2016 Ford F-150 Complaints

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 09/26/2026

In mid-September 2026, I had safety recall 26S28 (NHTSA 26V-237) performed on my 2016 Ford F-150 at Corwin Ford Reno in Reno, NV. The recall remedy was a powertrain control module software update intended to prevent unexpected transmission downshifts. Before the recall repair, the vehicle had no drivability problems of any kind. About three days after the recall repair, the truck began repeatedly losing acceleration while driving at highway speed. The vehicle would stop responding to the accelerator, and the wrench warning light came on in the instrument cluster. This happened on multiple occasions over several days. Losing acceleration in highway traffic creates a serious risk of a rear-end collision. This is the same type of loss-of-control hazard the recall was meant to address, and the condition appeared only after the recall software was installed. I contacted the dealer right away to report the safety problem. Over two days I called at least six times and left multiple messages that were not returned. When I reached the service department, they would not inspect the vehicle until the following week, and a service manager offered the same delay. I also contacted Ford customer service and received no help. The vehicle has been at the dealer since September 30, 2026. As of October 7, 2026, there is still no diagnosis or repair. I believe the recall 26S28 remedy either failed to correct the defect or introduced a new powertrain fault that causes loss of motive power at speed. I am asking NHTSA to note this complaint in connection with recall 26V-237 and investigation EA26001, and to evaluate whether the remedy is adequate.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 10/07/2026

Ford sent me a recall letter stating there was a remedy for my truck. I took the truck to a ford service center and was informed that the remedy they had in place to fix the recall does not resolve the problem. They also informed me that they have no idea when the new remedy will be out to fix my truck. Seeing that there is no remedy or any timeline of when I’m getting my truck back I called ford customer support to ask for a loan vehicle. They told me they was unable to give me one. Seeing that it is a transmission problem and even having in the letter it increases the risk of an accident. I feel unsafe to drive the truck in my 60 mile commute to work or in general

POWER TRAIN — Filed 10/03/2026

The automatic transmission has experienced repeated unexpected downshifts and other abnormal gear-selection behavior. Before the recall repair, the vehicle experienced multiple unexpected downshifts, including a shift from 4th to 2nd gear. Safety Recall 26S28 was performed on July 20, 2026, consisting of a PCM software update. The problem continued after the recall repair. Approximately one week later, while operating in 3rd gear, the transmission momentarily shifted into 1st gear and then returned to 4th. On August 31, while operating in 5th gear, it again momentarily shifted directly into 1st and then returned to 4th. The vehicle was returned to an authorized Ford dealer in September for evaluation. The dealer road-tested the vehicle three times and scanned the PCM but could not duplicate the condition and found no diagnostic trouble codes. The dealer contacted Ford regarding the condition, but no additional repair was authorized because no qualifying codes were present. The problem has continued. I have manually limited the selectable transmission range to 4th gear in an effort to reduce the possibility of another unexpected downshift. On multiple occasions, without any driver input, the selected maximum transmission range has changed from 4th back to the full 1-6 range. On October 3, 2026, the vehicle experienced a hard shift into 4th and then shifted back and forth between 5th and 6th. During this event, the transmission range display went blank and subsequently returned. On October 4, I again manually selected 4th as the maximum gear. During a drive of less than three miles, the selected range independently returned to the full 1-6 range multiple times. There have been no warning lights associated with these events. The condition is intermittent and was not reproduced during the dealer inspection. The vehicle remains available for inspection. I am concerned about the risk of loss of vehicle control from an unexpected downshift. The condition has continued afte

POWER TRAIN — Filed 07/29/2026

Component Affected: Power Train / Electrical System / Transmission Description of Incident: My 2016 Ford F-150 was taken to a licensed Ford dealership to resolve Safety Recall 26S28 / NHTSA Campaign 26V237000 (PCM software update to prevent sudden downshifts). Prior to the recall, the truck drove fine with no issues. Immediately after the software update was performed, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic, uncommanded downshift from 4th gear into 1st gear while traveling at highway speeds. This caused the rear wheels to violently lock up, mimicking a sudden slam on the brakes in active traffic and nearly causing a severe rear-end collision. Diagnostic scans show codes P0720 and P0722, indicating a failure of the Output Speed Sensor, which is integrated into the transmission molded lead frame assembly. The recall software remedy actually caused this life-threatening downshift, and the vehicle remains entirely unsafe to drive. The manufacturer's remedy did not resolve the safety defect. Ford has refused to repair this safety issue and say that it only qualifies for free repair if it throws codes P0705, P0706, P0707.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/28/2026

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted; however, the contact denied the repair for being insufficient. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 08/14/2026

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. While the contact's mother was driving 20 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The power train and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 10/03/2026

On XXX, I parked my 2016 Ford F-150 in a Kroger parking lot, in [XXX] around 5 pm. I placed the transmission selector in PARK, exited the vehicle, and went inside the store. The vehicle was unattended. When I came back outside, I discovered that the truck had rolled from where I had parked it, traveled across the parking lot, and struck another vehicle. A police report was filed regarding the incident. I believe there may have been a failure of the vehicle's parking mechanism, transmission, shift linkage, transmission range sensing system, or another component responsible for preventing the vehicle from moving while in PARK. The current answer is UNKNOWN. The incident created a serious safety risk because the unattended vehicle was able to roll freely through a public parking lot where pedestrians and other vehicles were present. Fortunately, to my knowledge, no one was injured, but the vehicle did strike another vehicle and caused property damage. At this time, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a Ford dealer or independent repair facility. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Ford to determine the cause of the rollaway. Police responded to/documented the incident and a police report was completed. I did not observe any warning lamps or warning messages indicating that the vehicle was not properly in PARK before exiting the vehicle. I had no indication that the vehicle would move after I exited it. I am reporting this incident because the vehicle unexpectedly rolled while unattended after being placed in PARK, and I believe this presents a significant safety concern that warrants investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

POWER TRAIN — Filed 12/02/2024

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted and the vehicle decelerated to approximately 15 MPH. The powertrain warning light was illuminated during the failure. Occasionally, the vehicle was coasted over to the side of the road, and the contact attempted to turn off the vehicle, but the vehicle occasionally remained running. The contact waited for several minutes before continuing to drive. During the failure, the occupants inside the vehicle lunged forward. The contact stated that a niece's head struck the windshield, leaving a bruise, and the contact’s partner lunged forward and struck her head on the side door handle bar, which left a bruise. The failure had occurred more than 25 times. The vehicle was taken to four certified mechanics, and the lead frame and all the sensors were replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The dealer performed the update of the powertrain control module software; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed the VIN was no longer under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 10/02/2025

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to shift into first gear unless the accelerator pedal was released for up to thirty seconds, after which the transmission shifted hard into second gear. The check engine and power train warning lights illuminated after the hard shift. Additionally, the vehicle only shifted between third and fifth gears while driving. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train) and contacted the dealer by phone; however, the dealer informed the contact that the recall repair could not be performed because the manufacturer had placed a pause on the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/06/2026

My vehicle was covered under recall 26N04 and 26V237 that addressed a violent unexpected downshift in the transmission while driving. The Ford dealer reprogrammed the PCM and stated that is all that could be done. This did not fix the violent unexpected downshift while traveling at highway speeds. My vehicle has done so several times since the 'fix'. Truck was taken back to Ford dealer and checked again. I was advised that Ford would not be fixing this issue because my truck did not have the correct code on their diagnostic exam. The lead frame is faulty and Ford refuses to fix even though they admit in their recall that the lead frame may be faulty.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 07/23/2026

I had my 2016 Ford F-150 turned in for a recall notification on my transmission. I had no problems on my transmission before the Ford dealership updated the recall notice. After the update, my truck was downshifting and changing gears in a different way. I turned in the truck again and the dealership looked at it again and decided that Ford was not responsible for the issue. Now, my truck is having major issues with the transmission and it is still not fixed. The dealership did the recall update but something was done that made my transmission work differently and they will not fix it unless I pay.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/27/2026

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. The contact stated that there was a ten-second delay prior to the transmission downshifting. The vehicle was uncontrollable, and the vehicle crashed into a ditch before coming to a stop. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the contact's wife and two minor grandchildren were inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after an unknown recall repair was performed. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 06/30/2026

What Happened MY 2016 Ford F-150 Platinum, equipped with a rear/360-degree camera system, has failed and displays a blue screen instead of providing a usable rearward image. This blue screen was confirmed by the Lugoff Ford Service Department (authorized Ford dealership) around June/July 2026. What I did to correct the problem I took the 2016 F150 Platinum to my local authorized Ford dealership (Lugoff Ford, Lugoff, SC). The Lugoff Ford dealership inspected the vehicle, confirmed the blue-screen rear camera failure, and determined that the camera requires replacement under the Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17. The repair work would be in October 2026. Repair status In September 2026, I got an oil change service at Lugoff Ford. I asked about the status of the recall for the inoperable backup camera and was told that parts and an advanced software update have been changed and will now be available in February 2027. Safety As you are aware, an inoperable backup camera is a safety concern because it does not provide the driver with the rearward view expected from the vehicle's factory-installed camera system. When reversing, the driver cannot rely on the camera to identify pedestrians, vehicles, objects, or other hazards located behind the big F150 Platinum. Manufacturer Contacted I contacted Ford Motor Company's Customer Relationship Center twice to request assistance with an expedited repair, a formal Ford case, and/or a dealer-to-dealer parts search. I was unable to obtain a formal case or an escalation for an expedited remedy. Legal Complaint I am filing this complaint because the safety-related camera failure has been diagnosed, but the manufacturer has not provided an available remedy, and I have been given an estimated repair date of February 2027. I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and review the safety implications of an inoperative rear-view camera and the extended delay in obtaining the replacement remedy.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 01/28/2026

The contact's husband owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into first gear. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a PCM software update was performed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the failure worsened following the recall repair. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced due to a possible internal clutch failure. The contact was informed that leadframe replacement was not covered under extended warranty coverage because the necessary DTC were not retrieved. However, the contact stated that the PCM software update had cleared the codes. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 08/01/2026

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission warning light illuminated and the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into a lower gear, causing the vehicle to hesitate while accelerating. The contact pulled over and waited before restarting the vehicle to correct the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that the recall repair was on hold by the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/14/2026

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to second gear. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the failure was associated with a previous recall repair. The contact was informed that the remedy was a temporary fix and that the engineers were developing a new remedy. In addition, the contact was informed that there was no remedy yet available for the repair. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was contacted by phone and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/24/2026

2016 Ford F-150, 5.0L, 6R80 transmission, 112,083 miles. Safety Recall 26S28 was performed on 08/05/26 at an authorized Ford dealer. The wrench/powertrain warning recurred on 08/15/26. On 08/20/26, at 111,998 miles, the dealer found DTCs P0720 and P0722 (output shaft speed sensor) and stated in writing that the transmission molded leadframe must be replaced. Ford denied coverage under Customer Satisfaction Program 26N04 because those codes are not on the program's list. The transmission then failed on two consecutive days, within about 85 miles of driving since the dealer visit. On 09/23/26, while I was accelerating across two lanes of traffic, the engine revved abnormally high during an upshift, as if the transmission failed to engage a gear. It then stayed in 3rd, and I had to make a left turn from a stop at an intersection in 3rd gear with greatly reduced power. On 09/24/26, after crossing a four-lane highway intersection, the warning appeared while I was accelerating uphill. The transmission stayed in 3rd at a complete stop and would not downshift to 1st. Shifting through Park and using manual mode did not restore 1st gear; only an engine restart did. In both events the warning light cleared itself while the fault continued, so the dashboard gave no indication of the problem. Turning left across oncoming traffic and pulling away from stops near highway traffic with reduced power is a safety risk. The recall remedy did not prevent this failure, and the repair the dealer says is required is being denied under the related program.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/20/2026

I am reporting that the Corporate Ford Company is knowingly requiring a software update that minimizes a safety hazard instead of eliminating a safety hazard (NHTSA Recall 26V237). Here are the facts: ---Lebanon Ford service said that they cannot tell me what the software update 26S28 will do to fix the danger of driving my vehicle. The mechanic (Michael) said that the software update is meant to fix the transmission molded lead frame, but that it does not. My research about this software update states that the truck will unexpectedly downshift to 4th gear (instead of downshifting to 1st gear without the update). This downshifting issue poses a danger to people driving on the highway! Consider trucks suddenly downshifting to 4th gear in front of you on the highway (some towing)! Ford Recall: 26N04 is a fix that will eliminate danger, but Ford is NOT fully implementing it! Molded Lead Frame Failure The Issue: The internal wiring harness (the lead frame) holds the speed and temperature sensors. When it fails, it sends bad data to the computer. Symptoms: Erratic shifting, a wrench light on the dash, or a check engine light with speed sensor codes. Unexpected Downshifts (Recall 26V-237) --THIS IS THE SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE DANGEROUS RISK. On XXX, Ford did NOT complete the Recall 26N04 (Ford #), only the NHTSA 26V237 software update, which does not eliminate dangerous driving on the highway. I am attaching the event information that I gave to Lebanon Ford at the time of service. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO CRASH AND NO CASUALTIES, I CANNOT, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, DRIVE MY 2016 FORD F-150 ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE FORD IS ONLY LESSENING THE SYMPTOM, WHICH IS STILL A DANGER TO PEOPLE. FORD CAN FIX THE PROBLEM TO ELIMINATE DANGER, BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO DO SO.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 07/06/2026

I am filing an emergency complaint against Ford Motor Company for failure to provide a safety recall remedy within a reasonable timeframe under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301. My vehicle has an active safety recall (Recall 20S31) for a compromised brake master cylinder, making it entirely unsafe to operate. The vehicle is currently grounded and inoperable at my residence. Ford Corporate has kept the required repair parts on a national backorder for over 3 months. On August 18th, Ford Corporate sent me a formal written denial explicitly refusing to provide a rental vehicle or alternative transportation while my truck sits stranded. Ford is forcing me to choose between driving a vehicle with known catastrophic braking failure or having no transportation, actively violating federal recall compliance guidelines.

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 08/14/2026

XXX: I scheduled an oil change online and selected the open transmission safety recall. [XXX] Ford executed Recall 26S28 (PCM Programming) under verification code RGLKT7MASIPIJ. The truck had absolutely no shifting issues prior to this flash. XXX: Within two weeks of the software update, the truck began experiencing the exact erratic shifting and violent gear-dropping safety hazards described in the recall. I returned the truck to the dealer. XXX: After days of complete silence, I had to initiate contact. First by phone, then by physically walking into the service desk on XXX to get answers because the dealer ignored my vehicle. Mid-XXX: After the truck sat on their lot for three weeks, they finally scanned it and retrieved code P2701. The dealer stated the recall wouldn't cover it and immediately quoted me $8,000 to rebuild or $10,000 to replace the transmission. They claimed they would submit the case to Ford Corporate. XXX: Having heard nothing, I returned to the dealership in person. I was told they still had no response from corporate. The Paperwork Contradiction: The technician's notes on Page 3 explicitly state: "No update so that one recall cannot be performed, must been updated at some point." This proves the technician failed to look at their own shop's service history from XXX (Page 2), where they signed off on completing the update. Furthermore, they condemned the entire transmission based strictly on a digital code scan; they never dropped the pan or performed any physical diagnostic work. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 09/19/2026

The component that failed is the Back Up Camera Screen. It is all blue. It is available for inspection upon request. My safety or the safety of others is at risk because I can't see directly behind my truck without this camera. I could end up hitting a child or small item directly behind my truck. We will be contacting the dealer about this problem. My vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance or others at this time. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of this problem occured prior to the failure. This problem first occured on Saturday, September 19, 2026 I don't know what the cause of this problem is.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 04/15/2026

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle hesitated to maintain acceleration while the accelerator pedal was depressed, which caused the vehicle to jerk forward into the rear bumper of another vehicle in traffic. The front bumper struck the rear bumper of the other vehicle. A warning message reading "Cannot Exceed 80 MPH" and an additional unknown warning message were displayed. The air bags did not deploy. No injuries were reported. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the front bumper was replaced at the contact's expense. The vehicle was later repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Powertrain); however, the repair failed to prevent the failure from recurring. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer, where it was determined that the vehicle needed further diagnostic testing for a possible transmission repair. The vehicle was not repaired due to cost and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 08/19/2026

This vehicle 2016 ford F150 is known to have shorting issues. From literally all wiring harnesses. I had a small fire in my truck due to this issue, caused melting of the ribbon cable in my seat heater control module, which is a known issue from Ford. I have shorting in my turn signal switch (no wipers). Is that safe? I am a research scientist and engineer, I can tell you now it is not safe. If i need to prove it, I can do so with ease and write the necessary literature. If I cant use my AC sometimes, the windows fog, then i cant use the wipers to unfog them, how is this not a visibility issue? Not to mention all the shorts. I have a 40 gallon fuel tank, if any shorts get near it, is that going to be a fun experience for me? Please give Ford a penalty, the average owner of this truck pays thousands a year in repairs. I paid $17,800.00 in 2025 to repair this piece of shit. And it still has major issues. This is something ford needs to address, i want my wiring to be replaced, i bought a new engine, what if i cant use it especailly with the 3 year warranty bc the wiring consistently shorts and fails. unacceptable for a truck that's sticker price is $80k. This is a major problem, I will file claims until im afforded a response

AIR BAGS — Filed 07/28/2026

Was involved in a head on collision involving 2 cars; one which was hit in the front driver wheel panel and the other was directly head on and the air bags did not deploy. Resulting in major seatbelt bruising and knee injury.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 02/06/2026

Back up camera malfunctioned, not showing there was a smaller car behind me in my own driveway. Backing up into my driveway at night, it did not pick up or show the smaller car which I back up into, causing 2890 in damages which I had to pay for.