The Lemon Index2016 Ford F-150.
The 2016 Ford F-150 is about average by owner complaints: 809 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 99, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 18 recalls, and it gets 16 to 21 mpg combined. The best Ford F-150 year is 2007.
Covers the whole F-Series (F-150 plus the F-250/F-350 Super Duty): Ford reports their sales together.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 95 YouTube videos about the 2015–2020 F-150, 22.7M views. The 2016 is the same truck.
- Transmission & shifter1.3M views
2015-2017 F150: Transmission Fluid and Filter (6R80)MasterJacks · 492K views · 6 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors636K views
2015 - 2016 Ford F150 P1289 - Overheat Out Of Nowhere - here is the fix - Cylinder Head Temp SensorFord Boss Me - Auto / Politics / Family · 284K views · 4 videos - Oil changes & service599K views
Ford F150 Oil and Filter Change DIY (2015 - 2020) 5.0L V8Smackey's Garage · 291K views · 3 videos - Lifters, AFM & cam phasers491K views
2017-2020 Ford F-150 3.5L Ecoboost Startup Rattle Fix: Make Sure You Are Getting The Latest Phasers!FordTechMakuloco · 347K views · 3 videos
Show 4 more
- Oil dilution & oil burning445K views
Oil Consumption Update - 2019 Ford F150 5.0LEliminator Performance · 252K views · 4 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical395K views
2010 - 2015 Ford F150 won't start - the #1 and 2 reason why, " Dash Flickers " Fuel Pump Fuse BlownFord Boss Me - Auto / Politics / Family · 324K views · 2 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door266K views
2018 F150 Cabin Air Filter InstallSmackey's Garage · 266K views - Driveshaft, axles & 4x4260K views
F150 2015 - 2018 4x4 Hub Lockout to eliminate 4x4 Issues - It's Just this Dang EasyFord Boss Me - Auto / Politics / Family · 164K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Ford F-150 Pickup 2015-2020 13th Generation1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 268K views
2015-2017 Ford F-150 Top Reliability Issues/ProblemsCamerons Car Reviews · 267K views
FORD Continues to Battle Transmission Problems my 2018 F150 back at the Dealer for the 4thTime LEMONCHUNKY CATS FISHING · 157K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 2,583 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford F-150 year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 20K to 80K miles on the car (1,398 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 50K–130K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 22K–80K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 9K–52K miles
Recalls 18
- transmission & drivetrain 2026
A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.
- back over prevention 2025
The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
- airbags 2022
Dust may accumulate in the steering wheel clock spring, causing a disconnection in the electrical connection resulting in the driver's air bag not deploying as intended.
Show all 18 recalls
- brakes 2022
The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
- suspension 2021
The ball joint may have a misaligned dust boot and may be missing alignment hole and installation warning tag, which may lead to improper alignment of the ball joint.
- steering 2020
The foam ring inside the stabilizer "through shaft" may block the piston ports, possibly causing the steering to lock up.
- brakes 2020
The brake master cylinder may leak brake fluid into the brake booster.
- engine 2020
The incorrect location could put the heater too close to hot engine components, possibly resulting in a damaged cable.
- engine 2019
During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
- engine 2018
Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.
- seat belts 2018
If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
- seats 2017
Loose power seat adjuster pivot bolts may cause the front seat cushions to detach and not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash.
- latches/locks/linkages 2017
The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch.
- seat belts 2017
The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle assembly may be inadequately attached to its mounting bracket.
- latches/locks/linkages 2017
These accessory door handle covers may cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact collision.
- seats 2016
The seat back frame may have insufficient welds which may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems.".
- tires 2016
The tires installed during assembly of the affected vehicles may have sustained damage to the inner sidewall, possibly resulting in a loss of air or a tire rupture.
- airbags 2016
The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) that calibrates the air bag deployment level may incorrectly classify an adult as a child when the seat massage feature is activated.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
What to pay
Typical dealer asking price for a 2016 Ford F-150 by mileage, from 160 dealer listings nationwide (November 2026). Under the great-deal number is about 10% below typical; over the high number is more than 5% above.
| Miles | Great deal at or under | Typical | Too high at or over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50K–75K | $23.8K | $26.4K | $27.7K+ |
| 75K–100K | $20.7K | $23.0K | $24.1K+ |
| 100K–125K | $18.4K | $20.5K | $21.5K+ |
| 125K–150K | $16.5K | $18.4K | $19.3K+ |
| 150K+ | $14.4K | $16.0K | $16.8K+ |
Private seller: coming soon. Private sellers often ask less than dealers, but we only publish a number once it's measured.
Salvage or rebuilt title: usually sells for well under a clean title. Estimates run from about 27% less (a matched study of 2,389 cars) to as much as 50% less (Edmunds). This is a guide, not a price; get an inspection.
Asking prices, not sale prices. Trim, engine, 4x4, condition and location move the price. Estimates, not an appraisal.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 370 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Coolant Concentration Adjustment In some of the affected vehicles, the engine coolant to water…
- In some of the affected vehicles, the engine coolant to water concentration may be less than…
- Some 2015-2016 f-150, c-max, edge, mks, taurus, and flex and 2016 expedition, explorer,…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenUnintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up2026
- OpenSogefi secondary diesel fuel filter leak2024
- ClosedUnintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up2025–2026
- ClosedSeatbelt pretensioner fire2018
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4x2 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford F-150 Regular Cab PU/RC 4x4 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4x2 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford F-150 Super Crew PU/CC 4x4 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3050–4000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.7L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Had a fire start in the rear seat area while the truck was warming up in the remote start mode . The remote start was factory installed by Ford . The truck was declared a total loss
2016 Ford F-150 owner · NHTSA complaint 11171943
More owner reports
When the outside temperature dropped the vehicle locks and door latches stopped working. The doors will not latch, which prevents me from securely closing them. This is effecting all of the doors. Temperature is 32 and below.
NHTSA complaint 10936435
My doors fail to re-latch after opening during cold weather. My doors have opened while driving several times when the door is closed and locked without anyone touching the door latch.
NHTSA complaint 10939284
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Ford F-150 reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 99; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford F-150 year by this measure since 2010 is 2025.
What are the most common 2016 Ford F-150 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (24%), body structure (17%) and engine (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford F-150 have?
18 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Ford F-150 get?
16 to 21 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Ford F-150 safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford F-150 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,000 and 80,100 miles. The middle report was at 48,000 miles, from 1,398 complaints.
Does the 2016 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2016 Ford F-150 cost in fuel a year?
About $3050 to $4000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Ford F-150 have?
2.7L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl.
What Ford F-150 year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2010 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works