Ford F-150 Seats Problems
Owners have filed 305 complaints with NHTSA about seats problems on the Ford F-150 across 31 model years. The 2001 model year has the most (86). The words owners use most often: “rear seat” (17% of reports).
- 305seats complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 22mention a crash
- 48mention an injury
- 9related recalls
- 42%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.
- Rear seat: mentioned in 52 of 305 complaints (17%)
- Front seats: mentioned in 40 of 305 complaints (13%)
- Cooling selected: mentioned in 25 of 305 complaints (8%)
- Extreme temperatures: mentioned in 24 of 305 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do seats problems happen?
Based on 135 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 305 complaints, 22 mention a crash, 18 a fire, 48 an injury.
Ford F-150 seats complaints by model year
| Model year | Seats complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 F-150 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2024 F-150 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2023 F-150 | 4 | 1% | 17,000 |
| 2022 F-150 | 4 | 1% | — |
| 2021 F-150 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2020 F-150 | 4 | 1% | 300 |
| 2019 F-150 | 5 | 0% | — |
| 2018 F-150 | 14 | 1% | 11,000 |
| 2017 F-150 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2016 F-150 | 21 | 1% | 53,000 |
| 2015 F-150 | 44 | 3% | 1,000 |
| 2014 F-150 | 9 | 1% | 9,300 |
| 2013 F-150 | 4 | 0% | 20,040 |
| 2012 F-150 | 9 | 1% | 20,000 |
| 2011 F-150 | 9 | 0% | 30,000 |
| 2010 F-150 | 11 | 1% | 43,000 |
| 2009 F-150 | 9 | 3% | 3,000 |
| 2008 F-150 | 2 | 1% | 72,520 |
| 2007 F-150 | 2 | 0% | 24,100 |
| 2006 F-150 | 4 | 1% | 25,113 |
| 2005 F-150 | 2 | 0% | 36,141 |
| 2004 F-150 | 4 | 0% | 8,374 |
| 2003 F-150 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2002 F-150 | 7 | 1% | 108,475 |
| 2001 F-150 | 86 | 7% | 59,975 |
| 2000 F-150 | 7 | 1% | 75,000 |
| 1999 F-150 | 7 | 1% | 58,000 |
| 1998 F-150 | 3 | 0% | — |
| 1997 F-150 | 7 | 0% | 150,000 |
| 1996 F-150 | 9 | 3% | 132,000 |
| 1995 F-150 | 13 | 2% | 152,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (9)
Seats
Model years: 2025, 2026, 2027
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 F-150 vehicles. The front seats may have been improperly secured to the vehicle.
Risk: An improperly secured seat may not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the front seat bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 26, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S74. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 9, 2026.
Seats:mid/rear assembly; seats:front assembly:recliner
Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
Seats
Model years: 2016
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 F-150 and Explorer vehicles. Loose power seat adjuster pivot bolts may cause the front seat cushions to detach and not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash.
Risk: In the event of a crash, a seat occupant that is not properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the power seat track upper pivot link bolt, either applying threadlocker or replacing the lift link and hardware, free of charge. Interim letters are expected to go out January 15, 2018. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S40.
Seats; seat belts:front:anchorage
Model years: 2017
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks with manually-adjusted front passenger seats. The seat belt anchor may not be adequately welded to the seat cushion frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages," and 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: The seat belt buckle weld may fail, preventing the occupants from being properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger manual seat track, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 6, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C17.
Seats; seat belts
Model years: 2014
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford F-150 and E-350, 2014-2015 Ford Escape, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles. Improperly manufactured bolts may have been used to install certain seats, seatbacks, seatbelt buckles, or seatbelt anchors on these vehicles.
Risk: The improperly manufactured bolts may fracture. If a seat, seatback, or seatbelt anchor attaching bolt fractures, the affected component may not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected bolts, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available in the fourth quarter of 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S17.
Seats:front assembly:recliner
Model years: 2017
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles equipped with a manual driver's seat back recliner mechanism. In the event of a crash, the seat back frame may not restrain the occupant due to having inadequate welds. As such, these vehicles may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202a, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: If the occupant is not adequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C08.
Seats:front assembly:recliner
Model years: 2016
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Explorer and F-150 vehicles equipped with a manual recline driver's seat. The seat back frame may have insufficient welds which may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: The seat back may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall begin on August 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 16C11.
Seats
Model years: 2014
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford F-150 and Flex vehicles manufactured March 1, 2014, to May 31, 2014. The affected vehicles were manufactured with a reduced clearance between the seat frame and the seat track assembly. This can cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to inaccurately register passenger weight and improperly suppress the passenger front airbag when the passenger seat is occupied by an adult passenger. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Seats
Model years: 1995
Problem: The wire harness for the power lumbar feature on the seat is underneath the front seat cushion support wires. The support wires on the driver seat can contact and damage the insulation harness resulting in a high resistance electrical short through the support wires.
Risk: Consequence of defect: over heating of the support wires could result, and melting, smoke, or possible igntion of the surrounding materials could occur.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the seats on the affected vehicles. If no damage is found, the driver seat wire harness will be covered with a protective convolute tubing, wrapped with electrical tape and the harness will be rerouted. If damage is found, the wire harness will be replaced.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I was involved a car accident with two other co-workers (USDA-NRCS) on the job in our government issued F-150 by Ford. As were sitting still waiting to make a left turn, we were rear-ended by a 1990 Dodge van on 5/31/2023. During the impact my headrest deployed which led to me having three…
I own a 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum built in August 2024. The vehicle has been at the dealership for over 45 days for severe, unresolved electrical safety defects. I have attached photographic proof of the main defects. The first three photos show the driver's instrument display screen…
While driving my 2021 Ford F-150 PowerBoost, the vehicle issued a pre-collision warning followed immediately by a restraint system warning. The airbag then deployed without any collision or impact. There was no crash, obstacle, or reason for deployment. The airbag deployment shattered the…
Rear passenger seat heater shorted out and burnt through seat cushion and and sleeping bag. We ripped the seat out and taped up the power cables. The vehicle has not been to a dealer as our local dealer sold / closed within the last year. There were no warnings before this issue.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); the service report stated that the recall repair was completed; however, the contact continued to receive more recall notifications…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-150s have seats problems?
No. NHTSA has 305 owner complaints about seats for the Ford F-150. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford F-150 seats?
Yes: 9 safety recalls list seats. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about seats problems on the Ford F-150?
The most frequent phrase is “rear seat”, in 52 of 305 complaints, followed by “front seats” (40).
Other Ford F-150 problems
- Power Train problems (8,971)
- Engine problems (4,524)
- Electrical System problems (3,642)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (2,690)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (2,502)
- Steering problems (2,253)
- Service Brakes problems (2,080)
- Visibility problems (2,074)
See all Ford F-150 problems.