Ford F-150: Years to Avoid & Common Problems

The 2013 Ford F-150 is the year to avoid, with 3,920 complaints filed with NHTSA — a complaint rate 7.29 times the model's per-year average. Four other years also show elevated complaint volume: 1997, 2011, 2018, and 2016. Below is what the underlying data shows, and what it does not.

Key Takeaways

• Across all model years, the F-150 has logged 48,142 complaints, 232 recalls, and 153 investigations with NHTSA — the largest complaint total of any model tracked on this site.
• Five model years carry a significantly elevated complaint rate: 2013 (7.29x average), 1997 (6.11x), 2011 (5.51x), 2018 (5.13x), and 2016 (4.65x).
• Transmission problems account for 8,724 complaints model-wide, the single largest category of any model on this site.
• Engine complaints (7,258), electrical system complaints (4,363), and brake complaints (4,107) round out the four largest categories.
• 1997 and 2016 each pair an elevated complaint rate with a formal NHTSA investigation, a combination not seen in the other flagged years.

Which F-150 Model Years Have the Most Complaints?

Five model years stand out from the rest of the F-150's long production run, based on complaint volume relative to that year's own average. The table below lists each one alongside its raw complaint count and its rate relative to the model's typical year.

These five years alone account for over 15,400 of the F-150's 48,142 total complaints. Full year-by-year detail, including complaint categories and recall history, is available on the F-150 model hub.

Why Do the 2013 and 1997 Model Years Stand Out?

The 2013 model year carries both the highest complaint count and the highest complaint rate of any F-150 year, at 3,920 complaints and 7.29 times the model average. The 2013 F-150's verdict page breaks down which systems drove that volume. The 1997 model year is close behind at 3,285 complaints and a 6.11x rate, and it is one of only two flagged years with an open NHTSA investigation attached, detailed on the 1997 F-150's verdict page. The 2011 model year, covered on its own verdict page, rounds out the top three at 2,962 complaints and a 5.51x rate.

Neither figure means every truck built in these years had a problem. Complaint counts reflect how many consumer reports NHTSA received for that model year, not a defect rate against total vehicles sold or a confirmed engineering fault. A high number can also reflect high production volume, since more trucks on the road can generate more reports even at a similar underlying failure rate.

What Are the Most Common F-150 Problems?

Transmission issues are the single largest complaint category for the F-150, with 8,724 complaints — more than any other category for any model tracked on this site. A full year-by-year comparison of transmission complaint rates across all models is available in the worst transmission problems ranking.

Engine complaints follow at 7,258, tracked alongside other models in the worst engine problems ranking. Electrical system complaints total 4,363, covered in the worst electrical problems ranking, and brake complaints total 4,107. Together, these four categories make up the large majority of all complaints filed against the F-150.

Why Are Transmission Complaints So Common on the F-150?

The F-150 has been in continuous production for decades, and its transmission complaints span several distinct transmission designs across that history rather than a single recurring part. Earlier trucks used 4-speed, 5-speed, and 6-speed automatics, while newer trucks built from roughly 2017 onward moved to a 10-speed automatic that was widely reported by owners and in trade press to produce harsh or delayed shifting in some trucks. This site's complaint counts do not attribute a specific defect to a specific design; they only reflect how many reports NHTSA logged under the transmission category for each model year, which is worth keeping in mind when comparing an older 6-speed year against a newer 10-speed year.

What Do the Investigations on 1997 and 2016 Mean?

An NHTSA investigation is a formal review opened into a specific safety concern, and it is a separate process from a recall. It does not by itself mean a defect was confirmed. The F-150 has 153 investigations across its full production history, and 1997 and 2016 are notable because each combines an elevated complaint rate with at least one investigation on file, which is a stronger signal than an elevated complaint count on its own. For background on how NHTSA investigations work and how they differ from recalls, see NHTSA Investigations Explained: PE, EA, and RQ.

How Was This Data Compiled?

All figures on this page come from NHTSA's public complaint, recall, and investigation databases, aggregated by model year for the Ford F-150. Complaint counts are unverified consumer-submitted reports, not confirmed defects, and NHTSA does not independently validate each submission before publishing it. Complaint rates are calculated relative to the F-150's own average complaint volume per model year, which is why a year with fewer raw complaints than 2013 can still register as elevated if that year had comparatively few trucks built or reported on. Full methodology, including how recalls and investigations are counted, is described on the methodology page.

For a look at how another perennially popular truck compares, see Ram 1500: Years to Avoid & Common Problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Ford F-150 should I avoid?

Based on complaint data, 2013 stands out most, with 3,920 complaints and a rate 7.29 times the F-150's per-year average. The 1997 model year follows closely at 3,285 complaints and a 6.11x rate, and it also has an open NHTSA investigation. 2011, 2018, and 2016 also show meaningfully elevated complaint rates and are worth reviewing before a purchase.

Is the Ford F-150's transmission reliable?

Transmission complaints are the F-150's largest category at 8,724 across all model years, more than any other category for any model on this site. The complaints span several distinct transmission designs used over the truck's long production history, so reliability likely varies by generation rather than being a single constant issue across every model year.

How many Ford F-150 recalls have there been?

NHTSA has issued 232 recalls covering Ford F-150 model years to date. That figure spans the truck's entire production history and includes recalls for a wide range of systems, not just the categories with the highest complaint volume, such as transmission and engine.

Are complaint counts the same as confirmed safety defects?

No. Complaint counts reflect consumer-submitted reports to NHTSA and have not been independently verified as confirmed defects. A high complaint count indicates that many owners reported a similar concern, but it does not by itself mean NHTSA found a defect. Recalls and investigations, unlike raw complaint counts, involve a more formal review process.

What are the most common problems reported on the F-150?

Across all model years, transmission complaints lead at 8,724, followed by engine complaints at 7,258, electrical system complaints at 4,363, and brake complaints at 4,107. These four categories make up the bulk of the F-150's 48,142 total complaints filed with NHTSA.

Does a high complaint count mean a specific F-150 is unsafe?

Not necessarily. Complaint counts are aggregated by model year, not by individual vehicle, so an elevated count for a given year does not mean every truck from that year has the same issue. It indicates a pattern worth researching further, including checking that specific truck's recall and investigation history before a purchase.