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FORD · vehicle model

FORD F150

986 NHTSA complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 1975–1990.

Complaints
986
Recalls
0
Model years
15

The FORDF150 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 986 consumer safety complaints and 0 recall campaigns across 15 model years (1975–1990). That averages roughly 66 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 2 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
1990290
1989241
1988170
1987107
198678
198545
198414
198312
19825
19812
19803
19792
197813
19773
19751

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

90
’95
309
’96
92
’97
80
’98
82
’99
107
’00
71
’01
67
’02
27
’03
13
’04
17
’05
6
’06
11
’07
6
’08
3
’09
2
’10
3
’11

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare FORDF150 to Similar Vehicles

FORDF150 vs CHRYSLERSEBRING CONVERTIBLE → FORDF150 vs HYUNDAIAZERA → FORDF150 vs LINCOLNMARK VIII → FORDF150 vs MITSUBISHIMONTERO →

NHTSA Investigations

RQ98022Recall QueryClosed1998-11-13

REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE

EA96020Engineering AnalysisClosed1996-08-30

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the FORD F150?▼
The FORD F150 has received 986 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1975 to 1990, with 0 recalls. That averages about 66 complaints per model year.
What years of FORD F150 are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the FORD F150 from 1975 to 1990 (15 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the FORD F150 have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many FORD F150 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common FORD F150 complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the FORD F150 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my FORD F150 has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. FORD F150 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.