Is the 2014 Ford F-150 a bad year?
1,540 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 427, 7.5× a quiet F-150 year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 7.5× the complaints of a quiet F-150 year, spread over 64k–147k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 F-150 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 103,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 427 (28%) | 64k–147k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 160 (10%) | 46k–114k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine | 189 (12%) | 39k–114k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Backup camera | 18 (1%) | 67k–132k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 9 (1%) | 32k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 345 (22%) | 29k–80k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 163 (11%) | 38k–102k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 142 (9%) | 31k–74k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 103 (7%) | 38k–81k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 72 (5%) | 44k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 31 (2%) | 28k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 31 (2%) | 44k–91k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 25 (2%) | 28k–82k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 23 (1%) | 36k–65k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 103,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,540 complaints: 39 mention a crash · 16 mention a fire · 27 report an injury · 68 say the car was towed.
111 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Abrupt deceleration, chirped tires and vehicle was bogging down vehicle was in motion going roughly 40 MPH on a city street.
The speedometer dropped to zero while traveling 50 MPH and the truck downshifted to 1st gear causing the tires to squeal, fishtail, and the rpm's redlined.I was almost rear ended.
While traveling northbound on hwy 90 by chimneyrock exit my truck suddenly and abruptly downshifted to 1st, 2nd, 1st and 3RD.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 103,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2014 Ford F-150: 8
A loss of signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module (PCM) can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into first gear. Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
A loss of signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed. Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The brake master cylinder may leak brake fluid into the brake booster. 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.
Improperly manufactured bolts may have been used to install certain seats, seatbacks, seatbelt buckles, or seatbelt anchors on these vehicles. The improperly manufactured bolts may fracture. If a seat, seatback, or seatbelt anchor attaching bolt fractures, the affected component may not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The master cylinder rear cup seal may roll, resulting in brake fluid leakage from the primary reservoir into the brake booster. Loss of brake fluid from the primary reservoir results in a complete loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
This can cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to inaccurately register passenger weight and improperly suppress the passenger front airbag when the passenger seat is occupied by an adult passenger. Improper suppression of the passenger airbag increases the risk of an injury to the seat occupant in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front passenger airbag.
The affected vehicles may have a brake pedal position switch that is improperly adjusted. As a result, the brake lights may illuminate with a delay or not at all. If the brake lights fail to illuminate, or illuminate after a delay, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The affected vehicles may have an incorrectly installed EPAS gear motor position sensor magnet that can lead to a total loss of steering control while driving. A loss of steering control while driving increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 89
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 Ford F-150. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some 2011-2024 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a tick tap and/or typewriter ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change
Some vehicles may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area
Some 2011-2021 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change
Some vehicles may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in 2-wheel drive (2WD) mode most commonly on acceleration
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Unintended Transmission Downshift
Master Cylinder External Leak
Neighbouring years
2013 F-150: 2,993 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2015 F-150: 1,749 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Ford F-150 year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All F-150 years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2014 Ford F-150 a bad year?
1,540 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 427, 7.5× a quiet F-150 year. At 103,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 7.5× the complaints of a quiet F-150 year, spread over 64k–147k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Ford F-150?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (427), steering (160), engine (189), backup camera (18), latches and locks (9). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 64k–147k miles.
How many recalls does the 2014 Ford F-150 have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-378), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 24V-444), Brakes (NHTSA 20V-332), Seats (NHTSA 17V-472) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.