MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON FORD MUSTANG 2020 STILL CAUSING SERIOUS PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUES NOWADAYS. IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES, DOWNSHIFTING GEARS ON A RELIABLE, EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT TRANSMISSION 'PART', IT'S A SERIOUS AND DETERMINING FACTOR AT THE MOMENT THE DRIVER NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN SAFELY OR EVEN STOP THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON LONGER DOWNHILL ROADS SO BRAKE OVERHEATING AND POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THEM CAN BE AVOIDED OR IN THE EVENTUAL CASE OF TOWING A LOAD... SHIFTING GEARS AT ALSO IMPORTANT WHEN INCREASING SPEED IS REQUIRED OR EVEN EXPECTED, LIKE AT THE MOMENT A CAR INCORPORATES OR MERGE IN TO A FREEWAY FROM THE RAMP AND IT'S REQUIRED TO MATCH THE ONGOING AND SPECIALLY, THE ONCOMING VEHICLES OR TRAFFIC, THIS RISK INCREASES IF THE ONCOMING VEHICLE IS A LOADED TRAILER TO SET 1 EXAMPLE. BEING ABLE TO EFFICIENTLY INCREASE SPEED IF 'SLOWING DOWN' OPTION IS NOT THE ADVISABLE IN THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES; IS ACTUALLY A DETERMINING FACTOR AT THE MOMENT OF AVOID A LATERAL DEADLY COLLISION OR IN THE BEST OF THE CASES AN INJURY. THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION HAD SITUATED ME IN THIS KIND OF RISKY SITUATIONS OF COLLISION AND DEADLY CRASHES, THAT FORTUNATELY WERE MANAGED TO BE AVOIDED. FORD IT'S ACTUALLY FACING ON THIS YEAR (2020) A 'CLASS ACTION' (CASE 2:20-CV-11310-LJM-DRG ECF NO.1) FOR REFUSING US THE CUSTOMERS, TO GET REPLACED, REPAIRED, AND TOTALLY SOLUTION AND 'CURE' THE PROBLEM WITH THIS DANGEROUS AND UNRELIABLE TRANSMISSION PART. UNLIKE! FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND TRYING TO SCAM US AND EVEN CHARGE US EXPENSIVE AMOUNTS FOR REPAIRS, CLAIMING THAT 'IT'S A WEAR AND TEAR' ISSUE OR 'AGGRESSIVE DRIVING', 'DRIVERS PERFORMING BURNOUTS' ETC. TRYING TO SCAM US WITH EVEN A 1 MONTH OF USING, BRAND NEW CARS AND WITH THEIR WARRANTY, CLAIMING THAT IT'S DUE TO THE CLUTCH AND CLUTCH IS THE ONLY THING THEY DON'T COVER.

Mileage: 8,000