NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission range sensor may lose signal to the powertrain control module, causing the transmission to suddenly shift down into second gear.
This page covers 16 recalls and 1926 owner complaints for the 2016 Ford F-150.
Powertrain and transmission issues dominate complaints for the 2016 F-150, with owners frequently reporting unexpected downshifts, loss of power while driving, and the powertrain warning light (wrench symbol) appearing on the instrument cluster. Many describe the transmission suddenly dropping into a lower gear at highway speeds, sometimes accompanied by stalling or a failure to accelerate despite the engine revving up. Some owners report the transmission ultimately failing and requiring a rebuild. Service brakes are the second most-reported system, with a substantial number of complaints pointing to brake performance concerns. Engine-related reports also appear in notable volume, with some owners describing smoke from under the hood and unusual odors inside the cabin alongside acceleration problems. The unexpected downshift pattern, often paired with the powertrain warning light, is the most consistently repeated symptom across the complaint set.
1,926
Total Complaints
50
Crash-Related
23
Fire-Related
28
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Ford F-150 has 16 recalls, the most serious being a transmission that can unexpectedly drop into second gear at speed, and a seatbelt pretensioner that can ignite carpet or insulation inside the cabin during a crash.
Trucks with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine have a brake master cylinder that can leak fluid into the brake booster, causing a longer pedal, heavier feel, and reduced front stopping power. Several seating recalls overlap in consequence: the driver's seat back may have insufficient welds that let it collapse in a crash, loose seat adjuster hardware can cause the cushion to detach, and on crew cab models the left rear inflatable seatbelt buckle can pull free of its bracket. Trucks with Multi-Contour Seats have a passenger seat sensor that misreads an adult as a child when the massage feature is active, preventing the front airbag from deploying in a crash.
Door latches on certain trucks can freeze or have a kinked cable and swing open while driving, with a related issue on trucks fitted with aftermarket chrome door handle covers that can unlatch in a side impact. Trucks equipped with an engine block heater have a fire risk from corroded wiring in the heater cable connector, and prior repair attempts on some of those vehicles did not fully resolve the problem.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission range sensor may lose signal to the powertrain control module, causing the transmission to suddenly shift down into second gear.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake master cylinder may develop a leak that allows brake fluid to seep from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the brake master cylinder. If leaking is confirmed, the brake booster will also be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake master cylinder may develop a leak, allowing brake fluid to seep into the brake booster.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder and inspect the brake booster, replacing it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The block immersion heater may be positioned too close to hot engine parts, damaging its cable and creating a potential electrical hazard.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the heater location and cable, replacing damaged parts at no cost. If parts are unavailable, the cable will be disabled temporarily.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged during a previous repair, creating a potential failure point.
What the fix does
Dealers will disable the engine block heater. When replacement cables are available, dealers will replace the heater cord at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water and contaminants can enter the engine block heater cable's splice connector, causing corrosion and damage that may prevent the heater from working properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will disable the block heater cable at no cost. Once parts are available, dealers will replace the engine block heater cable at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During a crash, the front seat belt pretensioner may deploy and create sparks that ignite carpeting or insulation in the B-pillar area.
What the fix does
Dealers will remove B-pillar insulation and wiring tape, then install heat-resistant tape to prevent ignition.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front power seat adjuster assembly joint may loosen over time, causing the seat cushion to compress too much and potentially fail to properly support an occupant during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the seat track bolt torque. If it passes, they will clean it, apply threadlock, and reinstall it. If it fails, threadlock will be added as a temporary fix until the lift link is replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Power seat adjuster pivot bolts may loosen, causing front seat cushions to detach and fail to properly restrain occupants during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten the power seat track pivot bolt, apply threadlocker, or replace the lift link and hardware at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The door latch actuation cable may bend or kink, or water may enter the latch and cause it to freeze. Either condition can cause doors to open while the truck is driving, even though they appear closed.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the door latch cables, repair them if needed, and install water shields over the latches at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle may not be securely attached to its mounting bracket, reducing its ability to restrain occupants in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat belt assembly and replace the attaching rivet as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Chrome door handle covers installed as an accessory may cause doors to unlatch during a side impact collision.
What the fix does
Dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A weld between the driver's seat back and the recliner mechanism may be inadequate, causing the seat back to appear loose, twisted, or leaning, and possibly squeak or rattle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat back frame and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's seat back frame may have weak welds that don't meet safety standards for head restraints and seating systems.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat back frame and replace it if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat's air bag system may wrongly identify an adult as a child when the seat massage feature is turned on, causing incorrect air bag deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control software at no cost to correctly classify passengers regardless of massage feature use.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The system that detects who's sitting in the front passenger seat may misidentify an adult as a child when the seat massage feature is on. If misidentified, the front airbag might not inflate in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will install updated software in the occupant classification system module.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
