NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
This page covers 10 recalls and 1226 owner complaints for the 2019 Ford F-150.
Powertrain and engine complaints dominate what 2019 F-150 owners report, and between those two systems they account for the large majority of filed complaints. Transmission issues are the most frequently described problem, with owners reporting hard or delayed shifts, slipping between gears, unexpected downshifts, and in some cases a sudden loss of drive followed by a jarring re-engagement. A wrench warning light on the instrument cluster comes up in several of these reports. Engine complaints center heavily on a cold-start rattle, most often associated with the 3.5L engine, where a metallic knock appears briefly at startup and then clears once the engine warms. A smaller but consistent cluster of engine cooling and engine-related reports rounds out the picture. The transmission shudder and rough-shift pattern is by far the most repeated theme across the complaint set.
1,226
Total Complaints
17
Crash-Related
7
Fire-Related
11
With Injuries
By System
The 2019 Ford F-150 has 10 recalls, the most serious being a loose battery terminal connection that can cut power to instrument panel displays, braking assist, and steering assist, stall the engine, or create a fire risk from excessive heat in the wiring.
On the fire side, trucks equipped with an engine block heater have a separate concern: moisture and corrosion in the block heater cable's splice connector can cause wiring to overheat and melt when the heater is plugged in. Prior repair attempts under an earlier recall may not have fully resolved this issue, and some vehicles that received that repair may still be affected.
Front seat backs with improperly assembled recliner mechanisms may not hold an occupant in place during a crash, raising the risk of injury. Two visibility clusters round out the list. On the camera side, a poor electrical connection can cause the rearview camera to display a blank or distorted image while reversing, and a separate software issue can produce a similar blank-image failure. On the lighting side, trucks with high-series LED headlamps can have daytime running lamps that stay at full brightness instead of dimming when the headlight switch is moved to the manual position, which can make it harder for other drivers to judge their own visibility. A prior repair attempt for this headlamp issue did not fully resolve the problem on some vehicles. There is also a compliance recall for a missing airbag warning label on the dashboard.
At a glance
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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 can fail
When the headlight switch is moved from Autolamps to Headlamps On, the daytime running lamps stay at full brightness instead of dimming to parking lamp level as designed.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the body control module software at no cost to restore proper daytime running lamp dimming.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image or fail to clear the image after backing up.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag warning label on the dashboard may be missing, which means the vehicle doesn't have the required safety information label.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you the warning label at no cost. Letters were sent December 19, 2024. Call 1-866-436-7332 with questions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A poor electrical connection causes the rearview camera to occasionally show a blank or distorted image, affecting rear visibility.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rearview camera at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On certain F-150 trucks with LED headlamps and Autolamp control, the daytime running lamps stay bright instead of dimming to parking lamps when you switch from Autolamps to Headlamps On mode.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the body control module at no cost to restore proper lamp dimming when switching modes.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The connection on the battery positive terminal may loosen, causing loss of instrument displays, braking or steering assist, engine stalling, or high-resistance connections.
What the fix does
Ford dealers will inspect the positive battery cable connection, then clean and tighten it as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fastener connecting the Power Distribution Box and Battery Monitoring System cables to the positive battery terminal may loosen, causing instrument panel displays to malfunction and reducing braking and steering assist power. The engine may also stall.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the battery cable connection for excess adhesive, remove any excess, reassemble the joint, and retighten the fastener as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front or rear seat recliner mechanism may be missing a critical locking pawl, causing the seat back to be loose and weak.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your seat structure 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 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.
