2010 Ford F-150 Problems
Compared with other Ford F-150 years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
6/100 0.4× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.4× that of a typical Ford F-150 year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 176 of its 843 complaints were filed by the end of 2012.
- Most reported problem: Rear window shatters or smokes with defroster on (249 complaints, median 59,500 mi).
- 1 recall campaign on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 843filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 58,150miles, 732 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 16 mpgcombined, 4.6L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 19 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Ford F-150 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often report the rear window shattering or smoking when the rear defroster is switched on, usually in cold weather but at widely varying mileage. A second large group describes the transmission abruptly downshifting to first gear at highway speed, and others report interior door handles that break so doors will not open. Mileage in the sample ranges from near-new to well past 200,000 miles, so many of these appear as the truck ages rather than in the first few thousand miles.
- Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission drops into first gear while driving
- 81 complaints (10%)
- median 74,977 mi at 6.3 yrs old (73 state mileage)
- 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2010–2026
Owners describe the transmission unexpectedly downshifting into first gear at highway speeds, often with a wrench or powertrain warning light and sometimes with the rear wheels locking up or the truck losing power. The truck can usually be restarted and driven, but the behavior repeats. Complaints mention dealers and independent shops pointing to the lead frame, mechatronic unit or valve body, and in some cases the transmission was replaced or the part was reported as not sold separately. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 190,000 miles, often during steady highway driving at 40-75 mph.
What to check: Ask whether the lead frame or valve body has been replaced and whether any transmission codes were found, and have a shop scan for stored powertrain codes before buying. A test drive should include a steady highway run and a firm stop-and-go sequence.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Driving my 2010 Ford f150 and it downshift driving at around 35 to 40 on a city street. I stopped and shut the truck off. Upon turning it back on I had the check engine light, traction control and the wrench light that put the truck in safe mode. Also the mileage would flash ---- instead of numbers. I took it to midwest superstore in hutchinson, ks and they found codes p0720 & p0722 which lead to the diagnosis being the lead frame needing to be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #11328222, filed 2020-06, 161,280 miles“Just bought vehicle within 4 weeks, upon stepping on gas, transmission violent jerk in first gear from stop , has happened four times on entering onto highway”
NHTSA complaint #11388948, filed 2021-01, 61,000 miles - Electrical system
Engine stalling and fuse 27 / fuel pump circuit
- 43 complaints (5%)
- median 102,000 mi at 8.1 yrs old (39 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $480 (median of 7 quotes)
- filed 2011–2025
Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning while driving, sometimes with a melted or burned fuse in the fuel pump relay position, and some report needing a fuel pump control module or wiring repair. Complaints also describe intermittent no-starts and stalls at low speed, with mechanics diagnosing a failed smart junction box on some vehicles. Several owners reference a service bulletin about relocating the fuel pump fuse. Reported from about 65,000 to 200,000 miles, with no clear pattern in weather or driving conditions.
What to check: Inspect the fuel pump relay fuse and its socket for melting or discoloration, and ask whether a fuse relocation kit has been installed. Ask about any history of stalls, no-starts or junction box repairs.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“There have been 3 times now that my vehicle has randomly died while driving on the highway and city streets. With the engine not running I lost power steering and almost couldn't make a turn. No warning lights, no chimes. Looking into it myself I found that the fuel relay 20amp fuse was melted and the plastic around the terminal also melted. Ford has a TSB out for this issue but I feel it should be recalled for safety purposes as there is no warning and you lose all power. …”
NHTSA complaint #11382969, filed 2020-12, 139,000 miles“While driving, suddenly all warning lights began flashing randomly, radio and 4 way flashers went on. After turning off the truck and removing the key, the problems continued and the engine would not restart. Towed it to a dealer. They diagnosed it as a bad smart junction box , and replaced d module .”
NHTSA complaint #11297560, filed 2020-01, 145,000 miles - Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
Rear window shatters or smokes with defroster on
- 249 complaints (30%)
- median 59,500 mi at 5.3 yrs old (237 state mileage)
- 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 18 quotes)
- filed 2010–2026
Complaints describe the rear window or rear passenger-side panel glass breaking with a loud pop, sometimes a few minutes after the rear defroster is turned on in cold weather. Several owners report a burn mark, melted trim or smoke at the lower corner of the glass near the defroster wiring, and some say they found no impact mark on the glass. Most describe the glass cracking further after the initial break, and repairs are typically handled outside the dealer. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 70,000 to 200,000 miles, and repeatedly in cold weather with the defroster on.
What to check: Turn on the rear defroster and watch for uneven heating or a hot spot at the lower corner of the rear glass, and look for burn marks, melted trim or prior glass replacement. Ask whether the rear glass or defroster circuit has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Vehicle was parked in my driveway - I turned it on to warm up and turned on the rear defroster. Within a few mins, the rear window shattered and there is a burn mark and melting of the trim in the bottom corner of the window where the defroster wiring/sensor is located.”
NHTSA complaint #11394838, filed 2021-02, 119,570 miles“Weather was 28 degrees fahrenheit. Leaving work I turned on my rear glass defrost and on my 20 commute to my home about 1 mile from my house at around 4:20 am central standard time my rear passenger side back glass shattered. All I heard was a loud impact sound like something hitting my roof and when I pulled up to my house and further inspected my vehicle that is when I noticed my rear glass had shattered and was still cracking. I looked for an impact mark but found nothing. …”
NHTSA complaint #11299659, filed 2020-01, 118,768 miles
Buying note. On a truck of this age, note which of these items have already been dealt with: rear glass and defroster condition, transmission service or lead frame history, door handle function on every door, and the fuel pump fuse socket. A pre-purchase scan for stored transmission and body codes, plus a highway test drive, covers most of what owners describe here.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 843 consumer complaints for the 2010 Ford F-150. 732 of the complaints include a mileage, and 43% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 58,150 miles. Of all complaints, 23 involved a crash, 35 a fire, 28 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 80 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 15 Ford F-150 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 6 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system166 20%
- Transmission and drivetrain121 14%
- Engine107 13%
- Body and structure92 11%
- Other or unknown62 7.3%
- Brakes58 6.9%
- Fuel system58 6.9%
- Steering48 5.7%
- Vehicle speed control39 4.6%
Also reported: Engine cooling (31), Exterior lighting (28), Air bags (19), Tires (17), Suspension (16), Wheels (12), Seats (11), Electronic stability control (9), Seat belts (8), Latches, locks and linkages (7), Equipment (4), Interior lighting (4), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (3).
Example complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “The passenger section of the rear window shattered while the rear defroster was activated. The vehicle was parked in a parking lot of a restaurant and without anything impacting the window it just shattered. For about a week leading up to the incident there was a funny smell whenever I used the rear defroster, melting plastic, that I couldn't pinpoint. Initially, I though it might have been the seat heaters”
NHTSA complaint #11192314, filed 2019-03, 89,000 milesElectrical system: “I have not had any problems with the truck until now. Lately I t's not been cranking and the check engine light on. Sometimes it cranks fine and sometime it doesn't. I took it to auto zone and they got a communications code. I've heard a lot of complaints on this issue. I've also been told that the vehicle will shut down on you while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11072130, filed 2018-02, 105,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “The two driveshafts that connect together with the center boot broke apart while driving. Luckily when this happened I was only traveling 3 miles an hour. This is a major safety issue that should be addressed, either have a one piece drive shaft or the sleeve should be better secured. I feel that if this had happened while I was traveling on the expressway, my family and others could have been in serious danger”
NHTSA complaint #11266811, filed 2019-10, 70,200 milesEngine: “2010 Ford f150 stalls when going slow, and turning left. The oil light came on and I lost all power I had to put in park and restart. Took about 5 tries for the truck to restart. It did the same thing again about five minutes later while making another left turn. Also, died when I was sitting at a light preparing to turn right.”
NHTSA complaint #10836352, filed 2016-02, 66,600 milesMileage when problems were reported
43% of the 732 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 28,241 and 92,319 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Ford F-150. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-150 Extended Cab · sedan AWD/2WD | not rated | 5 / 5 | — | — | 3 · 22.8% risk |
| F-150 Regular Cab · coupe AWD/2WD | not rated | 5 / 5 | — | — | 3 · 22.8% risk |
| F-150 Supercab · coupe AWD/2WD | not rated | 5 / 5 | — | — | 3 · 22.8% risk |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2010 Ford F-150 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F150 Pickup 2WD | 4.6L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 15 | 21 | 17 | $3,950 |
| F150 Pickup 2WD | 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 19 | 16 | $4,200 |
| F150 Pickup 4WD | 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 14 | 18 | 16 | $4,200 |
| F150 Pickup 4WD | 4.6L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 14 | 20 | 16 | $4,200 |
| F150 Pickup 2WD FFV | 5.4L 8-cyl · flex-fuel | 6-speed automatic | 14 | 20 | 16 | $4,200 |
| F150 Pickup 4WD FFV | 5.4L 8-cyl · flex-fuel | 6-speed automatic | 14 | 18 | 15 | $4,450 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 11V049000Feb 1, 2011Structure › Body › DoorCovers: Ford F-150 2009–2010
Ford is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 f-150 vehicles manufactured from january 18, 2008, through november 30, 2009. The interior door handle housing embossment retaining the interior door handle spring may fracture during normal usage resulting…
Recall details for the 2010 Ford F-150 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 80 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11029052Feb 24, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system, Body and structure. Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code…
- 11005305Jul 24, 2024Wheels. This article supersedes TSB 22-2219 to update the Parts List and Service Procedure to clarify applicable steps by vehicle application. Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150…
- 10254138Apr 24, 2024Equipment. All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should…
- 10235153Apr 4, 2023Body and structure. For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement…
- 10214754Jun 21, 2022Transmission and drivetrain. Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial…
- 10181917Oct 16, 2020Wheels, Equipment, Electrical system. Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 vehicles equipped with TOD transfer cases may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial…
- 10177863Jul 13, 2020Body and structure. This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns…
- 10172885Feb 7, 2020Engine cooling. This SKU is an Oil Dipstick. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the dipstick tube. The dipstick tube inner diameter may be small enough that it prevents…
- 10164508Aug 9, 2019Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). Some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. This is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in some car wash…
- 10163573Jul 2, 2019Equipment, Electrical system. Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit…
Other model years of the Ford F-150
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | — | 8 | 5 | 20 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 109 | 5,330 | 14 | 5 | 20 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 195 | 8,750 | 11 | 5 | 20 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 416 | 29,700 | 13 | 5 | 21 | 42 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 601 | 27,882 | 23 | 5 | 20 | 53 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 1,036 | 47,500 | 29 | 5 | 20 | 67 · More | Rising |
| 2020 | 741 | 38,000 | 11 | 4–5 | 19 | 45 · Typical | Rising |
| 2019 | 1,342 | 60,000 | 9 | 4–5 | 21 | 40 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 2,325 | 40,000 | 18 | 4–5 | 21 | 74 · More | Rising |
| 2017 | 1,462 | 53,000 | 17 | 5 | 20 | 49 · Typical | Rising |
| 2016 | 2,086 | 45,478 | 13 | 5 | 20 | 74 · More | Rising |
| 2015 | 1,743 | 50,000 | 13 | 5 | 20 | 61 · Typical | Stable |
| 2014 | 1,538 | 65,000 | 8 | 4 | 18 | 51 · Typical | Rising |
| 2013 | 2,992 | 74,281 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 48 · Typical | Rising |
| 2012 | 1,784 | 63,000 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 56 · Typical | Stable |
| 2011 | 2,193 | 70,766 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 67 · More | Stable |
| 2010 | 843 | 58,150 | 1 | — | 16 | 6 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2009 | 324 | 50,525 | 2 | — | 17 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2008 | 369 | 61,500 | 1 | — | 15 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2007 | 488 | 57,426 | 2 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 585 | 60,500 | 4 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 1,112 | 61,000 | 3 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 2,029 | 61,000 | 5 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 423 | 63,946 | 4 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 821 | 90,000 | 2 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 1,236 | 95,000 | 8 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 1,075 | 91,843 | 6 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 1,044 | 100,000 | 7 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 1,381 | 113,070 | 8 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1997 | 2,758 | 107,360 | 14 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 324 | 110,000 | 2 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 626 | 117,000 | 2 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1994 | 676 | 132,835 | 6 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1993 | 586 | 136,500 | 7 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1992 | 470 | 133,000 | 3 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 304 | 107,000 | 3 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 275 | 97,900 | 4 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1989 | 224 | 106,000 | 4 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 139 | 99,061 | 2 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 91 | 128,013 | 3 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 61 | 120,500 | 1 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1985 | 28 | — | 1 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1984 | 15 | 192,035 | 1 | — | 14 | — | Stable |
| 1983 | 10 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1982 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Ford F-150 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ford F-150?
Owners of this model year most often report the rear window shattering or smoking when the rear defroster is switched on, usually in cold weather but at widely varying mileage. The issues reported most often: Transmission drops into first gear while driving; Engine stalling and fuse 27 / fuel pump circuit; Rear window shatters or smokes with defroster on.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Ford F-150 have?
NHTSA recorded 843 consumer complaints for the 2010 Ford F-150 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2010 Ford F-150 is reported most often?
Visibility is named most often, in 193 complaints (23% of the total), followed by electrical system with 166.
Has the 2010 Ford F-150 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Ford F-150 get?
The EPA rates the 2010 Ford F-150 (F150 Pickup 2WD, 4.6L 8-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 15 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Ford F-150 reported?
Among the 732 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 58,150 miles and the middle half falls between 28,241 and 92,319 miles; 43% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.