2010 Ford F-150 Reliability
The 2010 Ford F-150 has 851 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and electrical system. Compared with other F-150 model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the F-150's typical year, while the 2011 drew 2,137 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
851
NHTSA owner complaints
1
Recall campaigns
23
Complaints citing a crash
35
Complaints citing a fire
2010 Ford F-150 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 model year, filed between 2010 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility / wipers | 194 | 23% |
| Electrical system | 168 | 20% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 121 | 14% |
| Engine | 108 | 13% |
| Body structure | 92 | 11% |
| Unknown or other | 63 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 59 | 7% |
| Steering | 49 | 6% |
2010 Ford F-150 recalls
1 recall campaign on NHTSA record for the 2010 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V049000 | Feb 1, 2011 | Body structure — body / door | Ford is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 F-150 vehicles manufactured from January 18, 2008, through November 30, 2009. The interior door handle housing embossment retaining the interior door handle spring may fracture during normal usage resulting… |
How the 2010 compares with nearby F-150 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year F-150 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 369 | 1 | Steering | Better year |
| 2009 | 324 | 2 | Speed control / throttle | Better year |
| 2010 (this page) | 851 | 1 | Visibility / wipers | Better year |
| 2011 | 2,137 | 6 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2012 | 1,717 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2010 Ford F-150
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- 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.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 1 campaign above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2010 Ford F-150 can be better or worse than its model year. 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.
2010 Ford F-150 reliability FAQ
Is the 2010 Ford F-150 reliable?
The 2010 Ford F-150 has 851 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about visibility / wipers and electrical system. Compared with other F-150 model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the F-150's typical year, while the 2011 drew 2,137 complaints.
What are the most common 2010 Ford F-150 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Ford F-150 are visibility / wipers (194), electrical system (168), powertrain / transmission (121), engine (108). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2010 Ford F-150 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2010 Ford F-150, including 11V049000 (body structure — body / door). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2010 Ford F-150 compare with the 2009 and 2011 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2009 has 324 complaints and 2 recalls (better year); the 2011 has 2,137 complaints and 6 recalls (avoid). The 2010 has 851 complaints and 1 recall.
How do I check a specific used 2010 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.
More Ford F-150 research
Other Ford F-150 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2010 F-150, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.