I counted every NHTSA complaint and every recall campaign on file for eleven F-150 model years, 2015 through 2025. The two years at the top stand out for different reasons: owners complained most about the 2018's drivetrain, while the 2021's recalls are spread all over the truck.
How many complaints and recalls does each F-150 year have?
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,693 | 14 |
| 2016 | 2,038 | 14 |
| 2017 | 1,431 | 18 |
| 2018 | 2,288 | 19 |
| 2019 | 1,314 | 9 |
| 2020 | 720 | 11 |
| 2021 | 1,253 | 29 |
| 2022 | 799 | 23 |
| 2023 | 496 | 13 |
| 2024 | 219 | 11 |
| 2025 | 120 | 15 |
Complaints count each owner report once, even if it names several parts of the truck. Recall campaigns are counted by NHTSA campaign number.
Don't add up the recall column. Plenty of campaigns cover more than one model year. Campaign 24V852000 (equipment labels) lists every year from 2018 to 2024, so it sits in seven rows at once. Across these eleven years the table holds 176 year-rows but only 102 different campaigns.
What do 2018 F-150 owners complain about most?
The transmission. Of the 2,288 NHTSA complaints on the 2018 F-150 as of September 16, 2026, 993 name the transmission or drivetrain. That's 43.4%, a bigger share than any area has on the 2021. Engine comes second at 581 (25.4%).
The recall list points the same way. Four of the 2018's 19 recall campaigns cover automatic transmission parts:
- 17V669000 (Oct 24, 2017): transmission control module.
- 18V213000 (Apr 4, 2018): automatic transmission.
- 18V214000 (Apr 5, 2018): automatic transmission.
- 26V375000 (Jun 9, 2026): transmission control module.
That last one is recent, dated June 9, 2026, so a 2018 that was fully caught up on recalls last year may have a new one open now. The 2018 F-150 page lists all 19 campaigns and the full complaint breakdown.
The 2021's 29 recalls are spread across the whole truck
As of September 16, 2026, the 2021 F-150's 29 recall campaigns are spread across the whole truck, with no single part behind most of them. Six involve visibility: the windshield, the wiper and washer system (four campaigns on its own), and the sunroof. Three cover driveshafts (21V381000, 21V986000, 22V623000), three the transmission (22V188000, 25V169000, 26V402000) and three the integrated trailer brake controller (22V193000, 25V132000, 26V104000). The rest are one or two apiece, from seat belts to backup lights.
Owners' complaints line up with part of that. The 2021 has 1,253 complaints. Transmission and drivetrain lead at 433 (34.6%), and visibility and lighting come next at 255 (20.4%). On the 2018, that visibility share was 4.6%.
| 2021 F-150, top six complaint areas | Complaints | Share of all 1,253 |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 433 | 34.6% |
| Visibility & Lighting | 255 | 20.4% |
| Electrical | 170 | 13.6% |
| Other | 131 | 10.5% |
| Engine | 122 | 9.7% |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 117 | 9.3% |
A long recall list isn't the same thing as a bad truck, and a campaign listed for the 2021 may not include your VIN. Still, that's 29 campaigns to check against your VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup. The 2021 F-150 page has every campaign with its date.
Are newer F-150s better, or just younger?
Too soon to tell from complaints. The 2024 has 219 complaints and the 2025 has 120, but newer model years have simply had less time on the road to collect reports. The 2018's first recall is dated October 2017, so it has had close to nine years to reach its 2,288. Raw counts also ignore how many trucks Ford sold each year, which is why RideTruth's methodology notes say complaints aren't failure rates.
Recalls are different. The 2025 is the newest year in the table and already has 15 campaigns, more than the 2023 (13) or the 2024 (11).
How do I compare two F-150 years?
You can compare the 2018 and 2021 F-150 on complaints, recalls and EPA fuel economy in one table, or swap in whichever years you're shopping. Every other model year is on the Ford F-150 hub, and the rest of the lineup is on the Ford page.