2016 Ford F-150 Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Ford F-150. Part of Generation 13 — 2015–2020.

20152017
Complaints
2,394
per 10K Sold
29.2
US Sales
820,799
Crashes
67
Fires
36
Injuries
71
Fatalities
Recalls
13

Worst 2016 Ford F-150 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1450 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:77,276 mi
Crash-related:4
#2300 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:55,627 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:5
#3295 complaints

Brakes

Avg mileage:36,604 mi
Crash-related:21
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Ford F-150.

Transmission / Drivetrain
450
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
77,276
Engine Problems
300
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
5
Avg Miles
55,627
Brakes
295
complaints
Crashes
21
Fires
Avg Miles
36,604
Body Structure
183
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
24,200
Electrical Faults
168
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
14
Avg Miles
38,555
Wipers & Visibility
100
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
42,743
Unintended Acceleration
85
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
34,142
Fuel System
81
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
39,225
Steering Defects
60
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
58,138
Wheel Issues
38
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
48,871
Airbags
33
complaints
Crashes
15
Fires
Avg Miles
89,570
Latches / Locks
29
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
48,538
Seat-Related Issues
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
57,364
Hydraulic Brakes
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
71,853
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,189
Electronic Stability Control
17
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
38,441
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
68,194
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
42,703
Seat Belt Issues
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
36,714
Suspension Failures
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
32,655
Sunroof/Moonroof
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
58,593
Headlight/Taillight Failures
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
20,192
Engine & Cooling
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
80,318
Brake Master Cylinder
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
10,962
Backup Camera
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
110,053
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
74,000
Structure:Body:Door
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
40,667
Rear Window Defogger
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
57,500

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Ford F-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2016 Ford F-150

13 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~5,473,811 vehicles.

26V237000Automatic Transmission
~1,392,935 affected

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.

22V150000Brake Master Cylinder · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist
~195,864 affected

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.

20V332000Brake Master Cylinder · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist
~292,311 affected

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.

20V098000Engine · Equipment:electrical
~13,854 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2016 F-150 pick-up trucks equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines and block immersion heaters that were potentially relocated from their originally installed location. The incorrect location could put the heater too close to hot engine components, possibly resulting in a damaged cable.

19V278000Engine · Equipment:electrical
~131,068 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.

18V894000Engine
~410,289 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.

18V568000Seat Belts:pretensioner · Structure:body:roof And Pillars
~1,619,112 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.

17V767000Seats
~177,264 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 F-150 and Explorer vehicles. Loose power seat adjuster pivot bolts may cause the front seat cushions to detach and not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash.

17V652000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
~1,101,107 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the doors opening while driving although they appear to be closed.

17V526000Seat Belts:rear/other
~117,423 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250 and F-350 trucks equipped with a crew cab. The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle assembly may be inadequately attached to its mounting bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

+ 3 more recalls

Other Ford F-150 Years

2016 Ford F-150 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2016 Ford F-150 reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2016 Ford F-150 has 2,394 NHTSA complaints, 67 crash-related, and 13 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Transmission / Drivetrain with 450 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2016 Ford F-150?
Top reported problems: Transmission / Drivetrain (450 complaints, avg 77,276 mi); Engine Problems (300 complaints, avg 55,627 mi); Brakes (295 complaints, avg 36,604 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Ford F-150?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 51,253 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2016 Ford F-150?
NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Ford F-150 include 67 crash-related reports, 36 fire reports, 71 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2016 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes — 13 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,473,811 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2016 Ford F-150?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (transmission / drivetrain) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford F-150 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2016 Ford F-150

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