Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD · 4 NHTSA variants

2015 Ford F-150Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 1,425 owner complaints for the 2015 Ford F-150. Most complaints involve service brakes (292) and engine (238). The EPA rates it 17–22 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
17–22mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
14campaigns
Latest Apr 2026
Owner complaints
1,425
Top: service brakes
Fuel cost / yr
$2,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

14 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Power train: automatic transmission

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150 vehicles. A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.

Power trainReported Apr 14, 2026NHTSA 26V237000

Suspension: upper ball joint

Free remedy

Tenneco Automotive (DRiV) is recalling certain MOOG K500359 ball joints, for aftermarket installation on 2015-2018 Ford F-150 trucks. The ball joint may have a misaligned dust boot and may be missing alignment hole and installation warning tag, which may lead to improper alignment of the ball joint.

SuspensionReported Apr 12, 2021NHTSA 21E027000

Service brakes

Remedy pending

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2017 F-150 pickup trucks equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may leak brake fluid into the brake booster.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Jun 8, 2020NHTSA 20V332000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

1,425 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2015 – Aug 2025
  1. Service brakes292
  2. Engine238
  3. Power train198
  4. Structure142
  5. Electrical system135
  6. Vehicle speed control123
  7. Steering80
  8. Fuel/propulsion system71
  9. Visibility/wiper71

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

By model year

Complaints for each F-150 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996360
19972,855
19981,418
19991,121
20001,206
20011,340
2002955
2003464
20042,036
20051,121
2006589
2007492
2008369
2009324
2010851
20112,137
20121,717
20132,796
20141,362
20151,425
20161,798
20171,148
20181,929
20191,021
2020562
20211,042
2022605
2023419
2024195
2025119
20260
Crashes reported
40
Fires reported
12
Injuries reported
78
Deaths reported
2
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes

292 reports10 crashes
“Front passenger side brake line (plastic) burst - causing no braking on vehicle. This happened when parked and just starting to drive vehicle out of carport. Vehicle was towed to service center (Car Fix Western Ave Knoxville, TN), damaged confirmed by tech. Both front brake lines were replaced, system flushed and tested. Incident occurred [XXX].”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2024Service brakesODI 11616346

Engine

238 reports2 crashes4 fires
“The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was requested to pay a diagnostic fee. The contact stated that due to the persistent failure, the contact was fearful of driving the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred four times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NNHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2025Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11674463

Power train

198 reports2 crashes1 fire
“Transmission down shifts while accelerating, slips when starting from a dead stop, and shifts extremely hard when shifting. It is a safety risk especially when pulling out at an intersection, as it stops (or will slip) in the middle of the intersection. It has not been confirmed by the manufacturer or dealer, only by the article from USA Today. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone, as it just started yesterday. There were no early indications or warning signs prior to it starting yesterday (08/06/2025).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2025Power trainODI 11679062
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
2.7L 6-cyl turbo · 3.5L 6-cyl turbo · 3.5L 6-cyl · 5.0L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S6) · Automatic 6-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
F150 Pickup 2WD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
192622$2,900409
F150 Pickup 2WD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive
172420$3,200451
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
182420$3,200437
F150 Pickup 4WD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
182320$3,200453
F150 Pickup 4WD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
172319$3,400471
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
172219$3,400463
F150 Pickup 2WD FFV
Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152218$3,550498
F150 Pickup 4WD FFV
Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
152117$3,800519
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

6 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4x4
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
5 / 5
Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4x2
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
5 / 5
Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4x4
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Overall
5 / 5
Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4x2
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
19.1%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 9539Vehicle 9538Vehicle 9541
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2015 F-150 questions

How many recalls does the 2015 Ford F-150 have?

14 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2015 Ford F-150 problems?

Owners filed 1,425 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes (292), engine (238), power train (198). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2015 Ford F-150 get?

The EPA rates the 2015 Ford F-150 at 17–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

How safe is the 2015 Ford F-150?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2015 Ford F-150 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026