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2016 Ford F-150 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2016 Ford F-150 has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 14safety recalls
- 1,789owner complaints
- 53crash reports
- 23fire reports
- 48injuries reported
1,789 complaints, against an average of 1,085 for the other 14 Ford F-150 model years.
Every Ford F-150 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2016 Ford F-150?
The components named most often in the 1,789 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2016 Ford F-150 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 1,789 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2016 Ford F-150 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?156 owners · 8.7%
- Why do the brakes feel soft, fail or make noise on my 2016 Ford F-150?145 owners · 8.1% · Recall 22V150000
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2016 Ford F-150?86 owners · 4.8%
- Why do the doors lock or unlock by themselves on my 2016 Ford F-150?58 owners · 3.2% · Recall 17V652000
Has the 2016 Ford F-150 been recalled?
14 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission 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.
Risk: Unexpectedly downshifting into second gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 15, 2026.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist 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.
Risk: A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed April 29, 2022. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-332. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S11.
Suspension: Front: Control Arm: Upper Ball Joint Tenneco Automotive (DRiV) is recalling certain MOOG K500359 ball joints, for aftermarket installation on 2015-2018 Ford F-150 trucks. The ball joint may have a misaligned dust boot and may be missing alignment hole and installation warning tag, which may lead to improper alignment of the ball joint.
Risk: An incorrectly installed ball joint may cause the ball joint stud to break, which can compromise front wheel control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: DRiV will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary replace the ball joint, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Tenneco Automotive customer service at 1-877-489-6659.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Master Cylinder 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.
Risk: A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel and feel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, possibly requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder and inspect the brake booster, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Ford issued owners an interim notification on June 30, 2020. The recall began on October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S31.
Engine 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.
Risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the block heater's location and its cable, replacing components as necessary, free of charge. If the replacement parts are not available, dealers will disable the existing block heater cable from being used until parts become available. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S08.
Engine 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.
Risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.
Engine 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.
Risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.
Seat Belts: Pretensioner 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.
Risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S27.
Seats 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash, a seat occupant that is not properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the power seat track upper pivot link bolt, either applying threadlocker or replacing the lift link and hardware, free of charge. Interim letters are expected to go out January 15, 2018. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S40.
Latches/Locks/Linkages: Doors: Latch 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.
Risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S33.
Seat Belts: Rear/Other 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."
Risk: If the left rear inflatable seat belt buckle separates from it's mounting bracket, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assembly, replacing the attaching rivet as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed October 18, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C12.
Latches/Locks/Linkages: Doors: Latch Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles originally produced with black or body colored exterior door handles that may have been subsequently equipped with a chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kit purchased from a Ford dealer. These accessory door handle covers may cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact collision. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Risk: If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price. The recall began July 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C09.
Seats: Front Assembly: Recliner Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Explorer and F-150 vehicles equipped with a manual recline driver's seat. The seat back frame may have insufficient welds which may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: The seat back may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall begin on August 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 16C11.
Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 F-150 trucks manufactured April 27, 2015, to November 22, 2015, and equipped with Multi-Contour Seats (MCS). The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) that calibrates the air bag deployment level may incorrectly classify an adult as a child when the seat massage feature is activated.
Risk: If an adult is incorrectly classified as a child, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Occupant Classification System Module (OCSM) with new software, free of charge. The recall began on March 11, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S05.
What do 2016 Ford F-150 owners report?
12 of the 1,789 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
Driving on highway lost power to gas pedal truck dash flashed and turned off. Bunch of lights and a gear turned on. I drove to dealership immediately and left the truck there. Was later told I have a 4 serious safety hazard recalls and one that is paused and because of this can’t be fixed and leaves the truck unusable. Leaving me without a vehicle and risk of job loss for the last 3 weeks going on 4 now
The truck continuously went into limp mode upon acceleration. Numerous warning lights wrench, I have a 2016 2.7 with 159k miles that is stalling, loosing all power, stuttering and showing these codes on heavy acceleration. When I turn off the ignition and restart all codes go away.
While driving in normal conditions at approximately 40 mph the transmission shifted to 2nd gear and the PRND began flashing erratically. Afterward the transmission stayed in 5th gear until I was able to park. This caused a great deal of fear and physical pain from the sudden jolt.
Had the recall done at a dealer and now the the software update didn't solve the problem it is now having the wrench and is downshifting periodically with no notice
I am filing an emergency complaint against Ford Motor Company for failure to provide a safety recall remedy within a reasonable timeframe under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301. My vehicle has an active safety recall (Recall 20S31) for a compromised brake master cylinder, making it entirely unsafe to operate. The vehicle is currently grounded and inoperable at my residence. Ford Corporate has kept the required repair parts on a national backorder for over 3 months. On August 18th, Ford Corporate sent me a formal written denial explicitly refusing to provide a rental vehicle or alternative transportation…
The component that failed is the Back Up Camera Screen. It is all blue. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety or the safety of others is at risk because I can't see directly behind my truck without this camera. I could end up hitting a child or small item directly behind my truck. We will be contacting the dealer about this problem. My vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance or others at this time. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of this problem occured prior to the failure. This problem first occured on Saturday, September 19, 2026 I…
Driving down Highway 6/34. Cruise set at 65 mph. The truck on its own Shifted into 2nd gear and revving up the engine caused the vehicle to slow uncontrollably, which is very unsafe driving. The 2016 has a safety recall to prevent this from happening. I am writing this to report that my truck has had the recall done, and this still happened. I will park the truck until Ford can fix it. But they are trying to get out of fixing this safety issue with all these trucks. At 65 mph, I lost control of the truck, and thank goodness there were no other vehicles on the road around me
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that vehicle was taken to the local dealer for a recall repair associated with the PCM reprogramming. Upon retrieval, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode while driving. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to a lower gear, and the vehicle lost motive power. The dealer was contacted and provided the contact with an estimate for a diagnostic test. The contact spoke with a supervisor, but no additional assistance was provided.
I made an appointment for July 22,2026 with Purvis Ford in Fredericksburg to have the 28S26 recall for a transmission issue outlined in the recall. The process was estimated to be 4-6 hours. Purvis Ford called said the software upgrade was completed and i could get my truck. The truck would not shift out of 1st gear so i turned around and went back to the dealer and told the service advisor the situation. He told me i had to drive it for about two hundred miles to get it adapted to my driving habits. I drove it about 20 miles to my home and never shifted out of low gear. I called the service…
There was no incident. Ford announced the recall in May with no remedy until August. I had to rent a truck to pull a trailer to [XXX] from [XXX]. They said there was no compensation as there was no "stop driving" notice on the recall but it stated the the vehicle could abruptly slow down /downshift increasing the risk of a crash. Wanted to go on record that compensation should be covered by Ford as this was a considerable safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the subframe was severely rusted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for a routine oil change and was determined that the subframe was severely rusted. The dealer was unable to be raise the vehicle up on the hydraulic lift. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 120,076.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while undergoing a routine inspection at an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that the vehicle failed the inspection due to a rusted subframe. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
2016 Ford F-150: questions owners ask
Is the 2016 Ford F-150 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 1,789 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford F-150; the most common categories were power train (409, 22.9%), service brakes (329, 18.4%), engine (285, 15.9%). There are 14 safety recalls. 53 complaints mention a crash, 23 mention a fire, 48 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford F-150?
Across 1,789 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are power train (22.9% of complaints), service brakes (18.4% of complaints), engine (15.9% of complaints), structure (10.7% of complaints), electrical system (8.8% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2016 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 14 recalls for the 2016 Ford F-150; the most recent (campaign 26V237000, 2026-04-14) concerns Power Train: Automatic Transmission. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2016 Ford F-150 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
156 of the 1,789 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford F-150 (8.7%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Driving on highway lost power to gas pedal truck dash flashed and turned off. Bunch of lights and a gear turned on. I drove to dealership immediately and left the truck there." (NHTSA complaint 11772861, October 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why do the brakes feel soft, fail or make noise on my 2016 Ford F-150?
145 of the 1,789 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford F-150 (8.1%) describe brakes feeling soft, failing, grinding or squealing. 2 related recalls exist: campaign 22V150000 (service brakes, hydraulic: power assist). The fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. One owner wrote: "I have now had two brake lines burst (both in the front) which resulted in loss of braking ability. The first incident was in March of this year, and the second was in October of this year. This has cost me at least $800 in repairs plus towing costs." (NHTSA complaint 11621504, October 2024). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2016 Ford F-150?
86 of the 1,789 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford F-150 (4.8%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Truck occasionally downshifts at high steady speed ~70mph, with a wrench. About 4weeks ongoing, now daily and check engine light is on. Codes are P0720 and P0722. Despite well documented issue, and lead frame assembly recall, Ford refuses to repair." (NHTSA complaint 11772487, October 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why do the doors lock or unlock by themselves on my 2016 Ford F-150?
58 of the 1,789 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Ford F-150 (3.2%) describe door locks or door latches failing. 2 related recalls exist: campaign 17V652000 (latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch). The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. One owner wrote: "When you turn ignition off, pull key out of ignition and open driver door. The doors unlock but the tailgate will not. It won't even make the sound of it unlocking or locking. Its stuck shut, handle won't do anything." (NHTSA complaint 11678373, August 2025). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own F-150
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2016 only; combines NHTSA's entries for F-150, F-150 REGULAR CAB, F-150 SUPER CREW and F-150 SUPERCAB.