Some F-Super Duty and F-150 vehicles equipped with trailer tow mirror may exhibit various exterior rear view mirror functional concerns that require replacement after diagnosis. To properly determine if the defect is warrantable, cleaning and close inspection of the affected mirror may be required. To aid in proper warranty determination, the Rear-View Mirror Analysis general service bulletin (GSB) has been updated with a detailed cleaning procedure that should be followed prior to any inspection. New labor operations (17682ZZ or 17682ZZT) have been created that covers the cleaning and inspection process and may be used even if condition of failure is non-warrantable. Ford has inspected nume
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Ford F-150 visibility problems
moderate 52 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
52
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
What stands out
Owners have filed 52 visibility complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some 2021 F-150 vehicles built on or before 01-Feb-2021, 2017-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost engine, 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 2.7L EcoBoost or 5.0L engine, 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.0L diesel engine may exhibit a high pitched squeal or whistle type noise from the engine compartment after the engine is shut off. This condition may be due to the air conditioning (A/C) low side system pressure exceeding the high side pressure resulting in equalization of A/C system pressures through the A/C compressor. An updated A/C compressor has been released to resolve this concern. For claiming, use causal part 19703 and applicable labor operations in Sec
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2015-2022 F-150, 2017-2022 F-Super Duty and 2018-2022 Expedition/Navigator vehicles may exhibit poor air conditioning (A/C) performance. Workshop Manual (WSM) diagnostic procedures have been updated to more accurately diagnose A/C performance concerns. Refer to the updated Diagnosis and Testing, and General Procedure in the WSM, Section 412-00 Climate Control System for diagnostic procedures
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2015-2021 F-150, 2017-2021 F-Super Duty and 2018-2021 Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with a vista roof opening panel may exhibit a binding/sticking, glass stuck open or closed, noisy operation including chatter, rattling, or grinding. This may be due to the glass panel brackets cracking and/or breaking apart. The glass panel brackets are serviceable separately from the frame assembly and require the roof opening panel glass to be moved to the vent position. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the roof opening panel glass brackets
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Ford Motor Company has determined certain 2020 Model Year Ford F-150, F-Super Duty and Explorer vehicles with a Ford factory-installed backup camera fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111 - Rear Visibility. Contact your local Ford dealer to schedule a service date to perform the recall. Refer to the included communication from Ford for additional information. Altec is not able to complete this repair. All work must be completed by an authorized Ford dealer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Backup camera failures are common, with displays going blue, blank, frozen, or distorted—especially when shifting into reverse. Owners report failures across all mileages, from 500 to 200,000 miles. Dealers reset infotainment systems without success and point to wiring issues, but most vehicles never get diagnosed. Some VINs fall outside the applicable recalls (20V575000).
Wiper motor failures start as early as 310 miles on new trucks. Motors seize or operate erratically, often with a loud grinding noise. Some wipers activate independently every 20-30 seconds. At least one owner's replacement wiper motor failed again. Wiper arms detach and fly off during use in rain; one owner reports a recall repair left the arm improperly secured.
Rear windows explode or shatter spontaneously with no impact—sometimes parked, sometimes at 15 mph. Owners describe loud pops or bangs. Glass shards scatter into the truck bed. Incidents occur at very low mileage: 3,400 to 42,000 miles. Sunroofs leak or fail to close; one owner was refused warranty coverage.
Multiple recall campaigns (20V575000, 22V250000, 23V163000) are backlogged. Parts remain unavailable for weeks or months, preventing repairs. Dealers confirm no eta on parts. Owners report manufacturers referred them to NHTSA rather than providing assistance. One military owner faced a $60/day rental charge pending parts availability.
Same Ford F-150 visibility reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Backup/Rearview Camera Malfunction
Camera image displays blue, blank, frozen, or distorted when shifting into reverse. Some units fail intermittently; others fail completely. Wiring issues suspected but not confirmed in most cases. Some units may be outside recall coverage.
When: Occurs early in vehicle life (500 mi) through high mileage (200,000 mi); no clear pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Blue screen displayed on infotainment display; Blank or no image shown; Frozen image on screen; Distorted image on screen; Intermittent failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed infotainment system reset in one case (unsuccessful); one unit awaiting parts on backorder; others undiagnosed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 20V575000 (Visibility, Back Over Prevention) issued; however, some affected VINs reportedly not included in recall; parts on backorder delaying repairs
Windshield Wiper Motor Failure
Wiper motor becomes inoperable or operates erratically. Motor makes grinding noise before seizing. Some units fail completely; others operate slowly or jerkily. Multifunction switch contacts suspected to corrode due to temperature cycling and lack of sealing.
When: Failure occurs as early as 310 miles (new vehicle) through 59,000 miles; no clear mileage pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers inoperable, do not move in either direction; Wipers activate independently and continuously every 20-30 seconds; Loud grinding noise from motor; Wipers move slowly or jerkily; Wiper fluid obstructs view when wipers fail during operation
Repairs/costs cited: Wiper motor replacement attempted in at least one case (failure persisted); parts on backorder in multiple cases delaying service
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V250000 (Visibility) and 23V163000 (Visibility) issued; however, parts unavailable for extended periods, preventing timely repairs; some VINs reportedly not included in recall
Wiper Arm Detachment
Wiper arm detaches and flies off during operation, particularly in rain. Arm does not lock securely to the mounting cylinder. Recall repair involving keyway installation does not resolve the issue.
When: Occurs during active wiper use in rainstorms; one instance during manufacturer recall repair process
Symptoms owners cite: Wiper arm detaches and flies off windshield; Arm lifts straight off mounting cylinder easily; Nothing holding arm tight after recall repair
Repairs/costs cited: Recall repair involved installing keyways to fix arm position, but owner reports this leaves arm in line of sight and inadequate security
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA recall campaign for wiper arm; however, recall repair deemed unsatisfactory by at least one owner
Sunroof Leak and Closure Failure
Sunroof fails to close properly or leaks rainwater into cabin. Debris in tracks identified in one case; in another, sunroof assembly replacement recommended but not performed.
When: Occurs at low mileage (20,000 to 42,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Rainwater leaks into cabin; Sunroof fails to properly close; Debris in sunroof tracks
Repairs/costs cited: Debris removal performed in one case without lasting effect; sunroof assembly replacement recommended but not completed due to cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer refused warranty coverage for sunroof failure in one case; no assistance offered in another
Sunroof/Panoramic Roof Glass Explosion
Sunroof or panoramic roof glass suddenly shatters or explodes while vehicle is in operation or parked. Occurs with no apparent impact or cause. One explosion occurred while driving at highway speed; another while vehicle was parked. Thermal stress or manufacturing defect suspected but cause not determined.
When: Occurs at low mileage (22,000 to 57,000 miles); happens both while driving and parked
Symptoms owners cite: Panoramic/sunroof glass explodes suddenly; Abnormally loud sound preceding explosion; Glass explodes while driving at 40-65 MPH; Glass explodes while parked
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; cause not determined in either case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case; no response or assistance documented
Rear Window Spontaneous Shatter
Rear window glass suddenly shatters or explodes with no impact or external cause. Occurs while parked, at rest, or at low speed. May be triggered by defroster activation or temperature cycling. Glass shards scatter outward and into bed of truck. Occurs at very low mileage.
When: Occurs at very low mileage (3,400 to 42,000 miles); happens while parked, at low speed (15 MPH), and at rest
Symptoms owners cite: Rear window shatters or explodes spontaneously; No impact or external cause; Glass shards scattered outward and into truck bed; Loud pop or bang sound; Window frame detaches from glass; Window bows outward from cabin; May occur after defroster activation
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed in most cases; auto glass repair facility awaiting parts in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted in multiple cases but provided no assistance; no warning lights or prior symptoms in any case
Windshield Leak
Front windshield leaks water into cabin, typically on passenger side. Leak causes moisture damage to interior carpet and creates abnormal odor.
When: Occurs at 68,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front windshield leaks on passenger side; Water enters cabin; Moisture in carpet; Abnormal odor in interior
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not made aware of failure
Rear Window Frame Detachment
Rear window frame detaches from glass, causing fracture and failure. Occurs at very low mileage with no prior symptoms.
When: Occurs at 3,400 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear window frame detaches from glass; Glass fractures following frame detachment
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was contacted and notified
Recall Parts Shortage and Distribution Delays
Multiple owners received notification of visibility-related recalls (22V250000, 20V575000, 23V163000) but required parts remain unavailable for extended periods. Dealers confirm parts on backorder or not yet available. Owners express concern that manufacturer has exceeded reasonable timeframe for recall completion. Some owners reluctant to drive vehicles in adverse weather due to unresolved visibility issues.
When: Ongoing issue affecting vehicles at various mileages; recall notifications issued but not fulfilled due to parts unavailability
Symptoms owners cite: Parts on backorder for weeks or months; Dealers unable to schedule recall repairs; Owners unable to obtain loaner vehicles; Owners fearful of driving in rain due to unrepaired visibility defects
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple recall campaigns (20V575000, 22V250000, 23V163000) affected; parts distribution disconnect preventing timely completion of recalls
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls issued but parts unavailable; manufacturer referred owners to NHTSA Hotline; no loaner vehicles or accommodation provided in most cases; one case indicates owner expected to pay $60/day for rental pending parts availability
Synthesized from 52 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had visibility trouble with your 2020 Ford F-150?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2020 Ford F-150?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 52 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 20,000 and 57,000 miles, with the median around 42,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 57,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Ford/F-150.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.