Ford F-150 Reliability
Quick answer
Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 20,731 complaints about the Ford F-150 with NHTSA, most often about the transmission and the engine, and NHTSA lists 124 recall campaigns. In CarWhere's ranking of 8 pickup trucks by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Ford F-Series line places 4th: about average for the group. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2021–2023 as years to avoid and rates 2008–2010 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
20,731
NHTSA owner complaints (2008–2026)
608
Complaints citing a crash
124
Recall campaigns
7
Years to avoid
Most-reported Ford F-150 problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2008–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 6,696 | 32% | 113 | 20 | 72 |
| Engine | 3,715 | 18% | 41 | 56 | 23 |
| Electrical system | 2,454 | 12% | 41 | 122 | 49 |
| Service brakes | 2,196 | 11% | 173 | 6 | 52 |
| Visibility / wipers | 1,507 | 7% | 5 | 34 | 11 |
| Steering | 1,497 | 7% | 42 | 3 | 18 |
| Speed control / throttle | 1,377 | 7% | 94 | 7 | 35 |
| Body structure | 1,065 | 5% | 36 | 10 | 28 |
Of all 20,731 complaints, 608 (3%) report a crash, 258 (1%) a fire and 398 (2%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (3,841 complaints), the most-reported areas are the transmission (1,268), the electrical system (752), exterior lighting (354), the engine (347).
Ford F-150 complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each F-150 model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 369 | 1 | Steering | Better year |
| 2009 | 324 | 2 | Speed control / throttle | Better year |
| 2010 | 851 | 1 | Visibility / wipers | Better year |
| 2011 | 2,137 | 6 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2012 | 1,717 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2013 | 2,796 | 3 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2014 | 1,362 | 8 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2015 | 1,425 | 14 | Service brakes | — |
| 2016 | 1,800 | 14 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2017 | 1,150 | 18 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2018 | 1,934 | 19 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2019 | 1,025 | 9 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2020 | 566 | 11 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2021 | 1,310 | 29 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2022 | 914 | 23 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2023 | 626 | 13 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2024(new) | 265 | 11 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2025(new) | 140 | 14 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
| 2026(new) | 20 | 8 | Service brakes | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Ford F-150 recalls
NHTSA lists 124 recall campaigns across Ford F-150 model years 2008–2026. The ones below cover the most model years (campaigns with a park advisory first). Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V407000May 29, 2021 | 2021 | Steering — gear box (other than rack and pinion) | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The steering gear may have internal damage, which could result in difficulty steering, or the inability to rotate the steering wheel while driving.NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 14V316000Jun 12, 2014 | 2014 | Steering — electric power assist system | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford F-150 trucks manufactured May 26, 2014 to June 19, 2014, and equipped with Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS). The affected vehicles may have an incorrectly installed…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 24V852000Nov 8, 2024 | 2018–2024 | Equipment — other / labels | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard.… |
| 26V104000Feb 21, 2026 | 2021–2026 | Electrical system — integrated trailer brake control | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When… |
| 19V278000Apr 8, 2019 | 2015–2019 | Engine | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied… |
Best and worst F-150 years
- Years to avoid: 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2021–2023.
- Better years: 2008–2010.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Ford F-150 years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Ford F-150
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Ford F-150 can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Ford F-150 reliability FAQ
Is the Ford F-150 reliable?
Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 20,731 complaints about the Ford F-150 with NHTSA, most often about the transmission and the engine, and NHTSA lists 124 recall campaigns. In CarWhere's ranking of 8 pickup trucks by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Ford F-Series line places 4th: about average for the group. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2021–2023 as years to avoid and rates 2008–2010 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Ford F-150 problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, the most-reported areas are the transmission (6,696), the engine (3,715), the electrical system (2,454) and the brakes (2,196). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are the transmission, the electrical system and exterior lighting. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Ford F-150 should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2021–2023 as years to avoid and rates 2008–2010 as better years. Each model year is compared only with other F-150 years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Ford F-150 last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 4.1% of 97,112 used F-150 listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 15% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 16% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Ford F-150 have?
NHTSA lists 124 recall campaigns covering Ford F-150 model years 2008–2026. The one covering the most model years is 21V407000 (steering, 2021). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Ford F-150?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure F-150 reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Ford F-150, model years 2008–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- The pickup trucks ranking uses the same complaints and sales, weights serious complaints double and adjusts for vehicle age, then compares 8 models. See the full ranking.
- Year flags compare each F-150 model year only with other F-150 years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the F-150 compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.