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U.S. public vehicle records

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting6,13317.1%
Braking behavior5,01614.0%
Steering behavior2,5237.0%
Engine operation1,7404.8%
Fuel system concerns1,7104.8%
Electrical and battery issues1,4854.1%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train7890
Engine4504
Electrical System2973
Unknown Or Other2384
Vehicle Speed Control2103
Service Brakes2071
Steering1756
Structure:Body1183

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004131
25,000 to 49,9993511
50,000 to 74,9994070
75,000 to 99,9993340
100,000 to 149,9994060
150,000 and above2285

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995330
1996272
20001262
20011078
2002746
2003739
2004839
20051346
2006582
2007537
2008762
2009883
20101228
20111383
2012637
2013995
2014988
20151062
20161412
20171355
20181884
20192207
20201286
20211064
20221340
20231865
20242344
20253096
20262381

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 ↗

Compare model years

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.

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
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20116
20124
20133
20148
201513
201613
201717
201818
20199
202011
202129
202223
202313
202411
202513
20265
20271

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

Ford F-150 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198420Not available
198720Not available
1989140Not available
19901700
19912163+3
199231930
19934347+4
19945156-1
19954482-4
199625420
19972,05414+12
19981,1228-6
19999517-1
20001,0726-1
20011,2368+2
20028212-6
20034234+2
20042,0285+1
20051,1123-2
20065854+1
20074882-2
20083691-1
20093242+1
20108421-1
20112,1886+5
20121,7804-2
20132,9793-1
20141,5248+5
20151,69713+5
20162,037130
20171,43017+4
20182,29318+1
20191,3169-9
202072111+2
20211,00029+18
202258823-6
202340613-10
202418711-2
202510213+2
202685-8
202701-4