Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Ford F-150 powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Ford F-150 have filed 46 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
46
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 F-150 | 617 |
| 2013 F-150 | 1,188 |
| 2014 F-150 | 335 |
| 2015 F-150 | 191 |
| 2016 F-150 (this page) | 46 |
| 2017 F-150 | 36 |
| 2018 F-150 | 45 |
| 2019 F-150 | 35 |
| 2020 F-150 | 30 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 46 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Owners are still filing on this — the most recent NHTSA powertrain complaint for this vehicle was logged 6 days ago.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper, achieving proper torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt is critical. Incorrect torque may allow the bolt to loosen resulting in the timing gear breaking and engine damage. Replacement of the bolt is critical to the repair and accurately following the installation procedure in the Workshop Manual (WSM) Section, 303-01 is extremely important. The bolt torque procedure can be found in the crankshaft front seal removal and installation procedure or in the engine assembly procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (IWE). To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure to remove and cap the vacuum supply line or to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2013-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with electronic shift on-the-fly (ESOF) 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in 2-wheel drive (2WD) mode most commonly on acceleration. ESOF can be identified as it does not have a 4WD AUTO (4A) position on the mode selector switch (MSS). This may be due to a loss of vacuum to the integrated wheel end (IWE) actuators and/or wear of the IWE components. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2013-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with Electronic Shift On-The-Fly (ESOF) 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in 2-wheel drive (2WD) mode most commonly on acceleration. This may be due to a loss of vacuum to the integrated wheel end (IWE) actuators and/or wear of the IWE components. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 16 most recent
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to 3rd gear. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the dealer and manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the recall, and the fault code listed in the recall was not retrieved from the vehicle. The contact…
In April of this year my 2016 F150 began having issues related to the automatic transmission. Symptoms included unexpected and irregular downshifting from 6th gear into 4th gear while traveling on the highway, random and irregular shifting from gear to gear, and not gearing down below 3rd gear when coming to a complete stop. While these symptoms were happening the truck displayed the MIL and…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received an unknown recall notification. The dealer was contacted by phone and scheduled an appointment for a technician to pick up the vehicle. The technician drove the vehicle to the dealer. The unknown recall repair was completed. The contact received a phone call from the dealer and was informed that while the technician was in route and driving…
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…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under an undisclosed recall; however, the recall repair failed to prevent a failure. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while upshifting or downshifting between 4th and 6th gear. The same local dealer was contacted and advised the contact that the 4th and 6th…
I would like to file complaint against Ford for their latest recall (26N041) and how they are not doing replacing the defective Lead Frame in customers vehicles. It's a big scam and a waste of time. I brought my 2016 Ford F-150 in for Ford’s latest recall (26N04) affecting 2015–2017 models due to the transmission leadframe issue. I explained that I’ve been dealing with an intermittent problem…
Truck downshifts into low gear, yellow wrench and engine light come on and the truck goes into limp mode, no warnings or anything. These symptoms first started about 5 months ago and I have stopped driving the truck for that time. I took it to the dealer after looking it up and seeing there was a recall 26S28 for the molded leadframe. At the dealer they told me they couldn't perform the service…
XXX, my Ford F-150 began experiencing serious and unpredictable transmission shifting problems. The truck would downshift unexpectedly while traveling at various speeds. At times, it would not downshift properly when coming to a complete stop, and it would sometimes shift back up into third gear from a complete stop at a stoplight.On one occasion, while traveling approximately 65 mph, the truck…
On August 21, 2026, my 2016 Ford F-150 was serviced at Five Star Ford to perform safety recall 26S28 (Powertrain Control Module software update). Immediately following this software flash, the transmission's shifting logic became severely corrupted and unsafe to drive. The vehicle currently acts as if it has completely lost 2nd gear, experiences a severe lag when shifting up into 6th gear, and…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number : 26V237000 (POWER TRAIN) and the vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was remedied. The contact contact continued to drive the vehicle when the failure occurred while driving at 60 MPH the transmission downshifted from 5th gear into 3rd gear, the service vehicle soon warning light was…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2016 Ford F-150?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2016 Ford F-150?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 46 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Ford/F-150.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.