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Ford F-150Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 39,005 NHTSA owner complaints across 54 model years, the Ford F-150 years to avoid are 1997 and 2013, and the strongest years are 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988. The F-150 has 200 safety recalls on record.

Ford F-150
Years to avoid'97 '13Use caution: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021Best years'85 '86 '87 '88Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints39,005Top: Power trainSafety recalls2001973–2027 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Best & worst years

Ford F-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 F-150 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'73'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2027Too new–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2026Too new–/10014 complaints · 8 recalls2025Too new–/100111 complaints · 14 recalls2024Solid58/100197 complaints · 11 recalls2023Solid50/100420 complaints · 13 recalls2022Solid46/100608 complaints · 23 recalls2021Caution39/1001,052 complaints · 29 recalls2020Solid50/100746 complaints · 11 recalls2019Caution40/1001,350 complaints · 9 recalls2018Caution29/1002,335 complaints · 18 recalls2017Solid42/1001,469 complaints · 17 recalls2016Caution34/1002,098 complaints · 13 recalls2015Caution38/1001,753 complaints · 13 recalls2014Caution41/1001,541 complaints · 8 recalls2013Avoid26/1002,994 complaints · 3 recalls2012Caution38/1001,784 complaints · 4 recalls2011Caution33/1002,195 complaints · 6 recalls2010Solid54/100843 complaints · 1 recall2009Best74/100324 complaints · 2 recalls2008Best69/100369 complaints · 1 recall2007Solid65/100488 complaints · 2 recalls2006Solid60/100585 complaints · 4 recalls2005Solid46/1001,112 complaints · 3 recalls2004Caution33/1002,029 complaints · 5 recalls2003Solid65/100423 complaints · 4 recalls2002Solid50/100821 complaints · 2 recalls2001Caution37/1001,236 complaints · 8 recalls2000Caution37/1001,076 complaints · 6 recalls1999Solid45/1001,044 complaints · 7 recalls1998Caution40/1001,381 complaints · 8 recalls1997Avoid24/1002,758 complaints · 14 recalls1996Best68/100324 complaints · 2 recalls1995Solid54/100626 complaints · 2 recalls1994Solid52/100676 complaints · 6 recalls1993Solid63/100586 complaints · 7 recalls1992Solid66/100470 complaints · 3 recalls1991Best74/100304 complaints · 3 recalls1990Best76/100275 complaints · 4 recalls1989Best79/100224 complaints · 4 recalls1988Best83/100139 complaints · 2 recalls1987Best86/10091 complaints · 3 recalls1986Best92/10061 complaints · 1 recall1985Best96/10028 complaints · 1 recall1984Not rated–/10015 complaints · 1 recall1983Not rated–/10010 complaints · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1981Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls1980Not rated–/1003 complaints · 4 recalls1979Not rated–/1002 complaints · 9 recalls1978Not rated–/1004 complaints · 9 recalls1977Not rated–/1003 complaints · 5 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1975Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Ford F-150 problems

All model years combined: 39,005 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
Power train9244307
Engine4549181
Electrical system40991007
Vehicle speed control2871830
Engine and engine cooling2735284
Fuel system, gasoline2360118
Steering2327130
Structure2120117
Visibility211751
34 other systems134021727
200 recalls

Ford F-150 recalls

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

–Tailgate: hinge and attachments26V-689 · 2026–2027 · Oct 20, 2026 · 30,123 vehicles–Seats26V-655 · 2025–2027 · Oct 6, 2026 · 2,276 vehicles–Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel26V-653 · 2026 · Oct 6, 2026 · 20,266 vehicles45%Tank assembly: mounting26V-578 · 2023–2027 · Sep 9, 2026 · 223,472 vehicles6%Suspension: rear26V-577 · 2026 · Sep 9, 2026 · 17 vehicles41%Driveline: differential unit26V-576 · 2026 · Sep 9, 2026 · 37 vehicles–Structure: body26V-550 · 2026 · Aug 25, 2026 · 23 vehicles–Back over prevention: display function26V-489 · 2021–2023 · Jul 28, 2026 · 47,587 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission26V-402 · 2021 · Jun 24, 2026 · 741,195 vehicles20%Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel26V-370 · 2017 · Jun 9, 2026 · 4,445 vehicles36%Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)26V-378 · 2014 · Jun 9, 2026 · 44,963 vehicles14%Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)26V-375 · 2018 · Jun 9, 2026 · 10,742 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 200 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

66 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the F-150

  1. Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-upEA26001 · 2015–2017 · still open
    Led to recall 26V-237
  2. Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-upPE25002 · 2015–2017 · closed Jan 30, 2026
    No recall
  3. Low-pressure fuel pump failurePE24019 · 2018–2022 · closed Sep 19, 2025
    Led to recall 25V-455
  4. Unintended Transmission DownshiftRQ24005 · 2014 · closed Jul 29, 2024
    Led to recall 24V-444
  5. Loss of Motive PowerEA23002 · 2021–2022 · closed Oct 31, 2024
    Led to recall 24V-635
  6. Windshield trim molding Item detachmentPE23001 · 2019 · closed Feb 8, 2024
    Led to recall 24V-031
  7. Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 NoncomplianceRQ21002 · 2020 · still open
    Led to recall 26V-104
  8. Seatbelt Pretensioner FirePE18008 · 2015–2018 · closed Dec 17, 2018
    Led to recall 18V-568
  9. Unexpected Transmission DownshiftRQ17010 · 2011–2013 · closed Oct 22, 2019
    Led to recall 19V-075
  10. Champion Ford Edinboro / Steering ShaftAQ17001 · 2015 · closed Jun 15, 2018
    No recall