Ford F-150

Where it stands out against its peers

• Power train: more complaints than 95% of 2013 cars — 43% of its 8,388 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 12%.
• Vehicle speed control: more complaints than 90% of 2013 cars — 10% of its 8,388 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 5%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• POWER TRAIN — 2,631 owners reported this, 36 involving a crash, 6 involving a fire
• SERVICE BRAKES — 789 owners reported this, 60 involving a crash
• ENGINE — 663 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash, 18 involving a fire
• STEERING — 495 owners reported this, 15 involving a crash
• VISIBILITY/WIPER — 303 owners reported this, 3 involving a fire
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 279 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash, 21 involving a fire
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 213 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 204 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 162 owners reported this, 6 involving a crash

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

0% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• Do not drive

  14V316000

  A loss of steering control while driving increases the risk of a vehicle crash.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPAS steering gear, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been remedied. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S09.

• Do not drive

  21V407000

  Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

  Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until the repair is complete. Vehicles will be towed in for service, and dealers will remove and replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S28.

• 12V190000

  IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVERSE “R” POSITION AND THE VEHICLE’S TRANSMISSION DOES GO IN REVERSE, THE “R” MAY NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, OR NAVIGATOR MODELS AND/OR THE BACKUP LAMP ON THE REAR OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, NAVIGATOR, OR MUSTANG VEHICLES MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. THESE CONDITIONS INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR A PEDESTRIAN BEING STRUCK DUE TO THE VEHICLE’S NOT SIGNALING IT IS IN REVERSE.

  FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

• 12V198000

  A FAILURE TO DEPLOY, FAILURE TO DEPLOY AS INTENDED, OR A DEPLOYMENT WHEN NOT INTENDED, INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANT.

  FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OCSM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

• 14V709000

  If the brake lights fail to illuminate, or illuminate after a delay, there is an increased risk of a crash.

  Ford has notified owners, and dealers will adjust the brake pedal position switch, free of charge. The recall began on November 24, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14C09. Note: Until the vehicle has been remedied, owners are advised not to use their cruise control system.

• 14V710000

  Improper suppression of the passenger airbag increases the risk of an injury to the seat occupant in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front passenger airbag.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will widen the gap between the seat frame and seat track assembly and recalibrate the seat OCS, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14C10.

• 15V251000

  A missing underbody heat shield can lead to degradation or melting of the fuel or vapor lines, increasing the risk of a fire.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing underbody heat shields and fasteners, and will install the missing components as required, free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S12.

• 15V279000

  If the intermediate shaft was improperly riveted, it could separate from the intermediate shaft flex coupling, resulting in a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the intermediate shaft and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S17.

86 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up

  Engineering analysis, opened January 2026, still open.

• Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2025, closed January 2026.

• Low-pressure fuel pump failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2024, closed September 2025.

• Unintended Transmission Downshift

  Recall query, opened March 2024, closed July 2024.

• Loss of Motive Power

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2023, closed October 2024.

• Windshield trim molding Item detachment

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2023, closed February 2024.

• Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance

  Recall query, opened August 2021, still open.

• Seatbelt Pretensioner Fire

  Preliminary evaluation, opened August 2018, closed December 2018.

• Unexpected Transmission Downshift

  Recall query, opened December 2017, closed October 2019.

• Champion Ford Edinboro / Steering Shaft

  Audit query, opened January 2017, closed June 2018.

• Brake Master Cylinder Failure

  Recall query, opened September 2016, closed July 2020.

• Master Cylinder External Leak

  Preliminary evaluation, opened February 2016, closed July 2016.

• Brake Vacuum Pump Failure

  Engineering analysis, opened October 2015, closed April 2016.

• Brake Vacuum Pump Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2015, closed October 2015.

• Reduced power during hard acceleration

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2013, closed April 2014.

• Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to Corrosion

  Engineering analysis, opened May 2011, closed August 2011.

• Fuel Tank Strap Corrosion/Rust

  Preliminary evaluation, opened September 2010, closed May 2011.

• Inadvertent airbag deployment

  Engineering analysis, opened January 2010, closed April 2011.

• Inadvertent airbag deployment

  Preliminary evaluation, opened September 2009, closed January 2010.

• Cng regulator leak

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2008, closed February 2009.

• Tire valve cracking

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2008, closed April 2009.

• Loss of brake power-assist

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2008, closed May 2008.

• Spark plug ejection from cylinder head

  Defect petition, opened September 2005, closed January 2006.

• Engine compartment fires

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2005, closed August 2006.

• Front seat belt buckle assembly

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2005, closed July 2005.

• Speed control deactivation switch fire

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 2004, closed March 2005.

• Front seat belt buckle assembly

  Recall query, opened October 2004, closed February 2005.

• Steering shaft separation

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2002, closed May 2003.

• Steering column

  Preliminary evaluation, opened September 2001, closed February 2002.

• Blow back during refueling

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 1999, closed September 1999.

• Spare tire wear

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 1999, closed July 1999.

• Spare tire mounting

  Defect petition, opened March 1999, closed March 1999.

• Rear suspension spring breakage

  Recall query, opened November 1998, still open.

• Alleged loss of throttle control

  Engineering analysis, opened August 1998, closed September 1999.

• Tie rod end failures

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 1998, closed July 1998.

• Loss of throttle control

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 1998, closed August 1998.

• Automatic transmission control

  Recall query, opened March 1998, closed August 1998.

• Ice formation in the throttle body

  Recall query, opened March 1998, closed May 2000.

• Independent front suspension torsion bar

  Preliminary evaluation, opened February 1998, closed June 1998.

• Wheel separation

  Engineering analysis, opened December 1997, closed May 1998.

• Wheel separation from vehicle

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 1997, closed December 1997.

• Failure transmission park engagement/loc

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 1997, closed September 1997.

• Seat belt anchorage separation

  Engineering analysis, opened August 1996, closed December 1996.

• Seat belt anchorage separation

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 1996, closed August 1996.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Ford filed 46 bulletins about the 2026 F-150.

• Electrical system: 18
• Power train: 10
• Fuel/propulsion system: 3
• Service brakes: 3
• Vehicle speed control: 3
• Visibility/wiper: 3
• Engine: 1
• Forward collision avoidance: 1
• Lane departure: 1
• Seat belts: 1
• Other: 2

• Some 2021-2026 F-150 vehicles may exhibit a concern of the windshield wipers not parking in the correct position on the windshield and/or over-traveling. This may be due to incorrect alignment of the… · August 2026
• Some 2025-2026 Aviator/Explorer/Expedition/F-150/Mustang Mach-E/Navigator vehicles may exhibit the hands-free BlueCruise feature intermittently/consistently unavailable when BlueCruise is active and… · August 2026
• Some of the vehicles listed in the Model Statement above may exhibit an intermittent extended crank with no relevant diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) present. This may be due to various software… · August 2026
• Recommended Repair Prior to Sale Update Prior to Sale 26U05 Certain 2026 Model Year F-150 Vehicles Transmission Fluid Cooler Coolant Hose Push-Pin Retainer Inspection · August 2026
• Some 2021-2026 Ford/Lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a "Check Charging System" message in the… · July 2026
• Some 2025-2026 Bronco/Bronco Sport/Corsair/F-150/F-Super Duty/Maverick/Mustang/Mustang Mach-E/Ranger vehicles may exhibit a no audio/sound condition. This may be due to the software in the audio… · July 2026
• Some 2021-2026 Ford vehicles may exhibit inoperative heated/cooled seats, heated steering wheel and/or front/rear defrost features after a remote start is performed through the Ford mobile… · July 2026
• Some 2025-2026 F-150 Raptor vehicles may exhibit increased sensitivity or braking force when applying the brake pedal at slower speeds. To resolve this concern, reprogram the anti-lock brake system… · July 2026

38 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.