Ford complaints & recalls by model
Across 10 Ford models and 76 model years, NHTSA has logged 22,404 owner complaints and 308 recall campaigns. The brand averages 50.7 complaints per year on the road — more complaints than typical (index 1.26).
Analysis
Among the tracked Ford models, the Mustang has the fewest complaints per year and the F-150 the most. By model year, the brand's average rate is highest for 2018 (111.5 per year) and lowest for 2024 (28.3).
Ford owners complain about Transmission / powertrain more than owners in general: 24.1% of complaints, 2.1× the share across all tracked vehicles. In the last 12 months owners filed 5,136 complaints versus 5,507 in the previous 12 months — down 7%.
Recalls: 308 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (82), 7 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 21 NHTSA investigations touch Ford models, 6 of them still open.
Models
| Models | Segments | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Investigations | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | Full-size pickups | 6,163 | 117.6 | 2.91 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 84 | 5 | Transmission / powertrain |
| Ford Escape | Compact SUVs | 5,254 | 87.3 | 2.16 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 50 | 5 | Engine |
| Ford Explorer | Midsize SUVs | 3,270 | 64.0 | 1.59 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 77 | 7 | Transmission / powertrain |
| Ford Edge | Midsize SUVs | 2,244 | 44.4 | 1.1 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 20 | 3 | Engine |
| Ford Bronco | Off-road SUVs | 980 | 41.1 | 1.02 | Improving | Rising | 50 | 4 | Body & structure |
| Ford Expedition | Full-size SUVs | 1,856 | 34.6 | 0.86 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 46 | 5 | Transmission / powertrain |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | Electric vehicles | 551 | 33.4 | 0.83 | Improving | Falling | 2 | 1 | Electrical |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | Electric vehicles | 678 | 24.8 | 0.61 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 0 | 4 | Electrical |
| Ford Ranger | Midsize pickups | 713 | 18.8 | 0.47 | Improving | Rising | 41 | 1 | Transmission / powertrain |
| Ford Mustang | Sports & muscle cars | 695 | 14.6 | 0.36 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 40 | 1 | Engine |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
By model year · Complaints per year on the road
All-vehicle average: 40.4
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Recalls by year received
Do-not-drive / park-outside: 7
Investigations
- Loss of Motive Power Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on August 5, 2026, requesting a defect investigation into the 2.0 Liter EcoBoost engine on model year 2015-2018 Ford Edge vehicles. The petition alleges that engine coolant intrusion results in a significant loss of engine power, accompanied by an "Engine Coolant Over Temperature" warning message. The petition further alleges that afte…
- NU Car rental of vehicles with open recalls Open
NHTSA is opening this Audit Query (AQ) to investigate NU Car Rentals (NU Car) for compliance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.The Safety Act requires that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i). NHTSA is in receipt of information that indicates NU Car rented at …
- Underbody shields detachment Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on August 22, 2025, requesting a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the “underbody shields” on model year (MY) 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles. The petition alleges premature degradation and detachment of the plastic underbody shields, potentially leading to road debris. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI…
- Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise Open
On April 25, 2024, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24012) to assess BlueCruise, a partial driving automation system available on certain vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford). NHTSA opened the investigation after the agency received notice of two fatal collisions involving BlueCruise-equipped Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. Based on the i…
- Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment Closed
On November 22, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) PE23021 to investigate complaints of front seat belt retractor pretensioner inadvertent deployment in model year (MY) 2019 Ford Expedition vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Some complaints alleged hearing a loud, explosion-like sound immediately followed by the seat belt tightening around th…
- Low-pressure fuel pump failure Closed
On July 29, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24019 to investigate complaints of low-pressure fuel pump failures in MY 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. Some consumers reported that the failure occurred without warning while driving, resulting in a complete loss of motive power with no ability to restart the engine. Ford determined that several other vehicle models contain low-pressu…
- Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise Closed
On April 25, 2024, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24012) to assess BlueCruise, a partial driving automation system available on certain vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford). NHTSA opened the investigation after the agency received notice of two fatal collisions involving BlueCruise-equipped Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. Based on the i…
- Underhood fires caused by fuel leak Closed
On April 11, 2024, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (“ODI”) opened this Recall Query (“RQ”) to investigate the adequacy of, including various safety concerns associated with, the remedy program in recalls 22V-859 (filed Nov. 18, 2022) and 24V-187 (filed Mar. 8, 2024). The vehicle population associated with these recalls includes certain MY 2020-2022 Ford Escape vehicles and MY 2021-2023 For…