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Ford E-150Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,066 NHTSA owner complaints across 42 model years, no Ford E-150 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1989, 2001, 2002 and 2004. The E-150 has 65 safety recalls on record.

Ford E-150
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1994Best years'89 '01 '02 '04Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,066Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls651976–2023 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Ford E-150 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the E-150 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'76'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'21'23
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2023Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2021Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2016Not rated–/1008 complaints · 1 recall2015Not rated–/1008 complaints · 1 recall2014Not rated–/1006 complaints · 6 recalls2013Not rated–/10019 complaints · 6 recalls2012Not rated–/10012 complaints · 8 recalls2011Not rated–/10023 complaints · 11 recalls2010Not rated–/10010 complaints · 7 recalls2009Not rated–/1007 complaints · 12 recalls2008Not rated–/10011 complaints · 17 recalls2007Not rated–/10012 complaints · 18 recalls2006Not rated–/10017 complaints · 14 recalls2005Not rated–/10016 complaints · 2 recalls2004Best69/10033 complaints · 5 recalls2003Not rated–/10021 complaints · 5 recalls2002Best71/10028 complaints · 3 recalls2001Best68/10037 complaints · 4 recalls2000Solid62/10050 complaints · 6 recalls1999Solid46/10083 complaints · 6 recalls1998Solid54/10060 complaints · 5 recalls1997Solid44/100102 complaints · 6 recalls1996Solid50/10059 complaints · 3 recalls1995Solid48/10071 complaints · 3 recalls1994Caution37/100121 complaints · 7 recalls1993Solid48/10071 complaints · 4 recalls1992Solid48/10064 complaints · 4 recalls1991Not rated–/10015 complaints · 1 recall1990Not rated–/10017 complaints · 3 recalls1989Best67/10031 complaints · 2 recalls1988Not rated–/10014 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/10017 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1983Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1981Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1976Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Ford E-150 problems

All model years combined: 1,066 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic14815
Fuel system, gasoline1339
Engine and engine cooling12814
Electrical system12745
Steering988
Vehicle speed control9223
Power train829
Tires805
Suspension752
22 other systems33354
65 recalls

Ford E-150 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

81%Other: labels22V-384 · 2023 · May 27, 2022 · 5,247 vehicles–Equipment adaptive/mobility19V-271 · 2014–2016 · Apr 3, 2019 · 4 vehicles–Equipment adaptive/mobility15V-729 · 2006–2014 · Nov 4, 2015 · 667 vehicles26%Equipment adaptive/mobility14V-706 · 2006–2014 · Nov 5, 2014 · 34 vehicles–Equipment adaptive/mobility14V-641 · 2006–2013 · Oct 10, 2014 · 834 vehicles–Equipment adaptive/mobility14V-584 · 2007–2014 · Sep 23, 2014 · 45 vehicles100%Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings14V-501 · 2012 · Aug 6, 2014 · 28 vehicles72%Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings14V-426 · 2010–2012 · Jul 10, 2014 · 36 vehicles–Equipment adaptive/mobility14V-279 · 2007–2008 · May 27, 2014 · 56 vehicles–Equipment adaptive/mobility14V-232 · 2013–2014 · May 2, 2014 · 14 vehicles63%Fuel system, other: storage14V-097 · 2011–2014 · Mar 4, 2014 · 343 vehicles–Equipment13V-261 · 2006–2012 · Jun 21, 2013 · 37 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 65 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

13 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the E-150

  1. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · 1997–2004 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA05005 · 1994–1996 · closed Aug 2, 2006
    Led to recall 05V-388
  3. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROLPE96072 · 1992–1995 · closed Apr 29, 1997
    No recall
  4. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREEA93020 · 1992 · closed Sep 23, 1994
    Led to recall 94V-169
  5. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREPE93015 · 1992 · closed Jul 27, 1993
    No recall
  6. LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESEA91044 · 1988–1991 · closed Oct 30, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-026
  7. FUEL EXPULSIONEA91031 · 1989–1991 · closed Nov 1, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-146
  8. LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESPE91077 · 1988–1991 · closed Oct 31, 1991
    No recall
  9. TRANSMISSION FLUID FIRESPE91064 · 1990–1991 · closed Jul 5, 1991
    No recall
  10. FUEL TANK OVERPRESSURIZATIPE88054 · 1984–1987 · closed Mar 1, 1989
    No recall