FaultScore

Ford F150 problems

Owners have filed 988 complaints about the Ford F150 with NHTSA across model years 1966 to 1990. More of them are about the fuel & propulsion than anything else.

Every Ford F150 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
1990 290 8 33 103,500 Fuel & Propulsion
1989 241 5 45 128,000 Fuel & Propulsion
1988 170 3 54 108,030 Electrical System
1987 107 3 49 150,000 Electrical System
1986 78 1 20 Electrical System
1985 45 1 7 Electrical System
1984 14 0 2 Electrical System
1983 12 0 4 Tires
1982 5 0 1 Tires
1981 2 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
1980 3 0 0 Suspension
1979 2 0 0 Steering
1978 13 1 0 Steering
1977 3 0 0 Steering
1975 1 0 0 Steering
1968 1 0 1 Electrical System
1966 1 0 0 Engine & Cooling

What breaks on a Ford F150

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

Fuel & Propulsion 305 30.9%

Worst in 1990

Electrical System 244 24.7%

Worst in 1988

Worst in 1990

Brakes 68 6.9%

Worst in 1990

Tires 55 5.6%

Worst in 1990

Worst in 1990

Worst in 1988

Steering 30 3.0%

Worst in 1989

Worst in 1989

Seat Belts 25 2.5%

Worst in 1988

Suspension 20 2.0%

Worst in 1990

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 15 1.5%

Worst in 1988

Other & Unspecified 12 1.2%

Worst in 1990

Wheels 8 0.8%

Worst in 1988

Exactly what failed on a Ford F150

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

Selector Devices 108 21.3%
Switch 93 18.3%
Tank Assembly 69 13.6%
Ignition 51 10.1%
Gasoline 39 7.7%
Auxillary Tank 35 6.9%
Interior/Under Dash 33 6.5%
Tread/Belt 31 6.1%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 25 4.9%
Frame AND Members 23 4.5%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Ford F150, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jan 1995 peak 50 May 2011

Ford F150 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Ford F150

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