2016 Ford F-150 Problems and Recalls (2,065 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2016 Ford F-150 is Transmission / driveline (25% of 2,065 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 2,065 complaints · 14 recalls
What problems show up on the 2016 Ford F-150?
508 of 2,065 filings named Transmission / driveline (25% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Brakes (308 reports).
There are 14 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, 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 2015 has 1,724 reports on file; this year has 2,065. 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 508 complaints · 24.6% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 58
- Fires 25
- Injuries 50
- Deaths 0
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) | 508 | 24.6% | 5 crashes · 1 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 308 | 14.9% | 20 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 241 | 11.7% | 1 crashes · 2 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 149 | 7.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 128 | 6.2% | 0 crashes · 3 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 95 | 4.6% | 3 crashes · 10 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 67 | 3.2% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 67 | 3.2% | 3 crashes · 1 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 57 | 2.8% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 607 | 29.4% | 11 crashes · 9 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 16V475000 was reported 159 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 17V331000 was reported 487 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 17V652000 was reported 634 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 18V568000 was reported 325 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V332000 was reported 1,499 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 21E027000 was reported 1,824 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V150000 was reported 2,140 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V237000 was reported 3,625 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 24 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 54 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 69 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 56 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 45 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 43 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 38 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 54 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 56 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 54 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 58 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 55 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 40 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 51 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 28 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 35 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 41 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 36 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 38 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 35 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 54 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 43 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 44 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 46 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 42 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 51 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 69 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 27 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 93 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 64 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 66 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 92 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 98 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 87 | |
| 2026-Q4 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V110000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V475000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V331000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V526000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V652000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V767000 | |
| 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 | 22V150000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V237000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ16001 | |
| 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 Airbags, Seat belts, Brakes, Suspension, and Transmission / driveline.
-
Recall campaign 16V110000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Occupant Classification System Module (OCSM) with new software, free of charge. The recall began on March 11, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S05.
-
Recall campaign 16V475000
Safety recall 16V475000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- The seat back may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall begin on August 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 16C11.
-
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 17V767000
Safety recall 17V767000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- In the event of a crash, a seat occupant that is not properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the power seat track upper pivot link bolt, either applying threadlocker or replacing the lift link and hardware, free of charge. Interim letters are expected to go out January 15, 2018. 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 17S40.
-
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 22V150000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- 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 distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed April 29, 2022. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-332. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S11.
-
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 3 of 2,065 complaints · page 1 of 83
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Ford sent me a recall letter stating there was a remedy for my truck. I took the truck to a ford service center and was informed that the remedy they had in place to fix the recall does not resolve the problem. They also informed me that they have no idea when the new remedy will be out to fix my truck. Seeing that there is no remedy or any timeline of when I’m getting my truck back I called ford customer support to ask for a loan vehicle. They told me they was unable to give me one. Seeing that it is a transmission problem and even having in the letter it increases the risk of an accident. I feel unsafe to drive the truck in my 60 mile commute to work or in general
CrashFireInjuryDeath
In mid-September 2026, I had safety recall 26S28 (NHTSA 26V-237) performed on my 2016 Ford F-150 at Corwin Ford Reno in Reno, NV. The recall remedy was a powertrain control module software update intended to prevent unexpected transmission downshifts. Before the recall repair, the vehicle had no drivability problems of any kind. About three days after the recall repair, the truck began repeatedly losing acceleration while driving at highway speed. The vehicle would stop responding to the accelerator, and the wrench warning light came on in the instrument cluster. This happened on multiple occasions over several days. Losing acceleration in highway traffic creates a serious risk of a rear-end collision. This is the same type of loss-of-control hazard the recall was meant to address, and the condition appeared only after the recall software was installed. I contacted the dealer right away to report the safety problem. Over two days I called at least six times and left multiple messages that were not returned. When I reached the service department, they would not inspect the vehicle until the following week, and a service manager offered the same delay. I also contacted Ford customer service and received no help. The vehicle has been at the dealer since September 30, 2026. As of October 7, 2026, there is still no diagnosis or repair. I believe the recall 26S28 remedy either failed to correct the defect or introduced a new powertrain fault that causes loss of motive power at speed. I am asking NHTSA to note this complaint in connection with recall 26V-237 and investigation EA26001, and to evaluate whether the remedy is adequate.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The automatic transmission has experienced repeated unexpected downshifts and other abnormal gear-selection behavior. Before the recall repair, the vehicle experienced multiple unexpected downshifts, including a shift from 4th to 2nd gear. Safety Recall 26S28 was performed on July 20, 2026, consisting of a PCM software update. The problem continued after the recall repair. Approximately one week later, while operating in 3rd gear, the transmission momentarily shifted into 1st gear and then returned to 4th. On August 31, while operating in 5th gear, it again momentarily shifted directly into 1st and then returned to 4th. The vehicle was returned to an authorized Ford dealer in September for evaluation. The dealer road-tested the vehicle three times and scanned the PCM but could not duplicate the condition and found no diagnostic trouble codes. The dealer contacted Ford regarding the condition, but no additional repair was authorized because no qualifying codes were present. The problem has continued. I have manually limited the selectable transmission range to 4th gear in an effort to reduce the possibility of another unexpected downshift. On multiple occasions, without any driver input, the selected maximum transmission range has changed from 4th back to the full 1-6 range. On October 3, 2026, the vehicle experienced a hard shift into 4th and then shifted back and forth between 5th and 6th. During this event, the transmission range display went blank and subsequently returned. On October 4, I again manually selected 4th as the maximum gear. During a drive of less than three miles, the selected range independently returned to the full 1-6 range multiple times. There have been no warning lights associated with these events. The condition is intermittent and was not reproduced during the dealer inspection. The vehicle remains available for inspection. I am concerned about the risk of loss of vehicle control from an unexpected downshift. The condition has continued afte
Ford F-150 Years With the Most NHTSA Complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2016 Ford F-150?
Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 508 of 2,065 reports (25%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2016 Ford F-150?
NHTSA lists 14 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, 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 2016 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.