What year Ford E-150 should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA complaint and recall data, avoid the 2010, 2011, and 2013 Ford E-150 model years. These have complaint index scores of 100, 75, and 88, the three highest among the 9 model years with data.

What is the best year for the Ford E-150?

The 2014 Ford E-150 is rated Best, with a complaint index of just 13 and only 6 complaints on record, the lowest of any model year with data.

Is the 2012 Ford E-150 reliable?

The 2012 E-150 is rated Caution, with a complaint index of 63, lower than the Avoid years but higher than the Best and Good years like 2014, 2015, and 2016.

What are the most common Ford E-150 problems?

Across all model years, the top problem areas are transmission & powertrain (17 complaints, 20%), brakes (16 complaints, 18%), and engine (16 complaints, 18%), out of 87 total complaints.

Does the Ford E-150 have recalls?

NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns for the Ford E-150 across the years covered, including several tied to wheelchair-lift conversions on 2010, 2011, and 2013 models.

Ford E-150 Best and Worst Years (2010–2023)

Avoid the 2010, 2011, and 2013 Ford E-150 model years, which carry the highest complaint index scores (100, 75, and 88) and lead in suspension, steering, and engine/transmission complaints. The 2014 model year is the best pick, with a complaint index of just 13 out of 87 total complaints across all years.

Avoid 2010 Avoid 2011 Avoid 2013 Best 2014

Model years: 9; 2010–2023
NHTSA complaints: 87
Recall campaigns: 15
Crashes reported: 4
Fires reported: 0
Top problem area: Transmission & Powertrain

E-150 Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Ford E-150 problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2010	Avoid	100	10	1	7	Suspension, Wheels & Tires	—	—
2011	Avoid	75	23	1	11	Steering	14	—
2012	Caution	63	12	1	8	Suspension, Wheels & Tires	14	—
2013	Avoid	88	19	1	6	Engine	14	—
2014	Best	13	6	0	6	Brakes	14	—
2015	Good	25	8	0	1	Engine	—	—
2016	Good	38	8	0	1	Brakes	—	—
2021	No verdict	50	1	0	0	Electrical System	—	—
2023	No verdict	0	0	0	1	—	—	—

E-150 years to avoid: what went wrong

2010 Ford E-150 Index 100 · 10 complaints · 7 recalls

The 2010 E-150 has the highest complaint index (100) of any year, driven mainly by suspension, wheels, and tire problems, which made up half of that year's complaints, with a median failure mileage of 36,431 miles. Owners also reported brake and steering issues. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns tied to this year, including wheelchair-lift platform support bumper fixes affecting converted vans. Tire tread separation was a recurring theme among owners.

2013 Ford E-150 Index 88 · 19 complaints · 6 recalls

The 2013 E-150 has a complaint index of 88. Engine and transmission & powertrain complaints each made up 37% of the total, with engine failures reported at a median of 67,000 miles and transmission failures at a median of 110,000 miles. Owners described stalling, shaking, and loss of acceleration accompanied by dashboard warnings. Brake and electrical system complaints were also reported. This year has 6 recall campaigns on record.

2011 Ford E-150 Index 75 · 23 complaints · 11 recalls

The 2011 E-150 posts a complaint index of 75, with steering and transmission & powertrain problems each accounting for 22% of complaints. Owners described unexpected downshifts and rear wheel lockups at various speeds, with a median failure mileage of 34,870 miles for transmission issues and 38,000 miles for steering issues. Engine problems occurred at a median of 11,530 miles. This year carries 11 recall campaigns, the most of any E-150 model year in this dataset.

Most common Ford E-150 problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.

Transmission & Powertrain17 (20%)
Brakes16 (18%)
Engine16 (18%)
Electrical System13 (15%)
Other13 (15%)
Steering12 (14%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (13%)
Structure & Body7 (8%)
Fuel System6 (7%)
Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (2%)

Frequently asked questions

What year Ford E-150 should I avoid?: Based on NHTSA complaint and recall data, avoid the 2010, 2011, and 2013 Ford E-150 model years. These have complaint index scores of 100, 75, and 88, the three highest among the 9 model years with data.
What is the best year for the Ford E-150?: The 2014 Ford E-150 is rated Best, with a complaint index of just 13 and only 6 complaints on record, the lowest of any model year with data.
Is the 2012 Ford E-150 reliable?: The 2012 E-150 is rated Caution, with a complaint index of 63, lower than the Avoid years but higher than the Best and Good years like 2014, 2015, and 2016.
What are the most common Ford E-150 problems?: Across all model years, the top problem areas are transmission & powertrain (17 complaints, 20%), brakes (16 complaints, 18%), and engine (16 complaints, 18%), out of 87 total complaints.
Does the Ford E-150 have recalls?: NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns for the Ford E-150 across the years covered, including several tied to wheelchair-lift conversions on 2010, 2011, and 2013 models.