Ford F-150 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 5,985 owner complaints and 80 safety recalls for the Ford F-150. That averages 129.2 complaints per year on the road — far more complaints than typical (index 3.07 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Full-size pickups segment it ranks #5 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 98.0.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Ford F-150 has recorded 5,985 owner complaints and 80 safety recalls, averaging 129.2 complaints per year which is far more than typical at an index of 3.07 against all tracked vehicles. While the trend is improving with recent years showing lower rates, model years 2018 and 2021 run at least 50% above the average and should be researched most carefully due to high complaint volumes. The most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain accounting for 34.1% of complaints, which are 2.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles, with recurring terms including "transmission", "gear", "shifting", "cam" and "hotline". Owners report 148 injuries and 4 deaths across all model years, though the pace of complaints is falling with 1,099 filed in the last 12 months versus 1,634 previously.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 41% below the 2018 and 2019 models (114 early complaints per model year versus 215).
The 2021 model year has the highest rate (219.5 complaints per year) and the 2025 model year the lowest (71.1). Model years 2018 and 2021 run at least 50% above the model's own average — the ones to research most carefully.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (34.1% of complaints), followed by Engine (19.2%) and Body & structure (10.9%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 2.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “transmission”, “gear”, “shifting”, “cam” and “hotline”. 216 complaints (3.6%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 148 injuries and 4 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 1,099 complaints versus 1,634 in the previous 12 months — the pace is falling. The 2021 model year generated the most recent reports (353). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 43 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 80 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (21), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 5 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Low-pressure fuel pump failure” (opened 2024-07-29, closed 2025-09-19).
Every other tracked model among Full-size pickups has fewer complaints per year, including Toyota Tundra, GMC Sierra 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Years to research carefully | 1,890 | 217.9 | 5.18 | 337 | 3.78 | 55 | 19 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2019 | 988 | 128.7 | 3.06 | 94 | 1.17 | 34 | 9 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2020 | 538 | 80.6 | 1.92 | 112 | 1.97 | 32 | 11 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2021 Years to research carefully | 1,245 | 219.5 | 5.22 | 242 | 3.96 | 353 | 29 ⚠ | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2022 | 584 | 125.0 | 2.97 | 183 | 2.48 | 204 | 23 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2023 | 404 | 110.0 | 2.61 | 135 | 1.62 | 178 | 12 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2024 | 217 | 81.1 | 1.93 | 93 | 1.32 | 149 | 10 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2025 Fewest complaints | 119 | 71.1 | 1.69 | — | — | 94 | 12 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 1,099 · Previous 12 months: 1,634 Falling
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
2,042 · 34.1% · 2.93 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- transmission1205
- gear775
- shifting543
- shifts249
Body & structure ›
652 · 10.9% · 1.19 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- latch131
- door202
- notification visibility78
- visibility recall78
Lighting ›
216 · 3.6% · 2.31 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- daytime running55
- headlight69
- running lights41
- led57
Fuel system ›
147 · 2.5% · 0.57 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- fuel120
- gasoline65
- recall95
- received notification49
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
136 · 2.3% · 0.91 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- lug nuts38
- tire53
- bolt34
- swollen21
Driver-assist systems ›
92 · 1.5% · 0.27 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- cruise36
- control44
- adaptive20
- front camera12
Airbags & seat belts ›
75 · 1.3% · 0.33 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- air34
- deployed24
- bag21
- front37
Other
49 · 0.8% · 0.45 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- cruise control15
- seat15
- cushion4
- accelerate11
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- transmission1449
- gear923
- shifting636
- cam333
- hotline444
- phasers233
- diagnosed1107
- axle264
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 43 months
What owners report
i was driving on XXX south to grab some Mexican food for dinner. on the way at one point i smelled something burning like an oil smell. but didnt see anything and suspected it was the old car in front of me. and my f150 was running fine.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the gear shifter was sticking. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred.
1st problem transmission: Hard shifting up and down in certain gears. 3 gear seems the worst. When slowing down to almost stop it down shifts and lurks forward which can cause a safety issue. Loud banging noise when it does this hard shift.
Ford has a VERY well-documented flaw in their LED headlight assemblies on 14th generation F150s (2021 +). The daytime running lights regularly burn out within several years / 35,000 miles, and each headlight costs over $2000 per side to replace with OEM…
On [XXX], I was driving westbound from Missouri into Oklahoma in my 2021 Ford F-150 XL. While traveling approximately 75 mph on the highway, I moved into the passing lane to overtake another vehicle.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Full-size pickups
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Tundra | 1,525 | 54.1 | 1.29 | Worsening | Rising | 33 | Engine |
| 2 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 3,415 | 90.3 | 2.14 | Worsening | Steady | 30 | Engine |
| 3 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 4,479 | 105.8 | 2.51 | Stable | Steady | 31 | Engine |
| 4 | Ram 1500 | 4,615 | 110.7 | 2.63 | Improving | Steady | 70 | Engine |
| 5 | Ford F-150 | 5,985 | 129.2 | 3.07 | Improving | Falling | 80 | Transmission / powertrain |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 80
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (19) · 2019 (9) · 2020 (11) · 2021 (29) · 2022 (23) · 2023 (12) · 2024 (10) · 2025 (12)
Investigations
- 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…
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) granted a Defect Petition (DP22001) and opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22007) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with 2.7L EcoBoost engines. Complainants were reporting sudden engine failure while driving resulting in a loss of motive power, often without the abilit…
- Windshield trim molding Item detachment Closed
On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has received 671 VOQs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injur…
- Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance Open
On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rea…
- Seatbelt Pretensioner Fire Closed
On June 18, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE18-008) to investigate complaints alleging post-crash fires at the B pillar in the area of the seat belt pretensioners on MY 2014-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab, and Super Crew Cab Vehicles. On August 24, 2018, Ford Motor Company recalled (FSA 18S27 - NHTSA #18V568) the affected population. Ford's investig…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-150 model year has the most complaints?
The 2021 model year has the highest rate (219.5 complaints per year) and the 2025 model year the lowest (71.1).
Is the Ford F-150 getting better or worse?
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 41% below the 2018 and 2019 models (114 early complaints per model year versus 215). In the last 12 months owners filed 1,099 complaints versus 1,634 in the previous 12 months — the pace is falling.
What are the most common Ford F-150 problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (34.1% of complaints), followed by Engine (19.2%) and Body & structure (10.9%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “transmission”, “gear”, “shifting”, “cam” and “hotline”.
How does the Ford F-150 compare with other Full-size pickups?
Within the Full-size pickups segment it ranks #5 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 98.0. Every other tracked model among Full-size pickups has fewer complaints per year, including Toyota Tundra, GMC Sierra 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500.
Does the Ford F-150 have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 80 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (21), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 5 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Low-pressure fuel pump failure” (opened 2024-07-29, closed 2025-09-19).