Ford complaints & recalls by model
Across 10 Ford models and 68 model years, NHTSA has logged 21,625 owner complaints and 292 recall campaigns. The brand averages 54.4 complaints per year on the road — more complaints than typical (index 1.29).
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 (110.5 per year) and lowest for 2025 (25.8).
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 4,851 complaints versus 5,556 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
Recalls: 292 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (81), 7 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 20 NHTSA defect investigations touch Ford models, 5 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 | 5,985 | 129.2 | 3.07 | Improving | Falling | 80 | 5 | Transmission / powertrain |
| Ford Escape | Compact SUVs | 5,144 | 97.3 | 2.31 | Stable | Steady | 49 | 5 | Engine |
| Ford Explorer | Midsize SUVs | 3,122 | 65.6 | 1.56 | Improving | Steady | 70 | 7 | Transmission / powertrain |
| Ford Bronco | Off-road SUVs | 936 | 47.1 | 1.12 | Improving | Rising | 47 | 4 | Body & structure |
| Ford Edge | Midsize SUVs | 2,164 | 43.6 | 1.04 | Improving | Steady | 20 | 2 | Engine |
| Ford Expedition | Full-size SUVs | 1,762 | 36.5 | 0.87 | Worsening | Steady | 45 | 5 | Transmission / powertrain |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | Electric vehicles | 536 | 33.4 | 0.79 | Improving | Falling | 2 | 1 | Electrical |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | Electric vehicles | 650 | 28.9 | 0.69 | Improving | Steady | 0 | 4 | Electrical |
| Ford Ranger | Midsize pickups | 668 | 19.3 | 0.46 | Improving | Rising | 38 | 1 | Transmission / powertrain |
| Ford Mustang | Sports & muscle cars | 658 | 14.8 | 0.35 | Worsening | Steady | 37 | 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: 42.1
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Recalls by year received
Do-not-drive / park-outside: 7
Investigations
- 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 âunderbody shieldsâ 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…
- Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise Open
On April 25, 2024, NHTSAâs 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…
- Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment Closed
On November 22, 2023, the Oï¬ce 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 …
- Low-pressure fuel pump failure Closed
On July 29, 2024, the Oï¬ce 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-pres…
- Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise Closed
On April 25, 2024, NHTSAâs 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…
- Underhood fires caused by fuel leak Closed
On April 11, 2024, NHTSAâs Office of Defects Investigation (âODIâ) opened this Recall Query (âRQâ) 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 202…
- Seat Belt Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment Closed
On November 22, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-021 to investigate instances of seat belt pretensioner inadvertent deployment in model year (MY) 2019 Ford Expedition vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Some complaints allege hearing a loud, explosion-like sound immediately followed by the seatbelt tightening around the occupantâs torso area. The complaints do…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford model has the fewest complaints?
Among the tracked Ford models, the Mustang has the fewest complaints per year and the F-150 the most.
What do Ford owners complain about most?
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 4,851 complaints versus 5,556 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
How many Ford recalls and investigations are there?
Recalls: 292 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (81), 7 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 20 NHTSA defect investigations touch Ford models, 5 of them still open.