NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 1,798 owner complaints for the 2016 Ford F-150. Most complaints involve power train (416) and service brakes (295). The EPA rates it 16–21 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and 2016-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each F-150 model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 360 |
| 1997 | 2,855 |
| 1998 | 1,418 |
| 1999 | 1,121 |
| 2000 | 1,206 |
| 2001 | 1,340 |
| 2002 | 955 |
| 2003 | 464 |
| 2004 | 2,036 |
| 2005 | 1,121 |
| 2006 | 589 |
| 2007 | 492 |
| 2008 | 369 |
| 2009 | 324 |
| 2010 | 851 |
| 2011 | 2,137 |
| 2012 | 1,717 |
| 2013 | 2,796 |
| 2014 | 1,362 |
| 2015 | 1,425 |
| 2016 | 1,798 |
| 2017 | 1,148 |
| 2018 | 1,929 |
| 2019 | 1,021 |
| 2020 | 562 |
| 2021 | 1,042 |
| 2022 | 605 |
| 2023 | 419 |
| 2024 | 195 |
| 2025 | 119 |
| 2026 | 0 |
“I am filing this complaint regarding a serious transmission safety issue with my son's 2016 Ford F-150, which is subject to Ford Safety Recall 26S28 / NHTSA Recall 26V237 and is also within the scope of NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA26001 concerning unintended transmission downshifts. The truck was operating normally before the recall repair. Ford notified us that the vehicle was affected by the transmission recall and instructed us to take it to a Ford dealer. The recall remedy involved reprogramming the powertrain control module with updated software intended to address the transmission-range-sensor problem and prevent unintended downshifts. We took the truck to a Ford dealer and had the recall software update performed. Immediately following the software update, the truck developed severe and abnormal transmission behavior and became essentially undrivable. Among the problems experienced were the truck attempting to start in an incorrect gear, including fifth gear, and extremely abnormal shifting while driving, including an apparent shift from sixth gear directly to first gear – ironically the same type of dangerous and unpredictable transmission behavior…”
“Driving on highway lost power to gas pedal truck dash flashed and turned off. Bunch of lights and a gear turned on. I drove to dealership immediately and left the truck there. Was later told I have a 4 serious safety hazard recalls and one that is paused and because of this can’t be fixed and leaves the truck unusable. Leaving me without a vehicle and risk of job loss for the last 3 weeks going on 4 now”
“My truck was driving fine since I bought it 9 years ago. Ford sent me a letter saying to come in for a recall (Recall 26S28). I went to my local Ford dealership for the recall work, and after that my truck started driving very poorly. The transmission would shudder, and studder at all RPMs (unsafe at highway speeds). I called the dealership and was given the run around. I was told by the dealership that the 'transmission learning' was reset and that it was fine now. Their fix didn't do anything and the truck still had transmission problems. I then found out that the recall that was performed on my truck was 'paused' due to it causing 'issues'. Ford refuses to tell me why the recall was paused, and insists that the recall did not break my truck (even though it was obviously paused for a reason). After driving it for a few months and it getting worser and worse, I called another branch of the dealership. They told me that my transmission was basically broken now, and that it would be $9000 to replace it. The truck has 72000 miles on it. The truck ran perfectly fine for almost a decade and now the transmission fails after the transmission recall work was done. I…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F150 2.7L 2WD GVWR>6649 LBS PAYLOAD PACKAGE Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 21 | $3,050 | 439 |
| F150 Pickup 2WD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 21 | $3,050 | 413 |
| F150 Pickup 2WD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | $3,200 | 454 |
| F150 Pickup 2WD FFV Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | $3,200 | 436 |
| F150 Pickup 4WD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 23 | 20 | $3,200 | 452 |
| F150 2.7L 4WD GVWR>6799 LBS PAYLOAD PACKAGE Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 22 | 19 | $3,400 | 467 |
| F150 3.5L 2WD GVWR>7599 LBS PAYLOAD PACKAGE Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,550 | 493 |
| F150 Pickup 2WD FFV Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 18 | $3,550 | 498 |
| F150 Pickup 4WD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,550 | 485 |
| F150 3.5L 4WD GVWR>7599 LBS PAYLOAD PACKAGE Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | $3,800 | 526 |
| F150 5.0L 2WD FFV GVWR>7599 LBS PAYLOAD PACKAGE Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | $4,000 | 555 |
| F150 5.0L 4WD FFV GVWR>7599 LBS PAYLOAD PACKAGE Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 5.0 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | $4,000 | 558 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
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.
Owners filed 1,798 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (416), service brakes (295), engine (287). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2016 Ford F-150 at 16–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Ford F-150 5 out of 5 stars overall.