2015 Ford F-150 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 F-150 most often describe transmission trouble — harsh or unexpected shifting, delayed engagement and occasional sudden downshifts — reported from roughly 25,000 miles upward, with some cases tied to the transmission leadframe. A second large group describes brake fluid loss where the pedal goes to the floor, mostly between about 50,000 and 90,000 miles, and a third group reports engine power loss, stalling and misfires. Electrical and wiper faults, steering resistance and a shattered rear window appear in smaller numbers.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Unexpected shifting, delayed engagement and transmission

   • 402 complaints (23%)
   • median 88,500 mi at 8.8 yrs old (194 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,777 (median of 36 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the transmission shifting on its own — jumping from a highway gear down to a much lower gear, failing to come out of a gear, or hesitating and jerking when going from reverse to drive. Some reports say the vehicle would not accelerate as expected after a stop, and a few mention shuddering or a hot transmission message. Several owners had the transmission leadframe replaced; others were told the condition was not reproducible or that an available recall did not cover their VIN. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 120,000 miles, with some owners noting the downshifts happened at highway speed and others only in cooler temperatures.

   Recall 26V2370003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at both low and highway speeds and watch for hesitations or abrupt downshifts; ask whether the transmission leadframe has been replaced and whether recall 26V237000 software work has been applied to this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While using the f 150 up a hill, I stopped in top when I tried to change to regular drive it did not wanted to change it told me to move forward it did not do it the second time forward it did it but there was a huge clan when it changed. This is the third time it do it on the same place or condition.”

   NHTSA complaint #11376343, filed 2020-11, 54,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving, the transmission shifted unexpectedly to a lower or higher gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the transmission leadframe was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The contact associated the failure with the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11768281, filed 2026-10, 177,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor (fluid loss)

   • 341 complaints (20%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (293 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 17 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report the brake pedal sinking to the floor without much warning, sometimes with a low brake fluid message, and finding the reservoir empty or fluid under the truck. In several cases the dealer found the master cylinder leaking into the brake booster and replaced the master cylinder and booster; other complaints describe a failed brake hose or line. A few owners mention a small plastic piece from the brake pedal that leaves the brake lights on. Concentrated between roughly 45,000 and 90,000 miles, typically appearing during ordinary driving or while stopped.

   Recall 20V3320002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check brake fluid level and look for dampness around the master cylinder and booster before purchase, and ask whether recall 20V332000 (master cylinder leak) was completed; have any spongy pedal inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I was approaching a 4-way intersection, I applied the brakes. It slowed the vehicle down and came to a stop, but as I was waiting at the light the pedal went all the way down to the floor. This is the second bake line that has failed. In the past 6-8 months, the front driver side brake line failed; this time it is the front passenger side.”

   NHTSA complaint #11337727, filed 2020-07, 49,800 miles

   “On friday may 29 2020 I had to stop for an emergency vehicle and my truck lost all brakes it went right to the floor under normal use they appear to work at about 75% my vehicle was in motion on a city street going straight.”

   NHTSA complaint #11326600, filed 2020-05, 86,500 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalling, reduced power and misfire

   • 245 complaints (14%)
   • median 57,834 mi at 4.5 yrs old (154 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $829 (median of 26 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the engine stalling at idle or at stop lights, dropping into a reduced-power mode with wrench and stability-control warnings, or losing power under acceleration. Several say the cause was a faulty electronic throttle body, which was replaced at the owner's expense; others report repeated cylinder misfires and ignition coil replacement that returned after a short time. Some mention shaking or sputtering before the power loss. Spread from about 46,000 to 150,000 miles, often reported while accelerating or while stopped in traffic.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body, coils or powertrain control module have been replaced, and take a test drive that includes idling in gear and a steady 35–45 mph acceleration to check for stumbles.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The truck completely lost power on a major interstate. The engine kept running, but no power to maneuver putting me and my family's safety in jeopardy. I was lucky it did not stall in a different place, or there could have been a major accident. It turned out to be a bad electronic throttle body. Ford dealer replaced it at a cost of $500.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328647, filed 2020-06, 80,000 miles

   “I was driving my 2015 F-150 on a city street at 35 MPH when suddenly my truck lost all acceleration power and began to shake violently. The engine continued to shake and sputter as I brought the vehicle to a stop. The service engine light came on along with two codes to 'service advancetrac' and 'hill decent control fault'. I turned the vehicle off, then restarted. It seemed to take longer to crank, but it started and I proceeded down the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11367108, filed 2020-10, 93,875 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Wipers that will not switch off and rear-window failures

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the wipers continuing to run when the switch is off or refusing to change speed. Others describe the rear defroster causing a burning smell or arcing at the window contacts, followed by the rear glass shattering, and some report the rear sliding window coming loose or its frame fracturing so water gets in. Mostly reported between about 22,000 and 105,000 miles; the rear-glass failures happened while parked, warming up, or just after the defroster was turned on.

   What to check: Operate the wipers at every speed setting and check the rear defroster contacts and sliding rear window for looseness, cracks or water stains.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Every time I use my windshield wipers they want turn off even when they are off. They keep going even after you turn the wipers switch to 0 (off) its does this when the vehicle moving or stationary..”

   NHTSA complaint #11364045, filed 2020-10, 88,555 miles

   “I was driving to work after dropping my daughter off and out of nowhere I heard a very loud pop sound. I looked in my rear view mirror and the entire back window was shattered. I was on a main road. Smooth. Going approx 40-50mph. No cars were behind me. I pulled over to see if it was struck by a rock or falling object... No clear impact. It was evenly shattered across the entire window. It was about 65 degrees f. Defrost was not on at the time. Smelled similar to that burning smell after an airbag deploys. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11359967, filed 2020-09, 78,817 miles

Buying note. The 2015 F-150 records are dominated by transmission shift behaviour and brake fluid loss, so a pre-purchase inspection that covers both, plus checking open recalls by VIN, is worth the cost. Ask for service records on transmission and brake hydraulic work, and budget for those items if the history is unknown.

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.