Ford F-150 Problems by Year

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 13, 2026 · 35,930 owner complaints analyzed

Years with far more complaints than usual:

1997, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018

NHTSA has 35,930 owner complaints and 158 safety recalls on file for the Ford F-150, across 33 model years (1995–2027). The 2013 model year has the most complaints (2,989). The most reported problem area overall is power train.

Peak: 2013, with 2,989 complaints

n = 35,930 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Ford F-150 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows

These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical F-150 year: 1997, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.

Model years with the most complaints

2013 F-150: 2,989 complaints, 3 recalls
1997 F-150: 2,758 complaints, 14 recalls
2018 F-150: 2,318 complaints, 18 recalls

Model years with the fewest complaints

2026 F-150: 12 complaints, 5 recalls
2025 F-150: 107 complaints, 13 recalls
2024 F-150: 193 complaints, 11 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 F-150 problems (all years)

Problem area	Complaints	Model years	Crashes
Power Train problems	8,965	31	207
Engine problems	4,522	32	48
Electrical System problems	3,641	32	56
Vehicle Speed Control problems	2,689	32	188
Engine and Engine Cooling problems	2,502	31	22
Steering problems	2,253	32	98
Service Brakes problems	2,080	32	165
Visibility problems	2,074	30	10
Structure problems	2,016	32	53
Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems	1,344	31	143
Fuel System, Gasoline problems	1,334	30	15
Air Bags problems	1,089	31	631
Fuel/propulsion System problems	1,048	31	8
Visibility/wiper problems	1,037	26	3
Tires problems	990	31	41
Suspension problems	978	31	23
Wheels problems	674	31	36
Exterior Lighting problems	607	31	8
Seat Belts problems	435	30	86
Latches/locks/linkages problems	356	28	5
Seats problems	305	31	22
Back Over Prevention problems	257	18	9
Equipment problems	257	24	2
Forward Collision Avoidance problems	246	23	25
Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems	215	21	7
Parking Brake	95	19	8
Fuel System, Other	78	12	2
Lane Departure	76	14	1
Interior Lighting	70	15	0
Service Brakes, Air	41	19	3
Equipment Adaptive/mobility	17	8	0
Trailer Hitches	15	8	2
Traction Control System	12	6	1
Fuel System, Diesel	9	8	0
Service Brakes, Electric	9	8	1
Child Seat	7	5	0
Firerelated	6	5	0
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness	3	3	0
Carry Handle, Shell, Base	2	2	0
Other/i Am Not Sure	2	2	0
Insert, Padding	1	1	0
Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat or Vehicle)	1	1	0

Ford F-150 problems by model year

Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.

2024: power train (58) · exterior lighting (50)
2023: power train (158) · electrical system (83)
2022: power train (160) · electrical system (125) · exterior lighting (65) · fuel system, gasoline (54)
2021: power train (318) · electrical system (130) · exterior lighting (114) · engine (83) · visibility (78) · visibility/wiper (56) · service brakes (53) · fuel/propulsion system (51)
2020: power train (357) · engine (129) · electrical system (88)
2019: power train (736) · engine (321) · electrical system (100) · engine and engine cooling (62) · back over prevention (56)
2018: power train (1,014) · engine (508) · structure (193) · electrical system (172) · engine and engine cooling (88) · steering (83) · vehicle speed control (73) · service brakes (71) · latches/locks/linkages (57) · fuel/propulsion system (56) · visibility/wiper (54)
2017: power train (546) · engine (313) · electrical system (134) · structure (111) · service brakes (85) · engine and engine cooling (70) · vehicle speed control (65) · steering (59)
2016: power train (600) · engine (317) · service brakes (302) · structure (199) · electrical system (187) · visibility/wiper (107) · vehicle speed control (100) · fuel/propulsion system (83) · steering (64) · wheels (53) · latches/locks/linkages (52)
2015: power train (422) · service brakes (299) · engine (264) · electrical system (176) · structure (147) · vehicle speed control (145) · steering (84) · visibility/wiper (77) · fuel/propulsion system (75)
2014: power train (425) · service brakes (290) · engine (179) · electrical system (162) · steering (159) · visibility/wiper (117) · vehicle speed control (102) · fuel/propulsion system (63) · service brakes, hydraulic (56)
2013: power train (1,342) · engine (548) · electrical system (324) · service brakes (321) · vehicle speed control (302) · steering (216) · visibility/wiper (146) · fuel/propulsion system (130) · visibility (50)
2012: power train (681) · engine (483) · steering (204) · vehicle speed control (194) · electrical system (173) · service brakes (124) · visibility/wiper (95) · fuel/propulsion system (84)
2011: power train (826) · engine (482) · steering (419) · electrical system (235) · vehicle speed control (213) · service brakes (162) · visibility/wiper (91) · fuel/propulsion system (75) · visibility (56)
2010: electrical system (166) · power train (121) · engine (107) · visibility/wiper (104) · visibility (96) · structure (92)
2009: vehicle speed control (54)
2008: engine (53) · steering (53) · power train (50)
2007: engine (105) · power train (57) · vehicle speed control (54) · tires (52)
2006: engine and engine cooling (77) · engine (74) · service brakes, hydraulic (68) · electrical system (60) · steering (55)
2005: visibility (260) · engine (117) · power train (112) · engine and engine cooling (111) · air bags (101) · service brakes, hydraulic (90) · structure (77) · electrical system (73) · vehicle speed control (57) · fuel system, gasoline (53)
2004: visibility (841) · power train (232) · engine and engine cooling (167) · suspension (118) · structure (104) · electrical system (99) · service brakes, hydraulic (95) · engine (92) · air bags (85) · steering (75) · vehicle speed control (70) · tires (58)
2003: engine and engine cooling (69) · power train (62)
2002: engine and engine cooling (196) · electrical system (106) · vehicle speed control (86) · engine (66) · fuel system, gasoline (62) · power train (53) · seat belts (50)
2001: engine and engine cooling (234) · vehicle speed control (180) · electrical system (137) · fuel system, gasoline (114) · seats (86) · seat belts (78) · power train (74) · air bags (66) · structure (65) · tires (52) · service brakes, hydraulic (51)
2000: electrical system (191) · vehicle speed control (188) · engine and engine cooling (135) · fuel system, gasoline (122) · air bags (69) · steering (68) · service brakes, hydraulic (67) · structure (66)
1999: engine and engine cooling (219) · fuel system, gasoline (112) · service brakes, hydraulic (97) · structure (95) · electrical system (85) · visibility (81) · vehicle speed control (79) · power train (75) · air bags (69) · tires (52) · steering (50)
1998: fuel system, gasoline (177) · engine and engine cooling (174) · tires (152) · structure (138) · suspension (132) · vehicle speed control (116) · service brakes, hydraulic (110) · steering (96) · electrical system (87) · power train (83) · visibility (66)
1997: engine and engine cooling (529) · tires (305) · structure (226) · vehicle speed control (223) · fuel system, gasoline (215) · service brakes, hydraulic (213) · suspension (204) · steering (202) · electrical system (198) · power train (151) · visibility (147) · wheels (115) · air bags (99)
1996: electrical system (56)
1995: service brakes, hydraulic (139) · vehicle speed control (76) · power train (75) · engine and engine cooling (71) · electrical system (65) · fuel system, gasoline (59)

All Ford F-150 model years

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Crash rating	Top problem	Compared with other years
2027 F-150	0	1	—	—
2026 F-150	12	5	—	Forward Collision Avoidance	Far fewer complaints than other years
2025 F-150	107	13	—	Power Train	Far fewer complaints than other years
2024 F-150	193	11	—	Power Train	Far fewer complaints than other years
2023 F-150	413	13	—	Power Train	Far fewer complaints than other years
2022 F-150	597	23	—	Power Train	Fewer complaints than other years
2021 F-150	1,028	29	—	Power Train	About as many complaints as other years
2020 F-150	736	11	—	Power Train	Fewer complaints than other years
2019 F-150	1,336	9	—	Power Train	More complaints than other years
2018 F-150	2,318	18	—	Power Train	Far more complaints than other years
2017 F-150	1,449	17	—	Power Train	More complaints than other years
2016 F-150	2,074	13	—	Power Train	Far more complaints than other years
2015 F-150	1,729	13	—	Power Train	More complaints than other years
2014 F-150	1,537	8	—	Power Train	More complaints than other years
2013 F-150	2,989	3	—	Power Train	Far more complaints than other years
2012 F-150	1,783	4	—	Power Train	More complaints than other years
2011 F-150	2,191	6	—	Power Train	Far more complaints than other years
2010 F-150	843	1	—	Electrical System	About as many complaints as other years
2009 F-150	324	2	—	Vehicle Speed Control	Far fewer complaints than other years
2008 F-150	369	1	—	Engine	Far fewer complaints than other years
2007 F-150	488	2	—	Engine	Far fewer complaints than other years
2006 F-150	585	4	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	Fewer complaints than other years
2005 F-150	1,112	3	—	Visibility	About as many complaints as other years
2004 F-150	2,029	5	—	Visibility	More complaints than other years
2003 F-150	423	4	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	Far fewer complaints than other years
2002 F-150	821	2	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	Fewer complaints than other years
2001 F-150	1,236	8	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	About as many complaints as other years
2000 F-150	1,075	6	—	Electrical System	About as many complaints as other years
1999 F-150	1,044	7	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	About as many complaints as other years
1998 F-150	1,381	8	—	Fuel System, Gasoline	More complaints than other years
1997 F-150	2,758	14	—	Engine and Engine Cooling	Far more complaints than other years
1996 F-150	324	2	—	Electrical System	Far fewer complaints than other years
1995 F-150	626	2	—	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	Fewer complaints than other years

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Frequently asked questions

Which Ford F-150 years should you stay away from?

By NHTSA complaints, 1997 (2,758), 2011 (2,191), 2013 (2,989), 2016 (2,074), 2018 (2,318) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical F-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 F-150?

Power Train, with 8,965 complaints across 31 model years.

How many recalls does the Ford F-150 have?

158 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.