2016 Ford F-150 Recalls, Safety Defects & Free Remedies

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Recall Campaigns

Federal recall campaigns

Urgent Safety Directives

Zero urgent stop-drive alerts

Affected Subsystems

Air Bags & Restraints, Engine & Cooling

Authorized Remedy

100% Free

Mandated dealer repair by law

Federal Safety Campaign Analysis

Executive Recall Findings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists 14 official safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford F-150 in AutoUtility's current federal dataset. The primary affected vehicle systems include Air Bags & Restraints, Engine & Cooling, Body & Structure. The 2016 Ford F-150 belongs to the 13th Generation (P552) platform.

VIN Specificity Notice: Safety recall campaigns apply to specific production date ranges and vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Check your 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov or with an authorized dealer to verify whether a safety repair is open.

Campaign Status & Legal Rights

• Federal Authority: Recalls administered under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301.
• Free Dealer Remedy: Under federal law, safety defect repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers.
• Latest Campaign Filing: Recorded on April 14, 2026.

Federal Directives

Official NHTSA Recall Campaigns (14)

Complete safety campaign filings including defect descriptions, safety hazards, and free dealer remedies

NHTSA Campaign #26V237000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Filed: April 14, 2026

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150 vehicles. A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.

Safety Risk / Consequence

Unexpectedly downshifting into second gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 15, 2026.

NHTSA Campaign #22V150000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

Filed: March 11, 2022

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and 2016-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.

Safety Risk / Consequence

A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed April 29, 2022. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-332. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S11.

NHTSA Campaign #21E027000 SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

Filed: April 12, 2021

What is defective?

Tenneco Automotive (DRiV) is recalling certain MOOG K500359 ball joints, for aftermarket installation on 2015-2018 Ford F-150 trucks. The ball joint may have a misaligned dust boot and may be missing alignment hole and installation warning tag, which may lead to improper alignment of the ball joint.

Safety Risk / Consequence

An incorrectly installed ball joint may cause the ball joint stud to break, which can compromise front wheel control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

DRiV will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary replace the ball joint, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Tenneco Automotive customer service at 1-877-489-6659.

NHTSA Campaign #20V332000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Filed: June 8, 2020

Linked NHTSA Defect Investigation: Initiated from ODI Action #RQ16001 (Brake Master Cylinder Failure). View Investigation →

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2017 F-150 pickup trucks equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may leak brake fluid into the brake booster.

Safety Risk / Consequence

A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel and feel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, possibly requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder and inspect the brake booster, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Ford issued owners an interim notification on June 30, 2020. The recall began on October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S31.

NHTSA Campaign #20V098000 ENGINE

Filed: February 21, 2020

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2016 F-150 pick-up trucks equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines and block immersion heaters that were potentially relocated from their originally installed location. The incorrect location could put the heater too close to hot engine components, possibly resulting in a damaged cable.

Safety Risk / Consequence

A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the block heater's location and its cable, replacing components as necessary, free of charge. If the replacement parts are not available, dealers will disable the existing block heater cable from being used until parts become available. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S08.

NHTSA Campaign #19V278000 ENGINE

Filed: April 8, 2019

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.

Safety Risk / Consequence

A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.

NHTSA Campaign #18V894000 ENGINE

Filed: December 18, 2018

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.

Safety Risk / Consequence

When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.

NHTSA Campaign #18V568000 SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

Filed: August 31, 2018

Linked NHTSA Defect Investigation: Initiated from ODI Action #PE18008 (Seatbelt Pretensioner Fire). View Investigation →

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.

Safety Risk / Consequence

A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S27.

NHTSA Campaign #17V767000 SEATS

Filed: November 29, 2017

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 F-150 and Explorer vehicles. Loose power seat adjuster pivot bolts may cause the front seat cushions to detach and not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash.

Safety Risk / Consequence

In the event of a crash, a seat occupant that is not properly restrained has an increased risk of injury.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the power seat track upper pivot link bolt, either applying threadlocker or replacing the lift link and hardware, free of charge. Interim letters are expected to go out January 15, 2018. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S40.

NHTSA Campaign #17V652000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Filed: October 16, 2017

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the doors opening while driving although they appear to be closed.

Safety Risk / Consequence

A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S33.

NHTSA Campaign #17V526000 SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

Filed: August 28, 2017

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250 and F-350 trucks equipped with a crew cab. The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle assembly may be inadequately attached to its mounting bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Safety Risk / Consequence

If the left rear inflatable seat belt buckle separates from it's mounting bracket, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained, increasing their risk of injury.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assembly, replacing the attaching rivet as necessary, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed October 18, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C12.

NHTSA Campaign #17V331000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Filed: May 22, 2017

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles originally produced with black or body colored exterior door handles that may have been subsequently equipped with a chrome exterior door handle cover accessory kit purchased from a Ford dealer. These accessory door handle covers may cause the doors to unlatch in a side impact collision. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

Safety Risk / Consequence

If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price. The recall began July 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C09.

NHTSA Campaign #16V475000 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Filed: June 28, 2016

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Explorer and F-150 vehicles equipped with a manual recline driver's seat. The seat back frame may have insufficient welds which may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Safety Risk / Consequence

The seat back may not adequately restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall begin on August 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 16C11.

NHTSA Campaign #16V110000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Filed: February 25, 2016

What is defective?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 F-150 trucks manufactured April 27, 2015, to November 22, 2015, and equipped with Multi-Contour Seats (MCS). The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) that calibrates the air bag deployment level may incorrectly classify an adult as a child when the seat massage feature is activated.

Safety Risk / Consequence

If an adult is incorrectly classified as a child, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Occupant Classification System Module (OCSM) with new software, free of charge. The recall began on March 11, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S05.

Subsystem Scope

Vehicle Systems Involved in Recalls for 2016 Ford F-150

Distribution of official safety recall campaigns across automotive subsystem domains

01 3 CAMPAIGNS

Air Bags & Restraints

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Air Bags & Restraints subsystem.

44 Consumer Complaints →

02 3 CAMPAIGNS

Engine & Cooling

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Engine & Cooling subsystem.

271 Consumer Complaints →

03 2 CAMPAIGNS

Body & Structure

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Body & Structure subsystem.

222 Consumer Complaints →

04 2 CAMPAIGNS

Brakes & Traction Control

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Brakes & Traction Control subsystem.

342 Consumer Complaints →

05 2 CAMPAIGNS

Seats & Interior

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Seats & Interior subsystem.

18 Consumer Complaints →

06 1 CAMPAIGN

Powertrain & Transmission

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Powertrain & Transmission subsystem.

362 Consumer Complaints →

07 1 CAMPAIGN

Steering System

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Steering System subsystem.

56 Consumer Complaints →

08 1 CAMPAIGN

Suspension

Safety campaign directives specifically targeting components within the Suspension subsystem.

16 Consumer Complaints →

Fleet History

Recall History for Ford F-150

Official safety recall campaign volume across sibling model years (2015–2026)

Model Year	NHTSA Recalls	NHTSA Complaints	Detailed Report
2015 Ford F-150	14	1425	View 2015 Recalls →
2016 Ford F-150 Current Page	14	1732	Current
2017 Ford F-150	18	1101	View 2017 Recalls →
2018 Ford F-150	19	1883	View 2018 Recalls →
2019 Ford F-150	9	985	View 2019 Recalls →
2020 Ford F-150	11	533	View 2020 Recalls →
2021 Ford F-150	29	1234	View 2021 Recalls →
2022 Ford F-150	23	880	View 2022 Recalls →
2023 Ford F-150	12	595	View 2023 Recalls →
2024 Ford F-150	10	243	View 2024 Recalls →
2025 Ford F-150	12	122	View 2025 Recalls →
2026 Ford F-150	1	0	View 2026 Recalls →

Consumer Checklist

VIN-Specific Recall Verification

How to confirm whether an individual vehicle requires an authorized safety repair

Safety recall campaigns apply to specific vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and manufacturing date ranges. To verify if your individual vehicle has an uncompleted safety recall:

Locate your 17-character VIN on the driver's side door jamb or dashboard.
Enter the VIN into the official NHTSA recall lookup at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Contact any franchised Ford dealership to schedule a free remedy appointment.

Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Safety Recalls & Federal Directives for the 2016 Ford F-150

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Ford F-150

How many safety recalls are on file for the 2016 Ford F-150?

The 2016 Ford F-150 is associated with 14 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns, affecting systems including Air Bags & Restraints, Engine & Cooling, Body & Structure.

A recall campaign listing indicates that a safety defect or noncompliance standard was determined for specific production runs of this vehicle model year.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

Are there urgent 'Do Not Drive' or 'Park Outside' directives for the 2016 Ford F-150?

No official 'Do Not Drive' or 'Park Outside' safety advisories are associated with recall records for the 2016 Ford F-150 in AutoUtility's current dataset.

Urgent directives apply to critical safety risks; standard recall campaigns require timely inspection and remedy at an authorized dealer.

Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database

Are recall repairs free for the 2016 Ford F-150?

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge.

Federal law (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301) requires manufacturers and franchised dealers to provide authorized safety recall repairs at no cost to the vehicle owner. Because campaigns apply to specific production runs and option packages, vehicle owners must verify their 17-character VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or through an authorized dealership to confirm individual applicability.

Source: National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301)

Does a recall campaign apply to every 2016 Ford F-150?

Not necessarily. Model-year recall campaigns typically apply to specific vehicle production date ranges, assembly plants, or optional equipment packages.

AutoUtility's model-year records describe campaign scope; owners must check their individual 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or through an authorized dealership to confirm if an open recall applies to their specific vehicle.

Source: NHTSA VIN Lookup Service

Official US Government Data Provenance

Recall records published on this page are retrieved directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Safety Recalls Database under 49 U.S.C. 30118.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.

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Executive Recall Findings

Official NHTSA Recall Campaigns (14)

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

What is defective?

Safety Risk / Consequence

Authorized Free Dealer Remedy

Vehicle Systems Involved in Recalls for 2016 Ford F-150

Air Bags & Restraints

Engine & Cooling

Body & Structure

Brakes & Traction Control

Seats & Interior

Powertrain & Transmission

Steering System

Suspension

Recall History for Ford F-150

VIN-Specific Recall Verification

Related Official Reports for 2016 Ford F-150

← 2016 Ford F-150 Overview

2016 Ford F-150 Owner Complaints (1732) →

2016 Ford F-150 Safety & Crash Ratings →

2016 Ford F-150 MPG & Range →

Quick Answers: Safety Recalls & Federal Directives for the 2016 Ford F-150

How many safety recalls are on file for the 2016 Ford F-150?

Are there urgent 'Do Not Drive' or 'Park Outside' directives for the 2016 Ford F-150?

Are recall repairs free for the 2016 Ford F-150?

Does a recall campaign apply to every 2016 Ford F-150?