Problems · NHTSA complaints

2014 Ford F-150 problems

Owners filed 1,362 complaints about the 2014 Ford F-150 with NHTSA between Apr 2014 and Aug 2025. The most-cited component is power train (341).

Complaints
1,362
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
35
Reported by owners
Fires
15
Reported by owners
Injuries
33
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train341
  2. Service brakes266
  3. Engine163
  4. Steering151
  5. Electrical system142
  6. Visibility/wiper114
  7. Vehicle speed control88
  8. Fuel/propulsion system62
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic49
  10. Air bags31
  11. Structure30
  12. Visibility30
  13. Wheels25
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)23

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201422
201567
2016122
201796
2018163
2019197
2020129
202191
2022106
2023116
2024176
202577

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

341 reports9 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted without warning. The contact called a dealer and was informed that the vehicle was covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V444000 (Power Train). The dealer sent a technician to the contact's workplace for the recall repair, and the technician performed the powertrain control module software update; however, the failure recurred approximately a week later, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that the instrument panel occasionally went blank during the failure, requiring the contact to restart the vehicle for the vehicle to operate as intended. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2025Power trainODI 11678186

Service brakes

266 reports8 crashes
“While driving the brakes failed and pedal was to the floor. No warning light before this happened. Warning light eventually came on after the failure. This was a very scary situation. Vehicle was taken to auto repair shop who confirmed it is a failure of the master cylinder and brake booster.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2025Service brakesODI 11670286

Engine

163 reports2 crashes4 fires
“The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon leaving the grocery store and attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start while the engine was continuously turning over. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence, and the contact replaced the fuse, and the vehicle was able to start. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2025EngineODI 11670766

Steering

151 reports7 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, the steering wheel independently steered to the right and the vehicle independently drove off the road and into an embankment. The advanced tracking warning light illuminated, however it went off. The contact stated the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle came to a stop in a leveled field. The contact stated that the power steering faulty assist warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed electronic power steering module. The contact was informed that the electronic power steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed gear box. The contact was informed that the gear box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was advised that the vehicle was manufactured 31 days outside the manufacturer's recall date. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2025SteeringODI 11676701

Electrical system

142 reports3 crashes10 fires
“This 2014 pickup was started at about 8:00 AM and the manager went inside the building for a few minutes, (less than 5). A vender that was delivered petroleum product saw that the truck was smoking and on fire in the cab and he told the technicians in the shop who ran out with fire extinguishers to put the fire out. The doors had locked automatically with the keys inside the vehicle. A spare set of keys were acquired shortly and the vehicle was opened with the key. The vehicle was turned off and the hood was popped. a fire extinguisher was deployed while another technician disconnected the battery which then extinguished the fire. The heater motor had melted out of the dash and the dash had started on fire. The dealer was notified and we were told to call Ford and report to our insurance. We are self insured so there is no one to report to. There were no symptoms, problems leading up to this thermal event. The vehicle has 78,000 miles on it and is in great mechanical shape. I have reported it to Ford Motor Company and they gave me a case number [XXX] Pictures”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2025Electrical system, Unknown or otherFire reportedODI 11669229

Visibility/wiper

114 reports
“Turned on rear window and heated mirror defrost. Rear window cracked loudly and broke in a spiderwebbed manner after about 10-15 minutes of the defrost being turned on. Tempered glass kept it from blowing completely out. May have caused injury if a passenger had been sitting in rear crew cab seat at the time. Spoke with Safelite auto glass repair, was told they see this frequently with F150 trucks and think there is a problem with defrost function not shutting off like it should, causing excessive heat to window which eventually breaks the glass.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 7, 2025Visibility/wiperODI 11641380
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.