YearToAvoid

2016 Ford F-150 Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 137 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2016 Ford F-150, 7% of its 2,053 total complaints, with 4 fires and 3 injuries reported but no crashes. Median mileage at failure is 47,500 miles, and there is no related recall for this area.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
137
7% of 2,053
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
47,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

  • Rear windows reportedly explode or shatter without impact, sometimes linked to rear defroster use and accompanied by a burnt electrical smell.
  • Windshield washer fluid sprayers fail to work in cold weather, with owners suspecting frozen lines even with full fluid tanks.
  • Side view mirror position defaults incorrectly on start-up, forcing drivers to adjust it while already backing up.
  • Owners describe wiring harness shorting that has caused turn signal and wiper switch failures along with a small fire.
  • Windshield glass reportedly chips or shows speck-like distortion in morning sun, and side/passenger windows have developed stress cracks.

When 2016 Ford F-150 visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 17, 2016, latest Sep 19, 2026.

2016 Ford F-150 visibility & wipers complaints: complaints filed per quarter102016 Q12018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q12025 Q3
137 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2018 Q3 (10).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2016 Ford F-150

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by F-150 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010171 (20%)
  2. 2011129 (6%)
  3. 2012114 (6%)
  4. 2013177 (6%)
  5. 2014128 (8%)
  6. 201597 (6%)
  7. 2016137 (7%)
  8. 201750 (3%)
  9. 201881 (4%)
  10. 201936 (3%)
  11. 202061 (8%)
  12. 2021130 (13%)
  13. 202246 (8%)
  14. 202324 (6%)
  15. 20245 (3%)
  16. 20255 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Visibility & Wipers complaints does the 2016 Ford F-150 have?
NHTSA lists 137 complaints in this area for the 2016 F-150, which is 7% of the 2,053 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Ford F-150 windshield or wiper issues?
No. NHTSA's data shows no related recalls tied to the Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2016 F-150.
At what mileage do these visibility problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 47,500 miles.
Have there been any fires or injuries linked to this problem area?
NHTSA data shows 4 fires and 3 injuries reported within Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2016 F-150, but 0 crashes.
How does 2016 compare to other F-150 years for this complaint area?
The 2016 F-150 had 137 complaints (7% share) in Visibility & Wipers, higher than 2017's 50 complaints (3%) but lower than 2010's 171 complaints (20% share).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.