repaired · 2026 Q3
Power train: automatic transmission
NewRisk. Unexpectedly downshifting into second gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
2016 Ford F-150Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 2,098 owner complaints about the 2016 Ford F-150, most often about the power train. It is covered by 13 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-331 the manufacturer reports only 32% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Ford F-150 has problems
2,098 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
618Power train12 crash/fire/injury
320Engine10 crash/fire/injury
304Service brakes23 crash/fire/injury
199Structure6 crash/fire/injury
191Electrical system24 crash/fire/injury
107Visibility/wiper
103Vehicle speed control
83Fuel/propulsion system
64Steering
39717 other systems35 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 618 | 12 |
| Engine | 320 | 10 |
| Service brakes | 304 | 23 |
| Structure | 199 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 191 | 24 |
| Visibility/wiper | 107 | 6 |
| Vehicle speed control | 103 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 83 | 3 |
| Steering | 64 | 2 |
| 17 other systems | 397 | 35 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
13 recalls
2016 Ford F-150 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2024 Q1
Foundation components: master cylinder
Risk. A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and…
repaired · 2022 Q3
Foundation components: master cylinder
Risk. A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel and feel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, possibly requiring…
repaired · 2022 Q1
Engine
Risk. A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Show 9 more recalls
repaired · 2020 Q3
Engine
Risk. A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Engine
Risk. When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the…
repaired · 2019 Q4
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk. A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Seats
Risk. In the event of a crash, a seat occupant that is not properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Doors: latch
Risk. A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2019 Q1
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk. If the left rear inflatable seat belt buckle separates from it's mounting bracket, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained, increasing their risk of…
repaired · 2018 Q4
Doors: latch
Risk. If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Front assembly: recliner
Risk. The seat back may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2017 Q2
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. If an adult is incorrectly classified as a child, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
99kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 238 power train complaints. 50% were reported before 100,000 miles.
30under 30k miles120under 100k miles118100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
26 owners mentioned a cost$1,437median
Middle half: $1,117 – $2,000
Engine
23 owners mentioned a cost$3,600median
Middle half: $1,625 – $5,100
Service brakes
15 owners mentioned a cost$1,100median
Middle half: $862 – $1,215
Electrical system
11 owners mentioned a cost$1,100median
Middle half: $712 – $1,600
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other F-150 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the F-150 median. How we score
01034232510152861911392242753044705866766263242,7581,3811,0441,0761,2368214232,0291,1125854883693248432,1951,7842,9941,5411,7532,0981,4692,3351,3507461,052608420197111140
'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
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Ford F-150, and the recalls they led to.
- Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-upLed to recall 26V-237
- Seatbelt Pretensioner FireLed to recall 18V-568
- Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-upNo recall
- Brake Master Cylinder FailureLed to recall 20V-332
In owners' words
What F-150 owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I had received a recall letter from Ford in May 2026, 26s28, but a remedy was not available yet. July 14, 2026 I was driving on a highway, my cruise set at 69 mph, when my 2016 ford f150 suddenly downshifted to first or second gear causing my truck to swerve back and forth till it slowed down. I…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle shuddered and the rear wheels locked up. The Power Train warning light was illuminated, and the messages "Collision Warning not Available" and "Hill Start Assistance Not Available" were displayed on the…
I am filing this complaint regarding a serious transmission safety issue with my son's 2016 Ford F-150, which is subject to Ford Safety Recall 26S28 / NHTSA Recall 26V237 and is also within the scope of NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA26001 concerning unintended transmission downshifts. The truck was…
Own a 2016 F-150?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.