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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 14
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,497 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Ford F-150 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2016 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 4 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #69

Nov 022019

F-150

  • 42,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Sync 3 disconnects from phone, freezes up while driving causing hazardous condition, known problems and Ford has know real fix

- Phila, PA, USA

problem #68

Nov 112019

F-150

  • 123,000 miles
While diving onto an interstate on ramp, the back glass shattered. Nothing struck the glass, it just broke. When the window was replaced, it was discovered the rear defroster wiring had burned both on the window and in the truck. The rear defroster overheated the window and caused it to shatter. It nearly started a fire.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #67

Oct 122019

F-150

  • 78,654 miles
After starting vehicle, could smell electrical wiring burning. Couple days later rear window with defroster wires melted. Causing window to over heat and break. Window repair person at safelite indicated we are luck truck didnt burn up. He showed us the melted wires.

- Wautoma, WI, USA

problem #66

May 012019

F-150

  • 1 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Sync 3 freezes to the point of lack of use. Back up camera delayed. Delayed adjustment in sound. Bluetooth disconnects/reconnected causing distraction when driving. Gps navigation signal will not reconnect or not accurate.

- Summerville, SC, USA

problem #65

Sep 262019

F-150

  • 64,000 miles
Driving normally on four lane divided state road when warnings about various system failures came up on dash (traction control, braking, charging system). Power steering stopped working first then truck shut down. Got jump started thinking battery or alternator and truck drove normally for a few minutes then same scenario repeated.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #64

Sep 142019

F-150

  • 36,100 miles
Have had this vehicle to dealer multiple times with complaint of hearing rattling under vehicle and in steering column along with noise from right front brake area. Also with complaints of vehicles wandering left and right on highway regardless of road crown. Have asked specifically to check the electric steering to ensure not faulty. All these complaints while still under original warranty. Today, two weeks after last visit, steering locks up while driving and I cannot turn the vehicle. Fortunately, I was on my property going slow and was able to stop safely. I was driving home and drove 30 miles on the interstate doing 70mph. Glad the steering did not freeze then. Shut the vehicle off and then restarted it and got the 'steering assist fault service required' on the cluster along with a bunch of other symbols. The sync screen came up and froze and could not be cleared nor was it responsive to any other selections on screen. I think this is an electrical issue with either the electric steering, a sensor or possible low or interrupted voltage. This vehicle has no voltage gauge for battery nor was there any indicator that warned of a low voltage issue when the steering wheel would not turn. Is NHTSA waiting for someone to be killed with this problem before it is investigated? I am waiting until Monday when dealer opens to have them come get this vehicle. I am afraid to even attempt to do anything to it to drive it to dealer for service. I am uploading the latest service invoice for this issue. Dealer has consistently stated there was nothing wrong.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #63

Sep 092019

F-150

  • 58,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Truck experienced multiple sensor failures over several months that reset. Failures include car stalling in intersection, blind spot monitoring, back up sensors, car shutting off and turning back on on its own. Car had to be powered down and shut off for 30 seconds before being allowed to restart. Most recent failure resulted in truck horn going off as well as car turning off while going 35-40 mph then restarting on its own - car surged forward after it restarted itself. At the same time hazards coming on, doors unlocking and locking and rear tailgate opening. After bringing car to a complete stop, shut off car and it turned itself back on (horn went off, hazards went on, doors unlocked and locked, and rear tail gate released). Towed to dealership for repairs and they were unable to recreate the problem.

- Alto, MI, USA

problem #62

Jun 212019

F-150

  • 40,000 miles
Driving down road. Smell electrical burning smell. A minute later the rear window explodes into a million pieces. Call dealership. They say "we've never seen that problem before." Take it to window repair shop. "oh we see this with F150S several times per week." They tell me its due to the rear defrost not automatically turning off. I had turned it on a week before to defrost the rear windows. I had not turned it on the day it exploded. Ford knows this is an issue. Otherwise, why would one small window repair place see this several times/week?

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #61

Jul 072019

F-150

  • 41,000 miles
I turned on the rear defroster & the cabin started smoking. I pull over to get out to breathe, one minute later the back windshield shatters completely.

- Dumas, TX, USA

problem #60

Jan 182019

F-150

  • miles
It idles rough at stop light sometimes shuts down, radio screen is blank sometimes w radio or phone call. Electrical burning smell enough to make me nauseous. The computer reads no codes. This happens every couple of days, it has been at 2 different shops up to weeks at a time they have changed several parts but none have fixed it.

- Kingwood, TX, USA

problem #59

Jun 162019

F-150

  • 31,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Radio/audio does not work intermittently on 2016 F150 platinum sync system. This is widely none problem with these trucks and Ford is not doing anything about it. This is related to NHTSA id #10091432. Ford tsb #ssm 45945. This was a $70,000 and Ford is accepting responsibility to fix a simple radio issue.

- Saint Johns, FL, USA

problem #58

May 292019

F-150

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owned a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 30-40 mph, 2 miles down the road there was an electrical burning odor coming from the vehicle. The driver exited the vehicle and opened the rear passenger side door where it was discovered that there were flames. The contact was unable to extinguish the fire. The police was called, they extinguished the fire. It was unknown if a report was filed on the incident. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The insurance company determined that the vehicle was destroyed. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle was repaired back in February 2019 under NHTSA campaign number: 18V568000 (seat belts, structure) by the dealer (david mcdavid Ford fort worth, 300 w loop 820 S, fort worth, tx 76108). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired after the fire. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #57

May 252019

F-150

  • 42,000 miles
Rear tailgate opens on it's own while driving.

- Delaware, OH, USA

problem #56

Apr 222019

F-150

  • 48,000 miles
Tailgate opens by itself. Has happened while driving at least once (that I know of because I have a bed cap on that has held it in place). The one time I noticed it I was towing a trailer and was fortunate that the tailgate did not get wedged between the trailer jack on a turn. I have now noticed that the tailgate will open and the latch mechanism will continue to fire even after the tailgate is down,

- Marinette, WI, USA

problem #55

Apr 222019

F-150

  • 67,000 miles
Rear defogger on sliding rear window has become completely disconnected. Poor design. When automatically opening sliding rear window, the defogger mechanism gets caught on rear seat eventually, this lead to the rear defogger disconnecting and breaking off from his housing.

- Wrentham, MA, USA

problem #54

Jun 092018

F-150

  • miles
Truck has re-occurring frequent episodes of center control panel does not function - when this occurs- radio does not work - no heater -window defroster or a.C / windows can not be rolled up or down - air bag indicator is not working - so don't know if the air bags would deployed if an accident should occur.the truck has been to 1 dealer which said it was a soft wear issue and claimed to fix it.. lasted less than 50 miles and back to square one, , sitting at the second dealer which states it not doing it now, , so come and pick it up, they ran a diagnostics and no default codes were found. This is not resolving the issue. If you cant tell me what you did to fix it..the issue remains unresolved.. a safety issue for all occupants in the cab of the truck.. if the air bags fail to deploy because of the issue stated in this complaint is not addressed by the Ford Motor Company.. I have been in contact with the Ford relationship - personnel - and now awaiting for a call from the regional officer...the truck is still under factory warranty and Ford is required to fulfill there obligation to the consumer and fix default product..

- Lebanon Junction, KY, USA

problem #53

Dec 272018

F-150

  • 4 miles
My wife left work around 445 pm on 12/27/18, when she started the vehicle prior to putting the vehicle in drive the lights on the dashboard (instrument cluster alone with the radio display) do not come on(total blackout), this is not the first time(2 times prior to this date) this has happen to her but we have notice this occurring during cold weather periods. So my wife drove about 4 miles thinking the light would come on, which they did not, so she pulled into a business parking lot, parked the vehicle and turn it off for about 3 minutes. She then turned on the vehicle at which time all the dashboard lights came on.

- Elkton, MD, USA

problem #52

Jan 222018

F-150

  • miles
The contact owned a 2016 Ford F-150. While the contact was on vacation, the vehicle caught fire in the driveway. The contact's child was at home, saw the vehicle on fire, and called the fire department. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact's insurance company deemed the vehicle totaled. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Hilside, NJ, USA

problem #51

Jan 212019

F-150

  • 20,000 miles
While driving the interior instrument lights suddenly come on park brake, 4X4, air bag, traction, ABS, advance trac, and steering assist. During this process the brakes engage & then you can hear the scrubbing sound of the brakes.this has happened multiple times. I've returned it to the dealer for service 3 times, after a month of diagnostic testing & road testing the steering system failed on the serviceman while driving it. They informed me that they want to return the vehicle to me without making any repairs because it has not re initiated this process in the last 3 days. This is a safety hazard for me and any other vehicle on the road. Ford has informed me that if the steering goes out while driving call roadside to bring it back. Total disregard for my safety and or anyone else. This event occurs while driving, it also shows these readings upon starting the vehicle. This has happened under 30,000 miles and over that threshold. It has happened on multiple occasions.

- Solon, OH, USA

problem #50

Jan 292019

F-150

  • 32,150 miles
Freezing door latches causing the door not to stay shut in cold temperatures or open the door can fly open because you think that it is shut while you're driving down the road causing damage to the door losing personal belongings and if a occupant is not seatbelted flying out of the vehicle the doors on these trucks will not latch when you shut the door they bounce back open and then sometimes you think their latched and they're not then taking a turn and the door swings open Ford is aware of this problem they have put out tsb's and fsa in order to try to repair it with no success I personally have had my truck in the shop for this issue 5 to 6 times with no fix this is very dangerous and scares my kids that are inside the back of my truck when their door flying open or when they have to hold it shut while we're driving down the road to school

- Hernando, MS, USA

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