diff --git a/python/pyspark/ml/tests.py b/python/pyspark/ml/tests.py
index 093593132e56d..0dde0db9e3339 100755
--- a/python/pyspark/ml/tests.py
+++ b/python/pyspark/ml/tests.py
@@ -1595,6 +1595,44 @@ def test_default_read_write(self):
         self.assertEqual(lr.uid, lr3.uid)
         self.assertEqual(lr.extractParamMap(), lr3.extractParamMap())
 
+    def test_default_read_write_default_params(self):
+        lr = LogisticRegression()
+        self.assertFalse(lr.isSet(lr.getParam("threshold")))
+
+        lr.setMaxIter(50)
+        lr.setThreshold(.75)
+
+        # `threshold` is set by user, default param `predictionCol` is not set by user.
+        self.assertTrue(lr.isSet(lr.getParam("threshold")))
+        self.assertFalse(lr.isSet(lr.getParam("predictionCol")))
+        self.assertTrue(lr.hasDefault(lr.getParam("predictionCol")))
+
+        writer = DefaultParamsWriter(lr)
+        metadata = json.loads(writer._get_metadata_to_save(lr, self.sc))
+        self.assertTrue("defaultParamMap" in metadata)
+
+        reader = DefaultParamsReadable.read()
+        metadataStr = json.dumps(metadata, separators=[',',  ':'])
+        loadedMetadata = reader._parseMetaData(metadataStr, )
+        reader.getAndSetParams(lr, loadedMetadata)
+
+        self.assertTrue(lr.isSet(lr.getParam("threshold")))
+        self.assertFalse(lr.isSet(lr.getParam("predictionCol")))
+        self.assertTrue(lr.hasDefault(lr.getParam("predictionCol")))
+
+        # manually create metadata without `defaultParamMap` section.
+        del metadata['defaultParamMap']
+        metadataStr = json.dumps(metadata, separators=[',',  ':'])
+        loadedMetadata = reader._parseMetaData(metadataStr, )
+        with self.assertRaisesRegexp(AssertionError, "`defaultParamMap` section not found"):
+            reader.getAndSetParams(lr, loadedMetadata)
+
+        # Prior to 2.4.0, metadata doesn't have `defaultParamMap`.
+        metadata['sparkVersion'] = '2.3.0'
+        metadataStr = json.dumps(metadata, separators=[',',  ':'])
+        loadedMetadata = reader._parseMetaData(metadataStr, )
+        reader.getAndSetParams(lr, loadedMetadata)
+
 
 class LDATest(SparkSessionTestCase):
 
diff --git a/python/pyspark/ml/util.py b/python/pyspark/ml/util.py
index a486c6a3fdeb5..9fa85664939b8 100644
--- a/python/pyspark/ml/util.py
+++ b/python/pyspark/ml/util.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 from pyspark import SparkContext, since
 from pyspark.ml.common import inherit_doc
 from pyspark.sql import SparkSession
+from pyspark.util import VersionUtils
 
 
 def _jvm():
@@ -396,6 +397,7 @@ def saveMetadata(instance, path, sc, extraMetadata=None, paramMap=None):
         - sparkVersion
         - uid
         - paramMap
+        - defaultParamMap (since 2.4.0)
         - (optionally, extra metadata)
         :param extraMetadata:  Extra metadata to be saved at same level as uid, paramMap, etc.
         :param paramMap:  If given, this is saved in the "paramMap" field.
@@ -417,15 +419,24 @@ def _get_metadata_to_save(instance, sc, extraMetadata=None, paramMap=None):
         """
         uid = instance.uid
         cls = instance.__module__ + '.' + instance.__class__.__name__
-        params = instance.extractParamMap()
+
+        # User-supplied param values
+        params = instance._paramMap
         jsonParams = {}
         if paramMap is not None:
             jsonParams = paramMap
         else:
             for p in params:
                 jsonParams[p.name] = params[p]
+
+        # Default param values
+        jsonDefaultParams = {}
+        for p in instance._defaultParamMap:
+            jsonDefaultParams[p.name] = instance._defaultParamMap[p]
+
         basicMetadata = {"class": cls, "timestamp": long(round(time.time() * 1000)),
-                         "sparkVersion": sc.version, "uid": uid, "paramMap": jsonParams}
+                         "sparkVersion": sc.version, "uid": uid, "paramMap": jsonParams,
+                         "defaultParamMap": jsonDefaultParams}
         if extraMetadata is not None:
             basicMetadata.update(extraMetadata)
         return json.dumps(basicMetadata, separators=[',',  ':'])
@@ -523,11 +534,26 @@ def getAndSetParams(instance, metadata):
         """
         Extract Params from metadata, and set them in the instance.
         """
+        # Set user-supplied param values
         for paramName in metadata['paramMap']:
             param = instance.getParam(paramName)
             paramValue = metadata['paramMap'][paramName]
             instance.set(param, paramValue)
 
+        # Set default param values
+        majorAndMinorVersions = VersionUtils.majorMinorVersion(metadata['sparkVersion'])
+        major = majorAndMinorVersions[0]
+        minor = majorAndMinorVersions[1]
+
+        # For metadata file prior to Spark 2.4, there is no default section.
+        if major > 2 or (major == 2 and minor >= 4):
+            assert 'defaultParamMap' in metadata, "Error loading metadata: Expected " + \
+                "`defaultParamMap` section not found"
+
+            for paramName in metadata['defaultParamMap']:
+                paramValue = metadata['defaultParamMap'][paramName]
+                instance._setDefault(**{paramName: paramValue})
+
     @staticmethod
     def loadParamsInstance(path, sc):
         """