FaultScore

Worst years for a Ford F Series

Owners have filed 391 complaints about the Ford F Series with NHTSA across model years 1971 to 2008. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2000 Ford F Series

55 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

2005 Ford F Series

12 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Ford F Series year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2008 1 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2007 5 0 0 78,000 Engine & Cooling
2006 7 0 0 3,500 Engine & Cooling
2005 A 12 0 0 43,000 Engine & Cooling
2004 8 0 0 93,010 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2003 1 1 0 Airbags
2002 B 43 1 1 100,000 Engine & Cooling
2001 D 54 1 12 98,500 Engine & Cooling
2000 D 55 5 7 69,800 Engine & Cooling
1999 C 44 3 3 100,000 Engine & Cooling
1998 B 32 0 0 84,664 Engine & Cooling
1997 D 55 1 13 118,000 Engine & Cooling
1996 C 17 0 5 104,000 Fuel & Propulsion
1995 C 20 0 9 115,040 Acceleration & Cruise Control
1994 7 0 4 Acceleration & Cruise Control
1993 7 0 3 179,035 Engine & Cooling
1992 3 0 0 Brakes
1991 7 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
1990 2 0 0 Brakes
1989 3 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
1988 4 0 0 Electrical System
1987 2 0 1 Electrical System
1984 1 1 0 Brakes
1971 1 0 0 Tires

What breaks on a Ford F Series

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 106 27.1%

Worst in 1997

Worst in 1999

Worst in 2001

Worst in 2001

Brakes 23 5.9%

Worst in 2000

Body & Structure 23 5.9%

Worst in 2000

Tires 19 4.9%

Worst in 1998

Steering 14 3.6%

Worst in 2000

Other & Unspecified 14 3.6%

Worst in 2000

Transmission & Drivetrain 12 3.1%

Worst in 2002

Suspension 11 2.8%

Worst in 1997

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 10 2.6%

Worst in 2004

Equipment & Accessories 6 1.5%

Worst in 1998

Lights 5 1.3%

Worst in 1998

Exactly what failed on a Ford F Series

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Engine 26 28.3%
Cruise Control 13 14.1%
Gasoline 10 10.9%
Front Underhood 9 9.8%
Door 8 8.7%
Cooling System 6 6.5%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 6 6.5%
TIE ROD Assembly 5 5.4%
Body 5 5.4%
Tread/Belt 4 4.3%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Ford F Series, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Oct 1996 peak 39 Aug 2026

Compare the Ford F Series

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.