2016 Ford F-150 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 615about this part
- Share
- 29%of 2,093 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 99,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 615 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2016 Ford F-150, 29% of the 2,093 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 99,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My truck will show a wrench light on the dash and downshift from 6th gear to 1st gear while driving causing the tires to lock up(70mph on the highway). This is a huge safety issues as I almost wrecked when it has done this. The 2011 to 2013 f-150s had a recall for this same issue but there is no recall for the 2016's. Truck shows code p0715.”
NHTSA complaint #11388858, filed 2021-01, 110,000 miles“Over the past few weeks, my truck would loose power and go into limp mode randomly. I would pull over, turn the truck off, and back on. It would be okay for a couple of days and then occur again. This would happen in town and twice while on the freeway. I took it in today and had the code read: p2112 throttle actuator control system - stuck closed”
NHTSA complaint #11306894, filed 2020-02, 78,000 miles“Intermittently while towing, after driving several hundred miles of non stop highway driving, the engine will kill after exiting the freeway. When I restart it by turning the key, it will kill again as soon as I put it in drive. This will happen several times before I get the engine to keep running. This happens only in the tow/haul mode. I have been to my local dealership 3 times and they have not been able to fix the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11298832, filed 2020-01, 23,000 miles“While towing a travel trailer, my 2016 Ford F-150 2.7l ecoboost engine exhibits intermittent engine stalls when coming to a stop and/or after restarting the vehicle. I had to gun the engine after restarting to keep it running. Note: this only happens when towing.”
NHTSA complaint #11375876, filed 2020-11, 100,000 miles“Was parking my trailer and had unhooked it go in to move it forward so I could put my trailer lock on left the door open like I have done countless times put the truck in park and got out started to walk back when the engine accelerated and the truck started to move backwards turned to jump in to hit the break when the door knocked me down the front tire hit my knee and leg and the door caught a post ripping it forward”
NHTSA complaint #11204449, filed 2019-04, 35,000 milesRelated recalls
- 26V237000Apr 14, 2026Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150 vehicles. A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control…Covers: Ford F-150 2015–2017
Related service bulletins
- 11035463Jul 9, 2026Customer Satisfaction Program 26N04 Certain 2015-2017 Model Year F-150 Vehicles Equipped with a 6R80 Transmission Transmission Molded Leadframe Replacement
- 11025611Nov 12, 2025Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
- 10251934Mar 1, 2024During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper, achieving proper torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt is critical…
- 10214754Jun 21, 2022Some 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…
- 10194428May 24, 2021Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
- 10189784Mar 18, 2021Some 2013-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with electronic shift on-the-fly (ESOF) 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in 2-wheel drive (2WD)…
- 10181915Oct 16, 2020Some 2013-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with Electronic Shift On-The-Fly (ESOF) 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in 2-wheel drive (2WD)…
- 10172940Mar 9, 2020Some 2015-2017 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 6R80 transmission may experience an intermittent loss of reverse engagement, loss of the ability to shift into reverse or a neutral…
- 10169986Dec 20, 2019Some 2015-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
- 10164426Aug 26, 2019Some 2013-2018 F-150/Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with four wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in two wheel drive (2WD) mode…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | 24% |
| 2024 | 58 | 30% |
| 2023 | 159 | 38% |
| 2022 | 162 | 27% |
| 2021 | 322 | 31% |
| 2020 | 360 | 49% |
| 2019 | 741 | 55% |
| 2018 | 1,019 | 44% |
| 2017 | 557 | 38% |
| 2016 | 615 | 29% |
| 2015 | 434 | 25% |
| 2014 | 426 | 28% |
| 2013 | 1,346 | 45% |
| 2012 | 682 | 38% |
| 2011 | 829 | 38% |
| 2010 | 121 | 14% |
| 2009 | 33 | 10% |
| 2008 | 50 | 14% |
| 2007 | 57 | 12% |
| 2006 | 46 | 8% |
| 2005 | 112 | 10% |
| 2004 | 232 | 11% |
| 2003 | 62 | 15% |
| 2002 | 53 | 6% |
| 2001 | 74 | 6% |
| 2000 | 47 | 4% |
| 1999 | 75 | 7% |
| 1998 | 83 | 6% |
| 1997 | 151 | 5% |
| 1996 | 26 | 8% |
| 1995 | 75 | 12% |
| 1994 | 56 | 8% |
| 1993 | 40 | 7% |
| 1992 | 28 | 6% |
| 1991 | 13 | 4% |
| 1990 | 13 | 5% |
| 1989 | 9 | 4% |
| 1988 | 8 | 6% |
| 1987 | 2 | 2% |
| 1986 | 2 | 3% |
| 1985 | 1 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2016 Ford F-150
340 complaintsEngine
319 complaintsOther or unknown
257 complaintsBody and structure
199 complaintsElectrical system
191 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
144 complaintsVehicle speed control
102 complaintsFuel system
95 complaintsSteering
64 complaintsWheels
53 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
52 complaintsAir bags
36 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Ford F-150
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology