Ford F-150 years to avoid
The Ford F-150 years to avoid are 2013, 1997, 2011, 2018, 2016, 2012, 2004, 2015, 2014, 2017, 2019, 1998, 2001, 2005, 1999, 2021, 2000, 2010, 2002, 1994, 2020 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1976 is the cleanest year on record.
48,832
Total complaints
233
Recall campaigns
1955–2026
Years covered
21
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
F-150 years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | High complaint rate | 3,953 | |
| 1997 | High complaints + open investigation | 3,285 | |
| 2011 | High complaint rate | 2,978 | |
| 2018 | High complaint rate | 2,845 | |
| 2016 | High complaints + open investigation | 2,568 | |
| 2012 | High complaint rate | 2,441 | |
| 2004 | High complaint rate | 2,431 | |
| 2015 | High complaints + open investigation | 2,214 | |
| 2014 | High complaint rate | 1,934 | |
| 2017 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,799 | |
| 2019 | High complaint rate | 1,693 | |
| 1998 | High complaints + open investigation | 1,624 | |
| 2001 | High complaint rate | 1,451 | |
| 2005 | High complaint rate | 1,364 | |
| 1999 | High complaint rate | 1,323 | |
| 2021 | High complaint rate | 1,312 | |
| 2000 | High complaint rate | 1,274 | |
| 2010 | High complaint rate | 1,136 | |
| 2002 | High complaint rate | 965 | |
| 1994 | High complaint rate | 908 | |
| 2020 | High complaints + open investigation | 898 |
Every F-150 year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 167 | 12 | |
| 2024 | 253 | 10 | |
| 2023 | 581 | 12 | |
| 2022 | 807 | 23 | |
| 2021avoid | 1,312 | 29 | |
| 2020avoid | 898 | 11 | |
| 2019avoid | 1,693 | 9 | |
| 2018avoid | 2,845 | 19 | |
| 2017avoid | 1,799 | 18 | |
| 2016avoid | 2,568 | 14 | |
| 2015avoid | 2,214 | 14 | |
| 2014avoid | 1,934 | 8 | |
| 2013avoid | 3,953 | 3 | |
| 2012avoid | 2,441 | 4 | |
| 2011avoid | 2,978 | 6 | |
| 2010avoid | 1,136 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 400 | 2 | |
| 2008 | 455 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 625 | 7 | |
| 2006 | 742 | 14 | |
| 2005avoid | 1,364 | 14 | |
| 2004avoid | 2,431 | 16 | |
| 2003 | 527 | 11 | |
| 2002avoid | 965 | 10 | |
| 2001avoid | 1,451 | 19 | |
| 2000avoid | 1,274 | 17 | |
| 1999avoid | 1,323 | 18 | |
| 1998avoid | 1,624 | 18 | |
| 1997avoid | 3,285 | 26 | |
| 1996 | 383 | 7 | |
| 1995 | 788 | 7 | |
| 1994avoid | 908 | 13 | |
| 1993 | 753 | 13 | |
| 1992 | 553 | 9 | |
| 1991 | 357 | 6 | |
| 1990 | 315 | 5 | |
| 1989 | 260 | 4 | |
| 1988 | 170 | 2 | |
| 1987 | 109 | 3 | |
| 1986 | 78 | 1 | |
| 1985 | 45 | 1 | |
| 1984 | 16 | 1 | |
| 1983 | 12 | 1 | |
| 1982 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1981 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1980 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1979 | 2 | 10 | |
| 1978 | 13 | 10 | |
| 1977 | 3 | 6 | |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1975 | 1 | 4 | |
| 1973 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
Common questions
What are the worst Ford F-150 years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the F-150 years to avoid are 2013, 1997, 2011, 2018, 2016, 2012, 2004, 2015, 2014, 2017, 2019, 1998, 2001, 2005, 1999, 2021, 2000, 2010, 2002, 1994, 2020. The cleanest year on record is 1976.
What is the best year for the Ford F-150?
By complaint volume, 1976 has the cleanest NHTSA record among F-150 years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Ford F-150 have?
Across all model years, the F-150 has 233 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 48,832 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.