These Ford F-150s are usually great trucks, but some model years are plagued with a truckload of problems.

As one of the bestselling trucks in America, the Ford F-150 needs no introduction. Suitable for just about any task a pickup truck can do, Ford makes an F-150 for just about every customer. Whether you go for a new or used F-150, the light-duty pickup generally offers satisfying performance with class-leading capabilities. The 2009 iteration is the most reliable model year for the F-150, going by its stellar rating on Edmunds, J.D. Power, and Kelley Blue Book.

However, like most used cars, don’t expect even the most reliable F-150 to be perfect. You can expect the average Ford F-150 to last up to 200,000 miles before it becomes unreliable. The Ford engine is the bane of the F-150’s existence. The modern F-150 model years having engine problems as the leading source of complaints includes 1998-2003, 2006-2009, 2011-2014, and 2016-2019. While a used Ford F-150 price is quite reasonable, avoid getting any of these unreliable model years.

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The 2022 Ford F-150 has the grit to do your heavy lifting. But it’s plagued by a plethora of problems, making it less appealing than the Ram 1500. To start with, Ford has issued 8 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls for the 2022 F-150. Parts affected by the recalls include the airbags, brakes, driveshaft, windshield wiper, and steering.

2022 F-150 owners have also pointed out that they experience hard shifts, especially between the 9th and 10th gear. It’s also important to note that the 2022 F-150 is a gas guzzler—save for the hybrid.

If there’s a Ford F-150 you should avoid like the plague, it’s the 2004 model year. Owners of this model year would most likely have experienced intermittent rough idling caused by the EGR sensor sticking. This issue requires the sensor to be replaced.

It’s also not uncommon to see the V8 engine ejecting spark plugs. This issue may produce a knocking sound and the engine may misfire at all speeds. Besides engine problems, the 2004 F-150 is also weighed down by problems involving the transmission, windows, and paint job.

The 2005 Ford F-150 handles more nimbly than the previous generation, but if you don’t want to spend more time at your mechanic’s shop than on the road, it’s best to avoid it. Ford has issued a total of 14 recalls for the 2005 F-150.

Owners of the 2005 F-150 complain mostly about the engine and windows. There are even reports of the 2005 F-150’s engine stalling or dying while driving. Another awful problem that’s common with the 2005 F-150 is transmission failure.

The 2006 Ford F-150 is just as bad as the previous model year, with its airbags, lighting, brakes, and tires necessitating a total of 14 NHTSA recalls. The major source of trouble for the 2006 F-150 is the engine.

Owners of the model year report the spark plug breaking off in the head, engine misfiring, and failure. It’s also pretty common for the 2006 F-150’s transmission to blow unexpectedly.

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The 2010 Ford F-150 offers better fuel economy with its revised six-speed automatic transmission. It’s also dependable for some serious towing jobs, but it comes with more trouble than you might be able to put up with. Ford even issued a recall for the 2010 F-150 due to the tendency of the door handle spring to fail, causing the door latch to open.

Whether it’s leaks around the rear window, or the moonroof being stuck, the windows are another common source of problems for the 2010 F-150. There’s also a high possibility of experiencing issues with the engine and transmission of the 2010 F-150, and these problems cost good money to fix.

It’s great that Ford introduces four new engines with a six-speed automatic transmission to the 2011 F-150, but don’t get all your hopes up. The 2011 F-150 is one of the model years that has engine problems. The engine, transmission, and brake pedal have all prompted six recalls for the 2011 F-150.

If you own a 2011 F-150, chances are high you have experienced engine stalls while in motion. Engine misfiring and failure are not also alien to 2011 F-150 owners, who also have to grapple with problems relating to the AC/heater, fuel system, and steering.

The 2013 Ford F-150 rides more like a Lincoln SUV than a stiffly-sprung work truck, so you might be tempted to buy it, but don’t! If you somehow manage to escape the multitude of problems bedeviling the 2013 F-150’s engine, the brakes, transmission, windows, and steering will come with their challenges.

There are three NHTSA recalls on the 2013 F-150, resulting from brake fluid leaks, and unexpected downshifting into first gear while driving, which may lead to an accident.

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With its best-in-class towing and payload capacity and decent fuel economy, the 2015 Ford F-150 is great on many fronts. But when it comes to reliability, you should look somewhere else. There are 12 known recalls for this 2015 model year, many of which have to do with crucial components like the engine, brakes, and steering.

Owners of the 2015 F-150 often complain about the transmission shifting roughly, leaking transmission fluid, and transmission failure. There are also numerous reports of interior accessories, like the seat cooling system, alarm, dash cluster, blind spot indicator, and Bluetooth, malfunctioning.

The 2016 iteration is one of the reasons many people ask: are F-150s unreliable? While the average Ford F-150 is expected to last between 200,000 - 300,000 miles, the 2016 model year might not live that long because it's plagued with issues related to the engine, brakes, body, transmission, and electrical components.

Data from Consumer Reports shows that the 2016 F-150 has been recalled 13 times. These recalls are due to issues with the airbags, engine, seats, service brakes, and door locks.

Ford introduces a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, and a 10-speed automatic transmission for the 2017 F-150. You can even find a used 2017 Ford F-150 for sale for less than $25,000, but if you want a trouble-free ownership experience, you might want to avoid this particular model year.

There are a total of 15 recalls on the 2017 F-150, making it one of the most problematic full-size trucks in Ford’s lineup. The various engines available for the 2017 F-150 might be powerful and impressive for towing, but they are the major source of problems.

Sources: Repairpal, KBB, Edmunds, Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, Car Complaints,

Peter Akpejeluh is a content writer with years of experience in the automotive industry. His love for cars makes crafting colorful stories around them quite effortless. When Peter is not developing automotive content, you can find him taking one of his favorite cars for a spin.