Ford E-150 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 694 owner complaints and 44 safety recalls on file for the Ford E-150, across 24 model years (1995–2023). The 1997 model year has the most complaints (102). The most reported problem area overall is service brakes, hydraulic.
Ford E-150 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical E-150 year: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1997 E-150: 102 complaints, 6 recalls
- 1999 E-150: 83 complaints, 6 recalls
- 1995 E-150: 71 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2021 E-150: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2014 E-150: 6 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2009 E-150: 7 complaints, 12 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford E-150 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 103 | 13 | 13 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 82 | 14 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 77 | 14 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 67 | 22 | 2 |
| Power Train | 61 | 19 | 2 |
| Steering | 59 | 16 | 5 |
| Suspension | 55 | 15 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 51 | 18 | 5 |
| Tires | 47 | 15 | 3 |
| Structure | 34 | 16 | 3 |
| Engine | 33 | 14 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 22 | 10 | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 12 | 2 |
| Visibility | 21 | 9 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 20 | 10 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 18 | 10 | 0 |
| Equipment | 16 | 9 | 1 |
| Wheels | 13 | 8 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 7 | 0 |
| Seats | 9 | 7 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Ford E-150 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 E-150 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2021 E-150 | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2016 E-150 | 8 | 1 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2015 E-150 | 8 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2014 E-150 | 6 | 6 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2013 E-150 | 19 | 6 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2012 E-150 | 12 | 8 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 E-150 | 23 | 11 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 E-150 | 10 | 7 | — | Tires | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 E-150 | 7 | 12 | — | Engine | |
| 2008 E-150 | 11 | 17 | — | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 E-150 | 12 | 18 | — | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 E-150 | 17 | 14 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 E-150 | 16 | 2 | — | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 E-150 | 33 | 5 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 E-150 | 21 | 5 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2002 E-150 | 28 | 3 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 E-150 | 37 | 4 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 E-150 | 50 | 6 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 E-150 | 83 | 6 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 E-150 | 60 | 5 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 E-150 | 102 | 6 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 E-150 | 59 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 E-150 | 71 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford E-150 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (71), 1996 (59), 1997 (102), 1998 (60), 1999 (83), 2000 (50), 2001 (37) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical E-150 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford E-150?
Service Brakes, Hydraulic, with 103 complaints across 13 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford E-150 have?
44 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.