Ford F-150 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35,903 owner complaints analyzed
169 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 to 2027 model years. Data snapshot: . 21,397 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7,890 of 35,903 complaints (22.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 6,133 | 17.1% |
| Braking behavior | 5,016 | 14.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2,523 | 7.0% |
| Engine operation | 1,740 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1,710 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1,485 | 4.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 7890 |
| Engine | 4504 |
| Electrical System | 2973 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2384 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2103 |
| Service Brakes | 2071 |
| Steering | 1756 |
| Structure:Body | 1183 |
Power Train: 7,890; Engine: 4,504; Electrical System: 2,973; Unknown Or Other: 2,384; Vehicle Speed Control: 2,103; Service Brakes: 2,071; Steering: 1,756; Structure:Body: 1,183
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4131 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3511 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4070 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3340 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4060 |
| 150,000 and above | 2285 |
Under 25,000: 4,131; 25,000 to 49,999: 3,511; 50,000 to 74,999: 4,070; 75,000 to 99,999: 3,340; 100,000 to 149,999: 4,060; 150,000 and above: 2,285
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4,131). 14,506 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 330 |
| 1996 | 272 |
| 2000 | 1262 |
| 2001 | 1078 |
| 2002 | 746 |
| 2003 | 739 |
| 2004 | 839 |
| 2005 | 1346 |
| 2006 | 582 |
| 2007 | 537 |
| 2008 | 762 |
| 2009 | 883 |
| 2010 | 1228 |
| 2011 | 1383 |
| 2012 | 637 |
| 2013 | 995 |
| 2014 | 988 |
| 2015 | 1062 |
| 2016 | 1412 |
| 2017 | 1355 |
| 2018 | 1884 |
| 2019 | 2207 |
| 2020 | 1286 |
| 2021 | 1064 |
| 2022 | 1340 |
| 2023 | 1865 |
| 2024 | 2344 |
| 2025 | 3096 |
| 2026 | 2381 |
1995: 330; 1996: 272; 2000: 1,262; 2001: 1,078; 2002: 746; 2003: 739; 2004: 839; 2005: 1,346; 2006: 582; 2007: 537; 2008: 762; 2009: 883; 2010: 1,228; 2011: 1,383; 2012: 637; 2013: 995; 2014: 988; 2015: 1,062; 2016: 1,412; 2017: 1,355; 2018: 1,884; 2019: 2,207; 2020: 1,286; 2021: 1,064; 2022: 1,340; 2023: 1,865; 2024: 2,344; 2025: 3,096; 2026: 2,381
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 6,133 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5,016 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2,523 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10627492 · 2014-08-22 (August 22, 2014)
SEATBELT LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS REACHING TO TURN ON THE A/C. IT HELD ME BACK AND I COULDN'T REACH THE STEERING WHEEL. CRASHED IT INTO A DITCH. ALSO TRANSMISSION DROPS FROM PARK TO REVERSE IF THE ENGINE IS REVVED. I HAVE HIT A VEHICLE AND A POLE AS A RESULT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11065820 · 2018-01-30 (January 30, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION INTERMITTENTLY WHILE PARKED ON AN INCLINE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR, IT ROLLED FORWARD UNTIL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING WHEN IT ROLLED INTO A CURB. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 16, 2018. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL (90S10) FOR THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, THE VIN TOOL INDICATED THERE WERE NO OPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,627 miles reported. Look up ODI 11065820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130894 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1991 FORD F150. HE STATED THAT THE ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ABS SENSOR IN THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT AND THE ABS MODULE CONTROL. THE TOTAL COST TO REPAIR THEM WAS MORE THAN $1200.00. THE FORD MECHANIC TOLD CONTACT THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE ABS IN A FORD TO FAIL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489065 · 1995-04-09 (April 9, 1995)
CHASSIS BROKEN UNDER AND TO THE REAR OF STEERING SECTOR GEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10786869 · 2015-10-28 (October 28, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE DETACHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 264,070 miles reported. Look up ODI 10786869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11433658 · 2021-09-20 (September 20, 2021)
Unknown component(s) failure causes vehicle to stall at speed that vary, fuel supply is sufficient and battery good, no indication that stall is imminent. Varying time lapses allow restart and normal driving. Ammeter and temp gauges normal. Re-start may occur immediately or several hours. Online search reveal this to be common with F150 1990-1995. I drive Colorado state highways that often have no shoulder to stop on and 60 mph limit is rarely observed by speeding motorists along with following too closely or too fast for conditions which has c…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11433658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947867 · 2017-01-26 (January 26, 2017)
PROBLEM WITH THE DUEL FUEL TANKS, AFTER FILLING THE REAR FUEL TANK I STARTED SMELLING GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND GAS WAS LEAKING FROM BENEATH THE TRUCK . WHEN I OPENED THE FRONT TANK GAS CAP , FUEL SPEWED OUT AS IF IT WAS UNDER PRESSURE. AT THAT TIME I WAS OPERATING ON THE REAR TANK. I OPENED THE REAR GAS TANK CAP AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND AN EXTENDED SAFETY " RECALL " WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AND NEEDS TO BE DEAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 114,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455758 · 2012-04-19 (April 19, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE DUAL FULL TANKS TO CAPACITY, FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK CONTINUOUSLY OUT OF THE FILLER CAP WHEN THE FILLER CAP WAS TIGHTLY SECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE DUAL FUEL TANK VALVE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 89V114000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: AUXILLARY TANK); HOWEVER THE RECALL EXPIRED ON JULY 10, 1999. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11189890 · 2019-03-19 (March 19, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F-150. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF A USED CAR LOT, IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT SUSPECTED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OREGON, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT, WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF OREGON ALSO TOOK A COMPLAINT FROM THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT ONLY RECEIVED A REFUND FOR HALF OF WHAT HE PAID FOR THE VEHICLE. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11189890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018585 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
THE WIRING HARNESS/ALTERNATOR PLUG CONNECTION IS KNOWN TO SHOW REPEATED INSTANCES OF BURNING,ARCING,MELTING AND VEHICLE FIRES. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AFTER THIS PART CAUSED A SMALL FIRE IN OUR F150 FORD 1990 TRUCK ON SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2003. A NOTICE INFORMING US ABOUT THIS RECURRING PROBLEM CAME WITH THE NEW ALTERNATOR. THE WIRES/PLUG CONNECTION MELTED AND CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO START ON FIRE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR AGENCY TO LOOK INTO THIS HAZARD. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 76,696 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018585 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 29 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 5 |
| 2027 | 1 |
2011: 6; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 8; 2015: 13; 2016: 13; 2017: 17; 2018: 18; 2019: 9; 2020: 11; 2021: 29; 2022: 23; 2023: 13; 2024: 11; 2025: 13; 2026: 5; 2027: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 2 | 0 | Not available |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 | Not available |
| 1989 | 14 | 0 | Not available |
| 1990 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | 216 | 3 | +3 |
| 1992 | 319 | 3 | 0 |
| 1993 | 434 | 7 | +4 |
| 1994 | 515 | 6 | -1 |
| 1995 | 448 | 2 | -4 |
| 1996 | 254 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | 2,054 | 14 | +12 |
| 1998 | 1,122 | 8 | -6 |
| 1999 | 951 | 7 | -1 |
| 2000 | 1,072 | 6 | -1 |
| 2001 | 1,236 | 8 | +2 |
| 2002 | 821 | 2 | -6 |
| 2003 | 423 | 4 | +2 |
| 2004 | 2,028 | 5 | +1 |
| 2005 | 1,112 | 3 | -2 |
| 2006 | 585 | 4 | +1 |
| 2007 | 488 | 2 | -2 |
| 2008 | 369 | 1 | -1 |
| 2009 | 324 | 2 | +1 |
| 2010 | 842 | 1 | -1 |
| 2011 | 2,188 | 6 | +5 |
| 2012 | 1,780 | 4 | -2 |
| 2013 | 2,979 | 3 | -1 |
| 2014 | 1,524 | 8 | +5 |
| 2015 | 1,697 | 13 | +5 |
| 2016 | 2,037 | 13 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1,430 | 17 | +4 |
| 2018 | 2,293 | 18 | +1 |
| 2019 | 1,316 | 9 | -9 |
| 2020 | 721 | 11 | +2 |
| 2021 | 1,000 | 29 | +18 |
| 2022 | 588 | 23 | -6 |
| 2023 | 406 | 13 | -10 |
| 2024 | 187 | 11 | -2 |
| 2025 | 102 | 13 | +2 |
| 2026 | 8 | 5 | -8 |
| 2027 | 0 | 1 | -4 |