Ford F150 1996–2026
Summary
- 31 model years in 6 generations, 35,395 owner complaints in total.
- Within their own generation, 1997, 2004, 2012, 2016 and 2018 drew the most complaints in the first three years.
- 2000, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2019 and 2020 drew the fewest complaints of their generation over the same span.
- These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
- Half of the complaints that give a mileage were filed by 67,252 miles (21,036 of them give one).
- Owners reported 1,461 crashes, 1,585 fires, 1,328 injuries and 62 deaths across these model years.
- 181 recalls and 44 federal investigations cover these model years; 3 investigations are still open.
1996–1996
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Fewer than three years of this generation are comparable, so no year is named.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 1996 | 324 | 73 | Electrical System | |
1997–2003
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 326.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 1997 | 2,758 | 729 | Engine | most complaints |
| 1998 | 1,381 | 400 | Fuel & Propulsion | |
| 1999 | 1,044 | 326 | Engine | |
| 2000 | 1,075 | 209 | Electrical System | fewest complaints |
| 2001 | 1,236 | 351 | Engine | |
| 2002 | 821 | 132 | Engine | fewest complaints |
| 2003 | 423 | 134 | Engine | fewest complaints |
Engine is the largest group in 5 of the 7 compared years.
2004–2008
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 146.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 2004 | 2,029 | 405 | Windows, Wipers & Visibility | most complaints |
| 2005 | 1,112 | 155 | Windows, Wipers & Visibility | |
| 2006 | 585 | 146 | Engine | |
| 2007 | 488 | 127 | Engine | |
| 2008 | 369 | 84 | Engine | fewest complaints |
Engine is the largest group in 3 of the 5 compared years.
2009–2014
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 252.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 2009 | 324 | 85 | Accelerator & Cruise Control | fewest complaints |
| 2010 | 843 | 176 | Windows, Wipers & Visibility | |
| 2011 | 2,194 | 294 | Powertrain | |
| 2012 | 1,784 | 399 | Powertrain | most complaints |
| 2013 | 2,992 | 340 | Powertrain | |
| 2014 | 1,539 | 211 | Powertrain | |
Powertrain is the largest group in 4 of the 6 compared years.
2015–2020
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 308.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 2015 | 1,743 | 359 | Powertrain | |
| 2016 | 2,088 | 496 | Powertrain | most complaints |
| 2017 | 1,463 | 256 | Powertrain | |
| 2018 | 2,325 | 501 | Powertrain | most complaints |
| 2019 | 1,342 | 161 | Powertrain | fewest complaints |
| 2020 | 741 | 174 | Powertrain | fewest complaints |
Powertrain is the largest group in 6 of the 6 compared years.
2021–2026
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 275.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 2021 | 1,036 | 327 | Powertrain | |
| 2022 | 602 | 275 | Powertrain | |
| 2023 | 418 | 263 | Powertrain | |
| 2024 | 195 | 195 | Powertrain | not compared |
| 2025 | 109 | 109 | Driver Assistance | not compared |
| 2026 | 12 | 12 | Driver Assistance | not compared |
Powertrain is the largest group in 3 of the 3 compared years.
Every model year
A model year gets its own page when four sources cover it, it holds at least 50 complaints, and it either compares with the other years of its generation or shows one system in 40% or more of the complaints that name a component. The rest are listed here with their figures.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Bulletins | Combined MPG | Page |
|---|
| 1996 | 324 | 7 | 2 | 121 | 12–15 | listed here |
| 1997 | 2,758 | 26 | 18 | 325 | 13–17 | yes |
| 1998 | 1,381 | 18 | 11 | 285 | 13–16 | yes |
| 1999 | 1,044 | 18 | 5 | 295 | 13–17 | yes |
| 2000 | 1,075 | 17 | 4 | 216 | 13–16 | yes |
| 2001 | 1,236 | 19 | 6 | 169 | 11–16 | yes |
| 2002 | 821 | 10 | 3 | 134 | 11–17 | yes |
| 2003 | 423 | 11 | 3 | 94 | 12–16 | yes |
| 2004 | 2,029 | 16 | 4 | 149 | 12–16 | yes |
| 2005 | 1,112 | 14 | 3 | 95 | 14–15 | yes |
| 2006 | 585 | 14 | 2 | 56 | 14–16 | yes |
| 2007 | 488 | 7 | 1 | 32 | 14–16 | yes |
| 2008 | 369 | 1 | 1 | 39 | 14–16 | yes |
| 2009 | 324 | 2 | 0 | 58 | 15–17 | yes |
| 2010 | 843 | 1 | 0 | 80 | 15–17 | yes |
| 2011 | 2,194 | 6 | 4 | 120 | 12–19 | yes |
| 2012 | 1,784 | 4 | 4 | 117 | 13–19 | yes |
| 2013 | 2,992 | 3 | 3 | 141 | 13–19 | yes |
| 2014 | 1,539 | 8 | 2 | 98 | 13–19 | yes |
| 2015 | 1,743 | 14 | 5 | 249 | 17–22 | yes |
| 2016 | 2,088 | 14 | 4 | 283 | 16–21 | yes |
| 2017 | 1,463 | 18 | 3 | 343 | 16–22 | yes |
| 2018 | 2,325 | 19 | 2 | 418 | 16–25 | yes |
| 2019 | 1,342 | 9 | 1 | 332 | 16–25 | yes |
| 2020 | 741 | 11 | 1 | 247 | 16–24 | yes |
| 2021 | 1,036 | 29 | 1 | 643 | 15–25 | yes |
| 2022 | 602 | 23 | 2 | 481 | 15–25 | yes |
| 2023 | 418 | 13 | 0 | 384 | 12–25 | yes |
| 2024 | 195 | 11 | 0 | 298 | 12–23 | listed here |
| 2025 | 109 | 14 | 0 | 163 | 12–23 | listed here |
| 2026 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 56 | 12–24 | listed here |
What owners report across all years
| System | Complaints | Share | Median mileage |
|---|
| Powertrain | 8,942 | 26% | 80,750 mi |
| Engine | 6,903 | 20% | 71,506 mi |
| Electrical System | 3,585 | 11% | 66,000 mi |
| Brakes | 3,389 | 10% | 49,000 mi |
| Windows, Wipers & Visibility | 3,070 | 9% | 56,847 mi |
Shares are over complaints that name a component; a complaint naming several systems is counted under each.
Powertrain
Owner report Ford issued a recall for the Lead frame. Recall ID 19so7 & 16s19. My truck has experienced the issues associated with this recall. Last night it was more severe. The truck shifted from 5th to 1st gear unexpectedly. I have already tried to remedy this with ford. I made the appointment on their website to have this fixed…
Owner report My truck was driving fine since I bought it 9 years ago. Ford sent me a letter saying to come in for a recall (Recall 26S28). I went to my local Ford dealership for the recall work, and after that my truck started driving very poorly. The transmission would shudder, and studder at all RPMs (unsafe at highway speeds)…
Engine
Owner report My 2016 Ford F-150 5.0L V8 has experienced repeated failures involving the transmission gear-position system and inability to start. During the most recent incident, I was stopped at a traffic light when a wrench warning illuminated on the dashboard and all transmission gear-position indicators disappeared. The vehicl…
Owner report Leaks oil from oil filter. Can’t screw on tight enough to prevent oil from coming through. Driver side door doesn’t latch properly slight shift went opening and shutting. While driving air comes in around the door and you can feel it try to open.
Electrical System
Owner report I am submitting this complaint on behalf of my stepfather regarding a safety incident involving a 2014 Ford F-150. After coming to a complete stop at a red traffic light while on a curve, the truck shut off completely and would not restart. The hazard lights continued to function. The truck was towed to our home and h…
Owner report My 2017 Ford F-150 with SYNC 3 (software version 3.0, build 23219, the latest version Ford offers for this vehicle) has a recurring defect with hands-free phone calls. When a call comes in while my phone ([XXX]) is connected through Android Auto, the call displays as connected but there is no audio in either direction …
Largest recalls
| Campaign | Component | Filed | Vehicles |
|---|
| 01X001000 | TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2001-05-22 | 13,000,000 |
| 05V388000 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2005-09-07 | 4,500,000 |
| 26V104000 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL | 2026-02-20 | 4,381,878 |
| 07V336000 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2007-08-03 | 3,600,000 |
| 18V568000 | STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER | 2018-08-31 | 1,619,112 |
Whether a recall has been done on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Open investigations
| Action | Component | Opened | Subject |
|---|
| EA26001 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 2026-01-30 | Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up |
| RQ21002 | BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA | 2021-08-03 | Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance |
| RQ98022 | SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | 1998-11-13 | REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE |
Service bulletins
Ford issued 6,521 service bulletins covering these model years, most often about power train.
A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so a bulletin listed here may not be specific to one year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.
| Date | Component | Summary |
|---|
| 2026-10-22 | POWER TRAIN | This bulletin supersedes 26-2309. Reason for update: update the Model section to remove Aviator 10R80, update theParts list to add 3.3L to W520514-S440, and add L1MZ-7Z490-G valve body separator plate for Aviator |
| 2026-10-16 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | This bulletin supersedes 26-2238. Reason for update: To update the Service Procedure to include diagnostics for the fuel vapor vent valve and the fuel tank isolation valve. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibi… |
| 2026-10-14 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | This bulletin supersedes 26-2297. Reason for update: Add 2022-2025 Transit vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display screen af… |
| 2026-10-08 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Some 2020-2026 Aviator/Explorer/F-150/Bronco/Ranger vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L (non-diesel) engine may need the front engine cover removed and reinstalled for various reasons. The Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-01 Engine > Re… |
| 2026-09-30 | POWER TRAIN | 25E10-S1 Owner letter |
| 2026-09-25 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Some 2024-2026 F-150, 2025 Explorer/Aviator, 2025-2026 Expedition/Navigator, or 2026 F-Super Duty vehicles may exhibit diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U211B:43:48 stored in the body control module (BCM) when performing a Self-Test. This DTC s… |
| 2026-09-23 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Some 2021-2024 Mustang Mach-E, 2025-2026 Navigator and 2024 F-150 vehicles may exhibit inoperative welcome/approach detection lights. This may be due to the body control module (BCM) software. To correct the condition, download and run the … |
| 2026-09-22 | POWER TRAIN | This bulletin supersedes 26-2309. Reason For Update: update the Model section to remove Aviator 10R80, update the Parts list to add 3.3L to W520514-S440, and add L1MZ-7Z490-G valve body separator plate for Aviator. Some of the vehicles list… |
| 2026-09-17 | POWER TRAIN | 26E03 Owner letter |
| 2026-09-16 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Quality improvements include: -Addresses a bug that may cause updates to fail |
How to read this page
Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more after news coverage or a recall. That is why years are compared only with other years of the same generation, over the same span, and never with other models.
Sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications (data as of 2026-10-28).
- U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines and fuel economy.
This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection.