2014 Ford F-150 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe transmission problems, chiefly an abrupt downshift into first gear while driving and sporadic hard or missed shifts, along with brake-pedal concerns where the pedal sinks toward the floor and brake fluid is lost. Steering assist dropouts and electrical gremlins such as a battery draining while parked also appear repeatedly in the complaints, and most reports arrive well past the 50,000-mile mark.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission unexpectedly downshifts to first gear

   • 356 complaints (23%)
   • median 105,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (165 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,988 (median of 20 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the truck dropping from a cruising gear into first gear without warning, sometimes at highway speed, with the engine revving, the vehicle decelerating sharply and the speedometer falling to zero. Owners report that shutting off and restarting the vehicle often restores normal operation, at least temporarily. Dealers, according to the complaints, diagnosed the molded lead frame, range sensor or solenoid pack, or reprogrammed the powertrain control module, and several owners say the problem returned after the repair. Mostly reported between roughly 70,000 and 170,000 miles, at a wide range of speeds including highway driving.

   Recall 24V444000Recall 26V3780001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether recall 24V444 or 26V378 was performed and whether the lead frame or range sensor has been replaced. A test drive at highway speed can help confirm shifts are smooth, but an intermittent fault may not show up in one drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was on the highway heading out of town going 70 MPH, the speedometer went to zero and the RPM rev up to 4000rpm and felt like a downshift , I had a car and semi passing me. It was a scary moment for. I took it to a well known mechanic and ran a test and told me the lead frame was bad. He informed me that my truck was not under recall because my truck was not at the plant where the lead frame was faulty.”

   NHTSA complaint #11398450, filed 2021-03, 103,000 miles

   “Over the past several weeks, the truck has begun downshifting to first gear at random speeds and intervals. Sometimes it happens at 30-40 MPH but recently it has occurred at highway speeds of over 70. I have called Ford consumer help to no avail and gone to my local dealer. There is a recall on the 2011 through 2013 models for this exact problem it needs to be extended into the 2014 models as well. My dealership claims there is nothing they can do because there is no recall. I'm going to another dealership tomorrow.”

   NHTSA complaint #11363824, filed 2020-10, 131,500 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinks; brake fluid loss

   • 250 complaints (16%)
   • median 49,500 mi at 4.7 yrs old (186 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the brake pedal going soft or all the way to the floor, sometimes with a low brake fluid message, and the truck taking longer to stop or failing to stop at low speed. Several complaints mention brake fluid disappearing with no visible leak, and dealers reportedly traced fluid into the brake booster or replaced the master cylinder. Some owners report brake hoses bursting in the front wheel area. Reported from around 50,000 to 110,000 miles, in ordinary driving and while towing.

   Recall 20V332000Recall 16V3450001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the brake fluid level and look for wetness around the master cylinder and booster; ask whether recalls 16V345 or 20V332 were completed and whether the master cylinder has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling at highway speed, while towing our rv, low brake fluid warning light came on and brakes failed. The only way I could safely stop was using the trailer brakes. I believe our vehicle should have been included in current recall, but Ford is stating our VIN is not part of recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11374293, filed 2020-11, 79,700 miles

   “Service advance track, ABS, break lights all on. Break pedal fades to floor when held Ford dealer said module failure. This same truck had recall for hydraulic failure was serviced in 2016 now they want $1600 for a new module then the service manager said pedal was not spongey. Like I said standing still in any gear including park press the break and hold it it fades to the floor reel safe I'm sure. Abs and break light only go on when you move truck.service advance track on when engine started.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353778, filed 2020-09, 52,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out

   • 143 complaints (9%)
   • median 78,833 mi at 5.9 yrs old (110 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the steering suddenly becoming heavy, with a service power steering or service Advancetrac message, sometimes followed by the wheel shuddering. Some owners report the condition clears after a restart and returns later. According to the complaints, dealers replaced the steering shaft, rack and pinion or assist unit, and some owners were told their vehicle was outside the range covered by the steering recall. Mostly between about 60,000 and 150,000 miles, often at speed on the highway.

   Recall 14V316000 · DO NOT DRIVE

   What to check: Ask whether recall 14V316 was completed and whether the steering rack or assist motor has been serviced. Note whether the warning message appears after start-up during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I just came off the freeway on to a city street and the service advancetrac light came on then I lost power too my steering. I'm glad I was not still on the freeway it could have caused a bad accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323037, filed 2020-05, 105,000 miles

   “2014 f150 with 61,000 miles intermittently loses power steering. Had it at the dealership twice until the condition happened. I was told that the steering shaft is failing and must be replaced (approx. Cost $1900). Doing research I found that there was a recall on the 2014 f150 (NHTSA id 14v316000) in which the steering assist was incorrectly assembled and must be replaced. Also, the recall only includes trucks manufactured between may 26 and june 19, I'm told my truck was not manufactured during that time and I am responsible for the repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11329186, filed 2020-06, 61,000 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Rear window shatters

   • 177 complaints (12%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (148 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $965 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the rear window breaking without impact, in several cases while the rear defroster was on and in others while the truck was parked. Owners report that dealers directed them to an auto glass shop and that no recall applied to their vehicle. Reported from roughly 36,000 to 140,000 miles, sometimes with the defroster running.

   What to check: Inspect the rear glass for existing cracks or chips, and ask whether the panel has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was backing up in my driveway, when all of a sudden I heard a big bang, I put my pickup in park and got out to see what it was, when I seen mine back driver side window shattered, I have no ideal what happened, and I did not have on the defroster, I am still puzzled what happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #11300790, filed 2020-01, 70,900 miles

   “The rear driver side window shattered this morning from having my rear defroster on. I turned my defrosters on before work this morning and then drove approx 3 miles before hearing a loud sound from the top rear of my vehicle. It was a clear 1 lane road so it wasn't possible for anything to have hit me. Eventually I saw that the entire rear window was shattered. The only thing unique was that I had my defrosters on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11296718, filed 2020-01, 36,000 miles

Buying note. Have the truck inspected with the transmission and brake recalls in mind, since both symptoms are common in complaints and a repair does not always resolve them. A pre-purchase test drive at highway speed and a brake fluid level check are worth doing before committing.

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.