FORD F 150 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used FORD F 150 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the FORD F 150 has 11,311 owner complaints and 145 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. 2021 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.
- Make
- FORD
- Model
- F 150
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 11,311
- Safety recall campaigns
- 145
- Crash-related complaints
- 328
- Fire-related complaints
- 95
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2021 (5,234 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2026 (24 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- POWER TRAIN
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
FORD F 150: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe FORD F 150 has 11,311 NHTSA complaints and 145 recalls on record. 328 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 11,311 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 145 federal recall campaigns
- 328 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
145 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
ENGINE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
ENGINE
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
TIRES:BEAD
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 11,311 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
11,311 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the windshield wipers failed to activate, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the control stalk, wiper motor, and the motor linkage were inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 103,000.
My truck has just under 130k miles. Bought it at 18k miles. At 47k miles I had to have the cam phasers replaced and timing chain fixed. At 76k miles the trans (10r80) blew and had it replaced. At 105k miles I had to have the cam phasers replaced again. Multiple times I was denied through ford warranty. And now ford is turning there back after I had it inspected at Koch 33 ford for a reimburment in just the trans! Please help! When the transmission blew I was doing 65mph and it just dropped to first gear and i had a rear wheel lock up and skid all over. After i stopped i had no foward or backwards.
Despite several transmission services there remains a clunky shift between gears 7 and 8. The problem continues. Other owners of this model have told me that this problem eventually broke their vehicle, and they were left stranded beside the road. Stranded beside the road is a safety risk.
10 speed cvt transmission. Truck was struggling with 1-3 shift, reving, hesitating, and then jumping. Hard shifts, and clunking. Took it to transmission shop got valve body replacement... less than a week later transmission could not hold 10th at highway speed kept down shifting to 9 and then going back to 10 again and again. After 15 min the display showed it in NO GEAR then 1st GEAR at highway speed and then through a wrench warning light and went into limp mode. Back to transmission shop... cdf drum failure, bad bushings and an over haul to get it back up and running again. 8,000.00. First repair 7-24 second repair 8-22.
The transmission started to clunk into gear very heavily when I started my drive and then as I was driving down the highway going 60mph, the 10r80 transmission suddenly downshifted from 7th gear to 1st gear, and jolted the truck and I lost all power and it took around 5-7 seconds before the throttle was registering again to pick up speed. A car was a ways behind me but if it had been closer, there is no doubt I would have likely been hit. After this happened, in trying to increase speed back to the speed limit, the transmission would not shift back into 7th gear, and a wrench and code popped up on the dash.
Beginning approximately one year ago, my Ford F-150 has intermittently experienced a serious transmission problem during acceleration. The transmission appears to momentarily lose the connection between the engine and drivetrain. When this occurs, the truck hesitates or fails to deliver power when I press the accelerator, then suddenly and very harshly engages the next gear. The problem can occur when the vehicle is cold or fully warmed up. This creates a significant safety concern because the vehicle can unexpectedly fail to accelerate when needed, particularly when merging onto a highway, climbing a hill, or accelerating from a traffic light with other vehicles behind me. The sudden, harsh engagement that follows the hesitation is also unexpected and could affect the vehicle's stability or the driver's ability to control the vehicle. I contacted my Ford dealer on August 17, 2026, regarding the problem. The dealer indicated that they are familiar with this type of problem on this transmission and stated that their repair procedure is to replace the entire transmission rather than attempt to repair it. I was told the estimated cost would be approximately $10,000–$12,000. The truck currently has approximately 71,000 miles. Although it is no longer under warranty, I am concerned that a major transmission component is experiencing a potentially serious safety-related failure at this mileage. I believe Ford should investigate this issue and determine whether there is a defect or widespread failure affecting these transmissions. Given the nature of the problem and the potential safety consequences, I also believe Ford should provide financial assistance toward the repair, particularly if this is a known or recurring transmission problem.
Read 14 more owner reports
CDF drum failure and torque converter failure. Started at 70,000 miles by shifting hard going into 8th gear. Now it has completely failed at 81,000 miles. It is a safety concern because now the vehicle goes straight to 4th gear when you shift out the park. Fourth gear is too steep to leave from a stop and can lead to somebody getting rear-ended. This is a well-documented problem for the 10r80 transmission and something needs to be done about it.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway. The accelerator pedal was depressed, and the RPM became elevated. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle failed to go forward or backwards. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift into the intended gear. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times since being purchased in 2019; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 15,407.
The transmission consistently slips, stalls, and shifts very aggressively between gears, specifically between gears 3-4, 7-8, and 6-5. This occurs at various speeds and levels of acceleration. This puts everyone on the road at risk as it makes it difficult to control the speed of the vehicle. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This was inspected at a Ford dealership and confirmed to be a problem by the transmission specialist. There are no warming lamps or error messages.
The transmission slipped out of gear while entering an intersection. Several slipping issues with transmission and Ford dealers refused to look into issue. They have recalled the 10 speed automatic transmissions for several years but not the mine?
What happened is i bought a truck that Ford knows good & well has a defective CDF drum and outer shell but they refuse to issue a recall to fix the transmissions in those year models! Yet in late 2022 they acknowledged the problem and updated the 22+ year models with the correct parts while leaving those of us with the prior 4yrs of trucks out in the cold! My truck is currently undergoing getting a new transmission and it hasn't even reached 70K yet. At 61K I had to have all timing components along with a new oil pump replaced due to the common oil consumption issues on the 13th gen models. Now 8K miles later I'm having to have a new transmission because it started with all the common problems and known issues that everyone else has had with the 13th gen trucks. This is absolutely ridiculous and no if's, and's or but's about it Ford should be liable for it! Every single one of us especially those of us below 100K should be reimbursed. It is a disgrace to own and pay for a vehicle that spends more time at the shop than it does in your driveway! I am fuming mad. Due to my age and health condition this was supposed to be the last vehicle I ever buy yet being on a fixed income I now have a truck that I cannot trust to get me safely to my Dr's appointments or even the local places I have to visit on a weekly basis. Absolutely ludicrous! I have all invoices of all work that has been done and that info has also been put into the Carfax records. The shop i use is very proficient when it comes to recording the information. Within a week once the new transmission is installed I will have that invoice as well as it being loaded into the Carfax records.
I bought my 2019 F-150 a few months ago used. Since then it’s been nothing but problems and honestly, terrifying one’s. The truck has shifted and driven rough since I bought it. But on some occasions it goes from rough driving to potentially accident causing. The truck will randomly decide it does not want to shift from a gear, meaning I can’t speed up on busy 95 traffic or move out of the way of aggressive drivers when needed. The truck also will occasionally shift up or down on its own without warning causing me to slow down quickly while already at interstate speeds. At this point, because I have no choice but to drive it to work, it’s a matter of waiting for the day it downshifts too far while in the interstate causing a crash. The fact that I am scared at times to drive my own vehicle and the manufacturer not being willing to fix it is alarming. Alarming because if this is something they can get away with now, what will they get away with in the future.
I am filing a safety complaint regarding the transmission in my 2019 Ford F-150 equipped with the 5.0L V8 and 10-speed automatic transmission. My vehicle currently has approximately 88,000 miles. The transmission began experiencing abnormal shifting, including skipping/hesitating between gears, harsh shifting, shuddering, and delayed engagement. At times it would appear to skip 2nd gear and go directly into 3rd. I brought the vehicle to a Ford dealership for diagnosis. Ford of Spartanburg performed testing and a road test. Their written diagnosis states that the PCM was tested and had no related DTCs. The technician documented delayed 1-2-3, 2-4 and 3-4 shifts, a 400-500 RPM flare during the 2-4 and 3-4 shifts, and a shudder during the 1-2 shift. The technician checked the transmission fluid and documented that the level was good but that the fluid appeared “super burnt.” The technician further stated “suspect CDF drum bushing shifted” and recommended replacement of the entire transmission assembly. The Ford dealership's estimate for the recommended transmission replacement is $8,737.05. I am concerned that a major internal transmission failure involving the CDF drum/bushing can occur at approximately 88,000 miles and result in delayed, erratic, harsh or unexpected shifting. I am particularly concerned about the potential safety implications if the vehicle unexpectedly loses acceleration or does not respond normally while entering traffic, passing, or traveling at highway speeds. I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and investigate whether this represents a broader safety-related defect affecting Ford vehicles equipped with this transmission. I have retained the Ford dealership's diagnostic documentation and can provide it if needed.
My transmission slips from 3rd to 4th gear and sometimes when on the highway from 7th to 8th or it will get stuck in 7th gear when going 75mph. The check engine light went on once and has been off ever since.
vehicle shifted from 1st to 3rd gear and as I accelerated the engine RPMs drastically increased. The transmission jumped from 3rd to 8th gear and then immediately dropped to 1st gear while I was at 40-45 mph. Due to the speed the back tires locked and the vehicle jumped from 1st to 3rd gear and I stopped. Thankfully I did not have a vehicle behind me, or they would have him me. Dealership determine and confirmed hard/harsh shifting between 3rd, 5th, 6th while skipping 4th and 5th. No codes or warnings found upon download by the technician. Technician could not replicate it shifting from high gears to 1st and locking the tires. Recommended and completed adaptive learn procedure, but vehicle is still hard shifting 3rd and 4th gear. Very concerned the vehicle could downshift from higher gears and lock the tires again which will cause an accident.
I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure could have caused a severe accident and jeopardized the well being of my wife, daughter, her friend and myself along with any other people that could of potentially been involved in a collision if one had occurred. My dash showed no warning lights. After lots of research and consultation with a private owned mechanic shop, I learned the 2019 F150 has a sever and known transmission issue with the learning tables and the transmission control module resulting in failure. Further research reveled a law suit against ford ([XXX] v. Ford Motor Company (Case No. [XXX] in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, targets Ford over alleged defects in the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmissions equipped in 2017–2020 Ford F-150 trucks) regarding this exact issue I was having with my truck, with only 72,000 miles on it! Bob Bell Ford in Glen Burnie Maryland, was less than helpful and the staff was rude when I was explaining what was happening and the information I learned, and quoted me a price of around $12,000.00 to replace the transmission, and that they knew there was a problem with that transmission. I had the vehicle repaired by Glen Burnie Transmission in Glen Burnie Maryland for $8,200.00. That shop told me that they replace several of these transmissions a month (confirming it is a sever issue) and the service tech could tell me what the 8th digit in my vin was based on the symptoms, and he was spot on! I was told the CDF drum and bushings failing—that cause harsh, erratic shifting, sudden lunging, jerking, hesitation, and gear slipping This repair costed me $8200.00 to replace, and another $450 to Bob Bell Ford for them to repeat to me what I already told them. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My truck has routinely been very hard shifting in 3rd to 4th gear. Recently it downshifted from 8th to 4th without warning and made a loud clunking noise. It still runs, but the transmission seems to be getting worse.
When driving, especially from a low gear (2-5), the transmission will downshift to 1, high revving, and then slam back into 4 or 5th, depending on where it downshifted. Sometimes the rapid acceleration causes the back of the truck to start to break lose. I notice this alot when trying to get up to speed, and can usually take my foot off pedal and it will slow the vehicle and upshift.
Shifted into 1st gear from 10th while driving 70mph
Transmission was shifting erratically and harsh. Hesitation in shifting from a stop and when accelerating on highway. Shutter when starting from a complete stop in lower gears. The vehicle would not slam into gear but the hesitation was enough to jolt driver and passenger when it would finally shift through the higher gears. Gears 7-10 seemed ok but 3-6 had definite hesitation.
Showing 20 of 11,311 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact FORD F 150
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used FORD F 150, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The FORD F 150 has 11,311 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The FORD F 150 has 145 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 328 of the FORD F 150's 11,311 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all FORD F 150 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two FORD F 150 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The FORD F 150 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a FORD F 150 by state
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FORD F 150 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the FORD F 150 reliable?
Poor. The FORD F 150 has 11,311 NHTSA owner complaints and 145 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which FORD F 150 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2021 (5,234 complaints), 2022 (3,432 complaints), 2023 (1,507 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common FORD F 150 problems?
Top reported issues: POWER TRAIN (3,553 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2,071 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1,401 complaints).
Does the FORD F 150 have recalls?
Yes — 145 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the FORD F 150. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.