2016 Ford F-150 Structure Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 13, 2026 · 199 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 199 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the 2016 Ford F-150, 10% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 20,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “door latch” (25% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Door latch: mentioned in 49 of 199 complaints (25%)
  • Cold weather: mentioned in 17 of 199 complaints (9%)
  • Below freezing: mentioned in 12 of 199 complaints (6%)
  • Latches locks linkages: mentioned in 10 of 199 complaints (5%)

At what mileage do structure problems happen?

Based on 133 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles49 · 37%
10k–25k miles30 · 23%
25k–50k miles28 · 21%
50k–75k miles10 · 8%
75k–100k miles11 · 8%
100k–150k miles5 · 4%
150k+ miles0 · 0%

How serious are the reports?

Of 199 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.

Ford F-150 structure complaints by model year

Peak: 1997, with 226 complaints
1995: 1819951996: 71997: 2262261998: 13819981999: 952000: 662001: 6520012002: 452003: 322004: 10420042005: 772006: 442007: 3120072008: 232009: 342010: 9220102011: 332012: 242013: 4820132014: 312015: 1472016: 19920162017: 1112018: 1932019: 3220192020: 222021: 362022: 1420222023: 222024: 32025: 320252026: 1

n = 2,016 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearStructure complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2026 F-15018%—
2025 F-15033%—
2024 F-15032%3,700
2023 F-150225%7,000
2022 F-150142%32,500
2021 F-150364%46,000
2020 F-150223%7,800
2019 F-150322%9,000
2018 F-1501938%10,000
2017 F-1501118%22,250
2016 F-15019910%20,000
2015 F-1501479%27,500
2014 F-150312%71,000
2013 F-150482%50,000
2012 F-150241%78,000
2011 F-150332%59,500
2010 F-1509211%52,000
2009 F-1503410%36,834
2008 F-150236%54,000
2007 F-150316%93,300
2006 F-150448%84,000
2005 F-150777%71,000
2004 F-1501045%72,500
2003 F-150328%74,640
2002 F-150455%85,000
2001 F-150655%119,000
2000 F-150666%67,500
1999 F-150959%85,245
1998 F-15013810%85,000
1997 F-1502268%130,000
1996 F-15072%181,000
1995 F-150183%77,775

When owners reported it

Peak: 2017, with 45 complaints
2016: 172016172017: 452017452018: 362018362019: 332019332020: 152020152021: 132021132022: 102022102023: 122023122024: 6202462025: 9202592026: 320263

n = 199 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (2)

Seat belts:pretensioner; structure:body:roof and pillarsAug 31, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V568000 · 1,619,112 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.

Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S27.

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch; structure:body:doorMay 22, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V331000 · 14,410 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles originally produced with black or body colored exterior door handles that may have been subsequently equipped with a chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kit purchased from a Ford dealer. These accessory door handle covers may cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact collision. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

Risk: If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price. The recall began July 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C09.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT STATEMENT Prepared for NHTSA Submission Regarding Recall 26V237 / 26S28 To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Subject: Report of Accident and Vehicle Control Loss Due to Defect Specified in Recall 26V237 VEHICLE INFORMATION: Year/Make/Model: 2016 Ford…

Received May 11, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11736995

Frame is rusted through along the bottom weld. Most likely water, sand and debris entered the frame from side openings and this corrosive mixture sat in the bottom of the frame as there were no drain holes nearby. The problem was discovered by a Ford mechanic and the dealership said they could not…

Received Feb 16, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11718265

Door latches seize in cold temperatures. If you can get the door open, it won't latch when you close the door. I must hold the door shut and lock the door for it to latch. Then, the handle becomes incredibly difficult to pull and open the door. I have pulled out only to be alerted that my door was…

Received Jan 19, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11711820
Ford F-150
Ford F-150 (fourteenth generation) at Rutesheimer Autoschau 2025. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2016 Ford F-150s have structure problems?

No. NHTSA has 199 owner complaints about structure for the 2016 Ford F-150 (10% of the 2,074 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 2016 Ford F-150 structure?

Yes: 2 safety recalls list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do structure problems start?

The median reported mileage is 20,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about structure problems on the 2016 Ford F-150?

The most frequent phrase is “door latch”, in 49 of 199 complaints, followed by “cold weather” (17).

Other 2016 Ford F-150 problems

See all 2016 Ford F-150 problems or structure problems across all F-150 years.