Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.
Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.
ProblemsByVinFile / 2016-FORD-F-150NHTSA data synced 8 hours ago
2016 · Ford
Ford F-150 problems
1,687 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. 2 active recall campaigns on file.
Reliability score
6.0 / 10
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
0
Critical
2
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2016 F-150?
Avoid — the brakes
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the brakes was repaired or replaced.
15 fire-related complaints and 1 crash-related complaint on the electrical system
Brakes: 296 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 10,000–60,000 mi
Reliability score 6.0/10 — around the segment average
2 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Embed this reliability snapshot
Free to use on your site, post, or video — keep the link back. Preview the widget →
What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2016 F-150· visibility
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Ford f-150. While driving, the windshield wipers failed to turn off. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle would not properly accelerate. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The check engine and the transmission warning lights were illuminated. The…
While exiting the interstate, making a hard swooping left hand turn, make truck shutdown completely. At approximately 40mph and turning, I suddenly had to fight the lack of power steering. As soon as I felt it stop it powered back up. This issue continued intermittently until…
I've bought my 2016 f150 xlt fx4 sc 5.0l used with about 69k miles on it and had it for nearly a year now. Since I purchased the truck it will develop a rough idle and will stall while at a stop light. This will happen when I make a multi stop trip, for example if I stop at the…
Had a problem with your 2016 Ford F-150?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
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)
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2016 F-150 pick-up trucks equipped with 3
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.
Under investigation
1 open at NHTSA
EAPower Train › Automatic Transmission · opened January 2026
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA26001 on NHTSA →
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.0 out of 10 based on 1,687 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Ford F-150 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2016 Ford F-150?
On the NHTSA data, the 2016 Ford F-150 is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the brakes was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 15 fire-related complaints and 1 crash-related complaint on the electrical system; Brakes: 296 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 10,000–60,000 mi; Reliability score 6.0/10 — around the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2016 Ford F-150?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 318 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 79,043 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 79,043 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford F-150 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 Ford F-150?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,687 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 8 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Ford/F-150.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
We are not affiliated with Ford. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we
may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.