2015 Ford F-150 Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 425 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2015 Ford F-150, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 88,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “lead frame” (14% of reports).
- 425power train complaints
- 88,000median miles at failure
- 10mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,850typical repair cost reported by owners
- 62%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Lead frame: mentioned in 59 of 425 complaints (14%)
- Unexpectedly downshifted: mentioned in 39 of 425 complaints (9%)
- Limp mode: mentioned in 36 of 425 complaints (8%)
- 6TH gear: mentioned in 24 of 425 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2015 Ford F-150 at $1,850, and half of them between $1,250 and $4,000.
Based on 21 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2018–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 163 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 425 complaints, 10 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.
Ford F-150 power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 F-150 | 25 | 23% | 5,330 |
| 2024 F-150 | 58 | 30% | 10,500 |
| 2023 F-150 | 158 | 38% | 33,500 |
| 2022 F-150 | 160 | 27% | 28,791 |
| 2021 F-150 | 318 | 31% | 55,000 |
| 2020 F-150 | 357 | 49% | 59,000 |
| 2019 F-150 | 736 | 55% | 66,500 |
| 2018 F-150 | 1,014 | 44% | 60,000 |
| 2017 F-150 | 546 | 38% | 83,700 |
| 2016 F-150 | 603 | 29% | 97,000 |
| 2015 F-150 | 425 | 25% | 88,000 |
| 2014 F-150 | 425 | 28% | 101,000 |
| 2013 F-150 | 1,342 | 45% | 94,000 |
| 2012 F-150 | 681 | 38% | 90,000 |
| 2011 F-150 | 826 | 38% | 96,634 |
| 2010 F-150 | 121 | 14% | 60,000 |
| 2009 F-150 | 33 | 10% | 38,673 |
| 2008 F-150 | 50 | 14% | 50,000 |
| 2007 F-150 | 57 | 12% | 70,000 |
| 2006 F-150 | 46 | 8% | 38,500 |
| 2005 F-150 | 112 | 10% | 65,850 |
| 2004 F-150 | 232 | 11% | 35,000 |
| 2003 F-150 | 62 | 15% | 40,000 |
| 2002 F-150 | 53 | 6% | 54,260 |
| 2001 F-150 | 74 | 6% | 64,239 |
| 2000 F-150 | 47 | 4% | 54,104 |
| 1999 F-150 | 75 | 7% | 84,000 |
| 1998 F-150 | 83 | 6% | 95,000 |
| 1997 F-150 | 151 | 5% | 99,904 |
| 1996 F-150 | 26 | 8% | 109,750 |
| 1995 F-150 | 75 | 12% | 120,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150 vehicles. A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.
Risk: Unexpectedly downshifting into second gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 15, 2026.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission would downshift to first gear as both the traction control and check engine warning lights would appear on the instrument panel. The contact used purchased a scanner which gave him a code…
I had recall 26S28 performed on my 2015 Ford F150. The intent of the recall is to prevent the transmission from unexpectedly shifting into second gear while at highway speed. Immediately after the recall service was performed, the transmission will fail to shift into low gear after coming to a stop…
Vehicle had mechanical failure in the transmission at 70 mph. The PCM shifted my transmission in to 1st gear and locked up my rear tires at 70pm, which is covered under NHTSA 26V237000. Ford has an open recall: 26S28 for a software update, which is currently paused. They also have 26N04 to replace…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2015 Ford F-150s have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 425 owner complaints about power train for the 2015 Ford F-150 (25% of the 1,732 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2015 Ford F-150 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 88,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2015 Ford F-150?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,850 (half paid between $1,250 and $4,000), from 21 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2015 Ford F-150?
The most frequent phrase is “lead frame”, in 59 of 425 complaints, followed by “unexpectedly downshifted” (39).
Other 2015 Ford F-150 problems
See all 2015 Ford F-150 problems or power train problems across all F-150 years.