The Ford F-150 has been the king of full-size pickups for decades, but the F-Series truck is far from trouble-free. There have been recalls for unexpected downshifts, leaks from the brake master cylinder, and incorrectly installed suspension components, as well as complaints about electrical issues and fires.
Key Points
- Based on data from the NHTSA, the best years to look at if you’re buying a Ford F-150 are 2010, 2014, and the 2019 or newer models.
- Avoid the 2011-2013 and 2015-2016 model years altogether as they have significantly more complaints and/or recalls than other years.
- The 2013 F-150 has over 2,000 complaints as well as three recalls. Conversely, 2017 models only have 425 complaints, but have 14 active recalls.
- While 2017 and 2018 F-150s both have 14 active recalls, they have fewer complaints than many other models. So, if the recalls have been addressed, they could be good picks.
- Because Ford sold such a wide variety of F-150s, not every problem applies to every truck. Therefore, it’s important to research issues specific to the model year of the F-150 you’re purchasing.
If You Can Afford a Newer Truck, Go for a 2019 or Later F-150, Which Have Far Fewer Issues than 2015-2018 Models
Thanks to its record as the bestselling vehicle in North America for over 40 years, there is no shortage of Ford F-150 models available to choose from on the used market. However, their durability can vary greatly from year to year, even within the same generation of truck.
Based on data on the NHTSA website, the 2019 and newer F-150s have far fewer problems than the 2015–2018 models. The 2015 and 2016 F-150s both have over 1,000 complaints lodged with the NHTSA and at least 12 recalls.
The 2017 and 2018 models have fewer complaints but more recalls, with both years receiving a total of 14 each. By comparison, the 2019 and newer trucks all have fewer than 200 complaints and just five to seven active recalls.
While that number of recalls isn’t ideal, it’s half of the amount that some years have, and many of the issues seen on the earlier models appear to have been ironed out by 2019. Naturally, the newer trucks cost more to purchase, but that could be money well spent to avoid the issues that plagued the earlier trucks.
Plus, the problems noted in some 2017 and 2018 models are also notably serious and include the potential for doors to open while driving some 2017 F-150s, and a damaged block heater connector that may cause a fire in certain 2018 models.
Avoid 2011-2013 and 2015-2016 F-150s at All Costs Over Problems with Engine Stalls and Brake Failures
The 2011–2013 F-150s have been a reliability nightmare for some owners. Complaints from owners include issues like unexpected downshifts from the transmission and loss of power from the engine.
This model range also suffered from a brake master cylinder leak which Ford issued a recall to address. The unexpected transmission downshifts were also addressed by a recall.
While there have been fewer owner complaints for the 2015-2016 trucks, owners have still made a point to call out issues such as brake failures, faulty door latches, front suspension ball joints that were improperly installed, and electrical issues which in some cases led to serious fires.
On top of the owner complaints, there have been a concerning number of recalls issued for these model years covering improperly installed ball joints, a leaking brake master cylinder, and safety items such as door latches and seat belt hardware that may fail in a crash.
For Buyers Looking at Older F-150 Trucks, 2010 is the Best Year
Though the 12th generation of the F-150 received some unique and exciting options in later model years, such as a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6, the earlier trucks of that generation seem to be the best of the bunch in terms of reliability.
The 2010 model is one of the least complained about models from that decade, with 776 complaints compared to 1,831 for the 2011 model. The most common complaints for the 2010 F-150 are for electrical issues on various parts of the truck.
According to some of the complaints, these issues can affect the truck’s drivability as well as the functionality of some of the interior amenities. Some owners also reported electrical fires because of these issues, but far less than in later years. So while the 2010 model still isn’t perfect, it has fared far better than many other models.
The lone recall for the 2010 model is for an interior door handle spring failure. The next best option for the older generation trucks is the 2014 model, with six recalls and 917 complaints.
Do Your Research Before Picking Out an F-150, Because this Mostly Reliable Pickup Truck Has Some Notably Bad Problem Years
Because there are such a wide array of cabs, beds, and powertrain configurations available for the F-150, it is important to research the specific model that you’re looking at purchasing. While some of the issues reported by the NHTSA affect the entire model range, some are specific to certain trucks.
For example, model year 2011-2013 F-150s with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 had an issue with reduced engine power and misfires in humid or rainy conditions. This issue was specific only to that engine and did not affect the 3.7L V6 or any of the V8 models.
Despite the wide range of issues that plague these trucks, they can still be capable and reliable workhorses so long as you’re careful to avoid certain problem years and make sure any outstanding recalls have been addressed before purchase.
Photos: Ford
