Is the 2016 Ford F-150 a bad year?
2,092 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 616, 11× a quiet F-150 year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 11× the complaints of a quiet F-150 year, spread over 57k–130k 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 2016 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 99,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 616 (29%) | 57k–130k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 340 (16%) | 10k–61k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 335 (16%) | 30k–88k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 199 (10%) | 6k–42k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 191 (9%) | 18k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 144 (7%) | 28k–62k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 102 (5%) | 13k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 92 (4%) | 10k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 64 (3%) | 29k–77k miles · mostly behind | — |
| WheelsSTANDS OUT | 53 (3%) | 38k–75k miles · mostly behind | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Latches and locksSTANDS OUT | 52 (2%) | 15k–82k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 36 (2%) | 17k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Backup camera | 35 (2%) | 49k–92k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 21 (1%) | 1k–19k 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 99,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 2,092 complaints: 58 mention a crash · 25 mention a fire · 34 report an injury · 86 say the car was towed.
329 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While towing a travel trailer, my 2016 Ford F-150 2.7L ecoboost engine exhibits intermittent engine stalls when coming to a stop and/or after restarting the vehicle.
The transmission 6R80 is absolutely horrible, a part called the lead frame is all over youtube on how to fix it at home.
Attempting to accelerate, no power. Vehicle was on 2 lane highway with concrete barriers on both sides and no shoulder.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 99,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Ford F-150: 14
A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear. Unexpectedly downshifting into second gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster. 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.
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. 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.
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.
The incorrect location could put the heater too close to hot engine components, possibly resulting in a damaged cable. A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged. A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage. 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.
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. A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
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. In the event of a crash, a seat occupant that is not properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.
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. A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle assembly may be inadequately attached to its mounting bracket. 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.
These accessory door handle covers may cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact collision. If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.
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." The seat back may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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. 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.
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: 266
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Ford F-150. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0630 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM)
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
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM)…
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Seatbelt Pretensioner Fire
Brake Master Cylinder Failure
Neighbouring years
2015 F-150: 1,749 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2017 F-150: 1,465 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 2016 Ford F-150 a bad year?
2,092 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 616, 11× a quiet F-150 year. At 99,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 11× the complaints of a quiet F-150 year, spread over 57k–130k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford F-150?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (616), brakes (340), engine (335), body structure (199), electrical system (191). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 57k–130k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford F-150 have?
14 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-237), Brakes (NHTSA 22V-150), Suspension (NHTSA 21E027000), Brakes (NHTSA 20V-332) 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.