Ford Years to Avoid by Model
Ford years to avoid: the 2016 Explorer (2,424 complaints) and 2018 F-150 (1,835 complaints). All 9 Ford models we track have at least one avoid-rated year; the cleanest records include the 2009 F-150 and 2009 Explorer. Based on 34,981 NHTSA owner complaints, rated model year by model year.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, recall campaigns & service bulletins · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
Ford years to avoid, model by model
| Model | Years to avoid | Best years | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | 2011201320162018202120222023 | 200820092010 | 19,967 (2008–2025) |
| Ford Explorer | 2011201320142015201620172020 | 200820092010 | 15,014 (2008–2025) |
| Ford Escape | 201720202021 | 20152025 | 0 (2015–2026) |
| Ford Expedition | 201820202022 | 20152024 | 0 (2015–2026) |
| Ford Mustang | 201820192020 | 20232025 | 0 (2015–2026) |
| Ford Edge | 201520162019 | 20232024 | 0 (2013–2024) |
| Ford Fusion | 201320142017 | 20092012 | 0 (2009–2020) |
| Ford Focus | 201320162017 | 20072009 | 0 (2007–2018) |
| Ford Ranger | 201920202021 | 20152018 | 0 (2015–2026) |
Verdicts are each model’s own, rated against that model’s history (see the methodology); counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
The worst year for each Ford model
2016 Ford Explorer: 2,424 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 · Full Explorer breakdown →
2018 Ford F-150: 1,835 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023 · Full F-150 breakdown →
2020 Ford Escape: 0 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2017, 2020 and 2021 · Full Escape breakdown →
2022 Ford Expedition: 0 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2018, 2020 and 2022 · Full Expedition breakdown →
2018 Ford Mustang: 0 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2018, 2019 and 2020 · Full Mustang breakdown →
2016 Ford Edge: 0 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2015, 2016 and 2019 · Full Edge breakdown →
2017 Ford Fusion: 0 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2013, 2014 and 2017 · Full Fusion breakdown →
2016 Ford Focus: 0 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2013, 2016 and 2017 · Full Focus breakdown →
2019 Ford Ranger: 0 NHTSA owner complaints · all avoid-rated years: 2019, 2020 and 2021 · Full Ranger breakdown →
Looking for the years to buy instead?
Frequently asked questions
What Ford years should you avoid?
By model: F-150 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023; Explorer 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020; Escape 2017, 2020 and 2021; Expedition 2018, 2020 and 2022; Mustang 2018, 2019 and 2020; Edge 2015, 2016 and 2019; Fusion 2013, 2014 and 2017; Focus 2013, 2016 and 2017; Ranger 2019, 2020 and 2021. Each verdict matches that model's own years-to-avoid page, built from NHTSA owner-complaint and recall records.
What are the best Ford years to buy?
The cleanest federal records by model: F-150 2008, 2009 and 2010; Explorer 2008, 2009 and 2010; Escape 2015 and 2025; Expedition 2015 and 2024; Mustang 2023 and 2025; Edge 2023 and 2024; Fusion 2009 and 2012; Focus 2007 and 2009; Ranger 2015 and 2018.
Which Ford model has the most years to avoid?
The Ford F-150, with 7 avoid-rated model years (2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023) across 18 years on record (2008–2025).
How are Ford years to avoid rated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity, converted to a rate per year on the road, compared with the rest of that model's own history and adjusted for recalls. Models not yet scored that way are ranked by combined NHTSA complaint and manufacturer service-bulletin volume. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
Where does the Ford data come from?
Federal records: 34,981 NHTSA owner complaints across 9 Ford models, plus NHTSA recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.