Ford F-150 Best and Worst Years (2010–2025)
Ford F-150 years to avoid are 2013, 2018, 2011, and 2016, with complaint index values of 100, 93, 87, and 80. Best years are 2010, 2020, 2024, and 2025, with complaint index values of 13, 20, 7, and 0. Transmission & Powertrain problems dominate, accounting for 36% of all 21,194 complaints across model years 2010-2025.
Avoid 2011Avoid 2013Avoid 2016Avoid 2018Best 2010Best 2020Best 2024Best 2025
- Model years
- 16
- 2010–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 21,194
- Recall campaigns
- 115
- Crashes reported
- 546
- Fires reported
- 242
- Top problem area
- Transmission & Powertrain
F-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.
Ford F-150 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Best | 13 | 843 | 23 | 35 | 1 | Electrical System | 16 | — |
| 2011 | Avoid | 87 | 2,189 | 46 | 18 | 6 | Transmission & Powertrain | 17 | — |
| 2012 | Caution | 67 | 1,781 | 40 | 14 | 4 | Transmission & Powertrain | 17 | — |
| 2013 | Avoid | 100 | 2,981 | 77 | 35 | 3 | Transmission & Powertrain | 17 | — |
| 2014 | Caution | 53 | 1,533 | 38 | 16 | 8 ! | Transmission & Powertrain | 17 | — |
| 2015 | Caution | 73 | 1,710 | 50 | 13 | 13 | Transmission & Powertrain | 19.5 | — |
| 2016 | Avoid | 80 | 2,053 | 56 | 25 | 13 | Transmission & Powertrain | 18.5 | — |
| 2017 | Good | 40 | 1,437 | 42 | 21 | 17 | Transmission & Powertrain | 19 | — |
| 2018 | Avoid | 93 | 2,308 | 64 | 33 | 18 | Transmission & Powertrain | 19 | — |
| 2019 | Caution | 60 | 1,327 | 17 | 7 | 9 | Transmission & Powertrain | 19.5 | — |
| 2020 | Best | 20 | 727 | 19 | 4 | 11 | Transmission & Powertrain | 19 | — |
| 2021 | Good | 47 | 1,012 | 13 | 4 | 29 ! | Transmission & Powertrain | 20 | — |
| 2022 | Good | 33 | 594 | 20 | 7 | 23 | Electrical System | 20 | — |
| 2023 | Good | 27 | 407 | 18 | 4 | 13 | Transmission & Powertrain | 19 | — |
| 2024 | Best | 7 | 188 | 17 | 3 | 11 | Electrical System | 19 | — |
| 2025 | Best | 0 | 104 | 6 | 3 | 13 | Electrical System | 19 | — |
F-150 years to avoid: what went wrong
2013 Ford F-150 Index 100 · 2,981 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2013 F-150 is the worst-ranked year on record, with a complaint index of 100 from 2,981 complaints, the highest total of any year. Transmission & Powertrain problems make up 45% of complaints, with median failure mileage of 94,000. Engine issues follow at 26%, including reports of under-hood fires. NHTSA lists 3 recalls, including a 2019 campaign to reprogram the powertrain control module and a 2016 brake master cylinder recall covering rear cup seal roll leading to reduced brake performance.
2013 transmission & powertrain problems →2013 engine problems →2013 brakes problems →
2018 Ford F-150 Index 93 · 2,308 complaints · 18 recalls
The 2018 F-150 ranks 2nd worst, with a complaint index of 93 from 2,308 complaints. Transmission & Powertrain problems lead at 44% share with median failure mileage of 60,000, and Engine issues follow at 28%, also at 60,000 median mileage. NHTSA logged 18 recalls, the most of any avoid year, including a 2025 brake master cylinder fluid leak recall and repeat campaigns addressing incorrectly completed prior recalls on the headlight switch module and transmission shift-to-drive gear indication.
2018 transmission & powertrain problems →2018 engine problems →2018 structure & body problems →
2011 Ford F-150 Index 87 · 2,189 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2011 F-150 ranks 3rd worst of all years covered, with a complaint index of 87 from 2,189 complaints. Transmission & Powertrain issues lead at 38% share, with a median failure mileage of 97,000 on that system. Engine complaints follow at 29%, with fires reported in several cases. NHTSA logged 6 recalls for this year, including a 2019 campaign covering an unexpected downshift into first gear on 6-speed automatic transmissions, addressed with a powertrain control module reprogram.
2011 transmission & powertrain problems →2011 engine problems →2011 steering problems →
2016 Ford F-150 Index 80 · 2,053 complaints · 13 recalls
The 2016 F-150 ranks 4th worst, with a complaint index of 80 from 2,053 complaints. Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 28%, with a high median failure mileage of 94,726.5 on that system, while Brakes complaints (17% share) show a much lower median mileage of 35,000. NHTSA recorded 13 recalls for this year, including brake master cylinder leak campaigns from 2020 and 2022 on Ecoboost-equipped trucks, and a transmission range sensor signal loss recall.
2016 transmission & powertrain problems →2016 engine problems →2016 brakes problems →
Most common Ford F-150 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Transmission & Powertrain7,711 (36%)
- Engine5,102 (24%)
- Electrical System2,632 (12%)
- Brakes2,371 (11%)
- Other2,087 (10%)
- Steering1,437 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers1,391 (7%)
- Structure & Body1,346 (6%)
- Fuel System1,024 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires633 (3%)
Frequently asked questions
- What Ford F-150 years should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the years to avoid are 2013, 2018, 2011, and 2016, with complaint index values of 100, 93, 87, and 80 respectively. These four years show the highest reported problem rates among the 16 model years covered.
- What is the best Ford F-150 year to buy?
- The 2010, 2020, 2024, and 2025 model years show the lowest complaint index values (13, 20, 7, and 0), making them the best-rated years based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
- What is the most common problem with the Ford F-150?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues are the top problem area across all model years, accounting for 7,711 complaints, or 36% of the 21,194 total complaints filed with NHTSA.
- Does the 2013 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
- Yes. Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 45% of all 2,981 complaints for the 2013 F-150, with a median failure mileage of 94,000, and NHTSA recalls addressed unexpected downshifts via powertrain control module reprogramming.
- How many recalls does the Ford F-150 have?
- Across the 2010-2025 model years, NHTSA lists 115 recall campaigns for the Ford F-150, ranging from 1 recall in 2010 to 29 recalls in 2021.