2015 Ford F-150 Problems and Recalls (1,724 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2015 Ford F-150 is Transmission / driveline (19% of 1,724 owner reports). There are 14 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 1,724 complaints · 14 recalls
What problems show up on the 2015 Ford F-150?
335 of 1,724 filings named Transmission / driveline (19% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Brakes (276 reports).
There are 14 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Body / frame, Automatic braking / collision warning, Seat belts, Brakes, Suspension, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2014 has 1,527 reports on file; this year has 1,724. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Transmission / driveline 335 complaints · 19.4% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 49
- Fires 13
- Injuries 79
- Deaths 3
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 335 | 19.4% | 8 crashes · 1 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 276 | 16.0% | 9 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 192 | 11.1% | 1 crashes · 4 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 110 | 6.4% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 108 | 6.3% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 88 | 5.1% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 79 | 4.6% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 75 | 4.4% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 56 | 3.3% | 0 crashes · 2 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 458 | 26.6% | 7 crashes · 2 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 15V867000 was reported 110 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 17V331000 was reported 768 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 17V526000 was reported 725 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 17V652000 was reported 915 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V568000 was reported 1,093 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V332000 was reported 1,831 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 21E027000 was reported 1,873 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V237000 was reported 3,806 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 50 | |
| 2015-Q4 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 38 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 33 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 51 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 27 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 39 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 36 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 50 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 50 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 61 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 41 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 45 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 57 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 98 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 38 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 33 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 44 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 46 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 23 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 17 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 36 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 38 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 46 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 47 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 44 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 48 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 72 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 64 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 93 | |
| 2026-Q4 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V251000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V279000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V614000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V867000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V331000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V526000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V652000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V568000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V894000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V278000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V098000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V332000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21E027000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V237000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ16001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | AQ17001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE18008 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE25002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA26001 |
Safety Recalls (14)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Body / frame, Automatic braking / collision warning, Seat belts, Brakes, Suspension, and Transmission / driveline.
-
Recall campaign 15V251000
Body / frame
- Report date
- Component:
- Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
- Consequence:
- A missing underbody heat shield can lead to degradation or melting of the fuel or vapor lines, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing underbody heat shields and fasteners, and will install the missing components as required, free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S12.
-
Recall campaign 15V279000
Safety recall 15V279000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If the intermediate shaft was improperly riveted, it could separate from the intermediate shaft flex coupling, resulting in a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the intermediate shaft and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S17.
-
Recall campaign 15V614000
Automatic braking / collision warning
- Report date
- Component:
- Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE)
- Consequence:
- A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the cruise control module with updated ACC radar software, free of charge. The recall began on October 25, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S29.
-
Recall campaign 15V867000
Seat belts
- Report date
- Component:
- Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
- Consequence:
- An occupant that is not be properly restrained is at an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and/or front passenger side seat belt retractor(s) and pretensioner(s), free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C17.
-
Recall campaign 17V331000
Safety recall 17V331000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price. The recall began July 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C09.
-
Recall campaign 17V526000
Seat belts
- Report date
- Component:
- Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
- Consequence:
- 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 injury.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assembly, replacing the attaching rivet as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed October 18, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C12.
-
Recall campaign 17V652000
Safety recall 17V652000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S33.
-
Recall campaign 18V568000
Seat belts
- Report date
- Component:
- Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
- Consequence:
- A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S27.
-
Recall campaign 18V894000
Safety recall 18V894000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- 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 risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.
-
Recall campaign 19V278000
Safety recall 19V278000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.
-
Recall campaign 20V098000
Safety recall 20V098000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the block heater's location and its cable, replacing components as necessary, free of charge. If the replacement parts are not available, dealers will disable the existing block heater cable from being used until parts become available. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S08.
-
Recall campaign 20V332000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- 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 greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder and inspect the brake booster, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Ford issued owners an interim notification on June 30, 2020. The recall began on October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S31.
-
Recall campaign 21E027000
Suspension
- Report date
- Component:
- Suspension (SUSPENSION)
- Consequence:
- An incorrectly installed ball joint may cause the ball joint stud to break, which can compromise front wheel control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- DRiV will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary replace the ball joint, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Tenneco Automotive customer service at 1-877-489-6659.
-
Recall campaign 26V237000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- Unexpectedly downshifting into second gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 15, 2026.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Showing 4 of 1,724 complaints · page 1 of 69
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2015 Ford F-150 Platinum, 6-speed automatic. Ford recall 26S28 (NHTSA campaign 26V-237, PCM software update for unintended transmission downshift) was performed at All Star Ford, Wichita Falls, TX. BEFORE the recall service, this truck ran smoothly, quietly, and flawlessly. AFTER the PCM update, the transmission developed severe jerking and hard downshifting that never existed before the recall work. The dealership has held my vehicle since August 12, 2026. The mandatory post-update reset drive was skipped after the first update; the recall has since been re-performed twice and the malfunction persists - it was directly caused by the recall calibration. On October 5, 2026, the general manager stated the vehicle was "safe to drive" yet admitted he could not guarantee no further operational or safety issues would occur, and confirmed Ford engineers currently have no fix. I was also told Ford halted work because this recall update damaged my vehicle and thousands of others. I have been without my vehicle since May 2026. The recall remedy has rendered my vehicle unsafe to drive. I am filing so NHTSA is aware the 26S28 remedy is producing new transmission malfunctions.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle downshifted from 4th gear to 2nd gear and the rear wheels locked up. The message “Service Vehicle Soon” was displayed and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Zone and DTC: P0720 was retrieved. A dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the DTC: P0705, P0706, P0707, and P1702 needed to be displayed for the vehicle to be repaired under Extended Warranty Program: 26N04. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (POWER TRAIN) as the possible cause for the failure. The failure mileage was 166,087.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I am writing to express my serious concern about a power steering failure in my 2015 F-150. Within the last few weeks, it began losing electronic power steering assist intermittently. The loss of assist happens suddenly, with no warning light or message on the dash. When it happens, the steering becomes extremely heavy and difficult to turn, and it can happen at any speed. The vehicle is very hard to steer without power assist, and becomes a serious risk to avoid an obstacle, hold my lane in a curve, or make a necessary maneuver in traffic. A sudden loss of steering control like this can easily lead to a serious accident, with the risk of injury or death to me, my passengers, and others on the road. Because of this I have already had a close call. The power steering went out while I was making a right turn at a traffic light on a major road. The truck drifted wide into the oncoming lanes, and I had to brake hard to avoid a collision. I pulled over and turned the truck off. When I started it again, the power steering seemed to work, and I was able to drive to the nearby Ford dealership to ask about the problem. Because I was about 30 miles from home, they advised that the best thing I could do was to get the truck back to my local dealer. When I brought my vehicle to my local dealer, the service department confirmed that recalls and bulletins exist. However, they told me that my truck's VIN does not fall within the affected range. This is the pattern I have seen every time: the power steering returns after the truck is restarted, but then goes out again at random, with not warning, and with no way for me to predict when. It is clearly not normal for a power steering system to fail on a vehicle with only 60,000 miles. A steering system is a critical safety component and should be expected to last well beyond this mileage. A failure this early points to a defect, not ordinary wear and tear,
CrashFireInjuryDeath
While driving my 2015 Ford F-150, the vehicle experiences a severe and hazardous transmission defect. The transmission unexpectedly drops out of gear while in motion, resulting in an immediate loss of power and acceleration. Simultaneously, the 'D' (Drive) gear indicator light on the instrument cluster goes dark, and both the wrench warning light and check engine light illuminate, forcing the vehicle into an unsafe limp mode. This vehicle is subject to active safety Recall 26S28 / NHTSA 26V237 regarding unintended transmission downshifts and Transmission Range Sensor signal loss. I contacted an authorized Ford dealership to have this federally mandated safety recall performed. However, the service department explicitly refused to execute the recall repair, stating that the recall procedure does not solve the problem and makes it worse. The dealership is refusing to perform the required safety service, leaving my vehicle unrepaired and creating a dangerous ongoing safety hazard on public roads
Ford F-150 Years With the Most NHTSA Complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2015 Ford F-150?
Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 335 of 1,724 reports (19%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2015 Ford F-150?
NHTSA lists 14 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Body / frame, Automatic braking / collision warning, Seat belts, Brakes, Suspension, and Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2015 Ford F-150?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.