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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,162 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #65

Jun 292024

F-150

  • miles

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

Vehicle is exhibiting issues consistent with the recalled lead frame part on previous year models, despite my 2016 having the same transmission as they do. Truck will randomly downshift into first at slower speeds causing engine to rev very high and not want to shift into next gear. Often times it will get -??stuck-?? in 3rd gear even when coming to a complete stop and leaving a stop in 3rd still. On one occasion the truck shuddered and began to decelerate even as the accelerator was being pressed on the highway causing a significant safety issue, I had to put in neutral and restart the truck while still driving to regain forward mobility of the vehicle. When these things occur typically a little gear wrench symbol will appear on the dash and on one occasion has raised a check engine light with code P0720.

- Chuluota, FL, USA

problem #64

Jun 262024

F-150

  • miles
Transmission started shifting eratacely eventually went out in 2023 replaced late or early 2024, transmission still exhibiting same problems, biggest problem is not shifting out of 5th gear when coming to a stop.have to shut off truck to disable safe mode, doesn't always work.code is 720,721,723

- Temple, TX, USA

problem #63

May 152024

F-150

  • miles
I was driving on [XXX] in the City of Chester, PA, at the merge with [XXX]; this is a high traffic, multi-lane, confusing merge for drivers unfamiliar with the road ( I know it well). My truck just shut down, and I had to put it in neutral to re-start it. I knew there was a problem, because it had previously shifted roughly at times. But I just had it inspected at the Garnet Ford dealership, told them about the problem, and they could not diagnose/fix it. It passed inspection, and I thought that it would iron out, but instead, I could have been in real trouble. I took it to another mechanic, and they told me it was something else. I paid $1,206 and the problem was still there. I finally think I figured it out by going on a chat with other Ford owners. I just made another appt. with Garnet to do the repair. This should be re-called. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Boothwyn, PA, USA

problem #62

May 012024

F-150

  • miles

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

The 6r80 transmission lead frame cause my truck to slam into first gear when going 55 miles an hour.

- Carnegie, PA, USA

problem #61

Apr 192024

F-150

  • miles
This has happened quiet a bit I'm driving on the highway going 75mph set my cruise control and I go to pass or up a hill and the truck engine and tranny light start flashing the truck losses power it won't go even when u push petal to floor it also spits and sputters if u turn of the cruise control put the car n neutral and shut it off then back on it stops this seems to b an constant thing there's no engine light or tranny lights on after it happens

- Melvern, KS, USA

problem #60

Apr 262024

F-150

  • miles
Car abruptly switched gear and slowed down while driving. Stepped on the gas but the car did not move while the rpm was spiking

- Stoughton , MA, USA

problem #59

Feb 162024

F-150

  • miles

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

Transmission will down shift to first while driving on highway. Code come up for transmission speed sensor short. Same as in the 2011 to 2013 models. That tab should be extended to later models. It is unsafe and could cause an accident/ death in high speed driving.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #58

Mar 112024

F-150

  • miles
2016 Ford F150 Platinum 5.0L V8 with automatic 6R80 transmission. Erratic gear shifting while driving. Sometimes not getting out of/stuck in 3rd gear and sometimes not downshifting below 3rd gear. Orange wrench or illuminated MIL light came on followed by a solid check engine light. Took it to dealership - DTC P0720 and P0722 appeared. Dealership tech states that he reprogrammed the PCM and output shaft speed sensor, and that the next step is to drive it and see how it does and if it didn-??t fix the problem then he will have to change the molded leadframe. This issue is exactly the same issue as the customer satisfaction program 19N01. The safety concern is I don-??t want to drive it around, waiting for the leadframe to fail one day while I-??m driving down the freeway with my family in 6th gear and have the truck shift abruptly to 3rd or 1st gear and lose control. This issue is exactly like the 19N01 with the same 6R80 transmission.

- Beaumont , TX, USA

problem #57

Oct 082023

F-150

  • miles
I was driving at 75 mph on the freeway when suddenly I lost acceleration and the ability to accelerate. There was a message "Hill Descent Control". I did not have time to see if it said error or failure. Then "Check Manual". I was very lucky to get 3 lanes over to get off to the side of the road without being rear ended. I turned the vehicle off in order to regain my composure, then back on with no warning messages. I drove home slower.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #56

May 302023

F-150

  • miles
Driving up a hill on interstate 70MPH when an engine light with Hill Climb Assist disabled error came on. Accellerater shut down and had to coast to side of road. I shut vehicle off and started back up and was able to proceed till I got off highway and proceeded up another hill and same thing happened stalled and came to a stop. I found dozens of other F150 owners having the same problem stalling in the highway. All the posts indicate they had a bad "Throttle Body". Ford has had similar problems on other models but doesn't aknowledge this one.

- Lenexa, KS, USA

problem #55

Jan 212023

F-150

  • miles

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

I was cruising on the highway normal speed them out of nowhere, my engine lost power and then a hill decent fault warning popped up. I pulled over then when I came to a complete stop my truck was shaking like if it had a misfire. So then I turned it off then back on. It turned back on on the first try but it struggled. When it turned on everything went away like nothing happen. Warning lights and the shaking went away.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #54

Oct 082022

F-150

  • miles
Transmission refused to down shift from 5th gear or go over 55 mph. Truck began to shutter and the powertrain wrench error code appeared on the dash. Truck also began to have a clanking sound. The truck jerked violently at 50 mph causing the safety of myself and 3 other passengers at risk. The Marshal Mize Ford dealer in Hixson, TN confirmed the transmission lead frame was faulty, just like the Ford recall for the 2011-2013 F150 truck.

- Signal Mountain, TN, USA

problem #53

May 172022

F-150

  • miles
Downshifting while I was driving happened without warning. Besides the gear switch, I noticed problems with the speedometer, erratic gear shifting, and the transmission stuck in one gear. I could have caused a major accident by the vehicle as I was at moderately high speed in motion when the vehicle began to fail. I did also bang my head on the steering wheel when the truck began to decelerate on its own! Mechanics told me it was a problem with the OOS (Output Speed Shaft Sensor). I could have got in a major accident had I not had a quick reaction to the truck automatically downshifting while at a high rate of speed. There is currently NO recalls for the 2016 F-150 model however, I did research and found that there are issues recalls for this VERY same problem for older F-150 models. This is an incredibly dangerous problem. My truck at this time only has 66,000 miles. Not very many miles on it for a 2016 to have this type of issue. Major research needed to get this resolved asap! People-??s lives are at stake with this truck!

- Corpus Christi , TX, USA

problem #52

May 152022

F-150

  • miles
I was driving vehicle to work. Going approximately 70 mph, the truck suddenly lost the ability to accelerate and starts running very rough, like it lost a cylinder. Then the collision warning comes on the dash and advanced trac icon and then the manual icon with the wrench that says check manual. I coast down the hill from the far left lane to the slow lane and take the first exit off the freeway and pull to the side of road. Shut the vehicle off, wait 30 seconds, try again starts right up and acts like no problem. Happened three times since. Same thing every time

- Petaluma, CA, USA

problem #51

Nov 082021

F-150

  • miles
during normal highway crusing, the transmission gear indicator started flashing and experienced loss of power, as if the car was in neutral causing me to decelerate. sometimes when the transmission "catches" again, it'll catch in a lower gear such as 2nd, which will cause rapid deceleration. Multiple times I've been worried about getting rear ended when this happens. This issue happens about 3 times per week. Dealership can't diagnose and I even have a video of this happening. Dealership states tranmission repairs are over 3 weeks out. Simply unnacceptable.

- Hoffman Estates, IL, USA

problem #50

Nov 162021

F-150

  • miles
I was following behind my sister driving the vehicle. While on the interstate behind a big rig in the fast lane, he was driving in the lane without passing anyone. I thought my sister was tired of following behind the rig and decided to pass him in the right lane. After watching her apply the brakes several times, she moved (to the next only and right) lane and the truck kept accelerating to high speeds 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 and then to 95 miles per hour, all along she is trying to apply the brake and it is not helping but you could see the taillights lighting up. Finally about a mile down the road she was able to get the truck back in control and pulled over into the median. We are all lucky the interstate was not congested at this area at this point of time, especially my sister.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #49

Jul 062021

F-150

  • miles
I have a critical safety issue with the 2016 F150 truck I bought from Cavalier Ford, Chesapeake VA. The issue is the 6R80 automatic transmission unexpectedly changes gears while driving. In my case the truck down shifted from high gear to low gear on the interstate while driving about 70 miles per hour. I was fortunate no other cars were near me. My truck almost came to a stop, no brake lights displayed. This occurred the week on Jul 6 2021. It has occurred multiple times since than as well. I had the battery checked, showed bad, and bought a new one Jul 9th. I also had the "Check Engine" light scanned at Autozone. It revealed codes P0706/707, ie Range Sensor inside the transmission. I called Cavalier for an appt (Aug 11th almost a month away!!!), informed it would be $140 for a diagnostic!! It was free at Autozone. I also had another free scan done at Logan's Auto repair on Jul 22nd, having codes P0702/705/706/707/1921, all pointing to the Range sensor in the tranny. I spoke with Cavalier representative Nicole on Jul 16th, no help, and also left Service Mgr. Cathy Hunt. a voicemail on Jul 23rd explaining my dilemma. She has not returned my call. My status now, I have a 2016 F150 Ford truck, I urgently need to work and daily errands, ie Grandkids. There was a recall on this issue on the 2011/12 F150s. How come not now, its a major safety issue, and I see a lot of these trucks around. I wanted to convey this to Ms Hunt. Summary...the motor in this truck blew up at approx 39000 miles, and Ford did replace it. Now, at 79000 miles the transmission is also gone out. Since my extended warranty of 75000 just expired, I need some assistance from either Cavalier or the Ford plant. I need a reliable truck for work and taking care of the grandkids. If no one has reached out to me my COB Jul 28th 2021, a safety complaint will be sent in to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration...Thank you

- Virginia Beach , VA, USA

problem #48

May 282021

F-150

  • miles
Driving down Interstate 80 at 70mph and Track Assist error, then Hill Start Assist Unavailable Error, Wrench light (see manual), engine light. I depress the gas pedal and there is no response, the engine rpm does not increase. I have to pull off to the side of the interstate, towing a boat, luckily not in construction zone ahead with concrete barriers on both sides. Turn off and restart, the engine / rpm still do not respond. Turned off for 5 minutes while I make a call. Turn on again and rough idle but the engine responds and I am able to drive the remaining 15 miles to home. Exact thing happened again 4 days later on 2 lane, hilly, country highway without a shoulder. I stopped in the road, hazards on, turned off/on again, didn't respond to gas. Wait 5 minutes turned on again and was able to get to home.

- Oxford, IA, USA

problem #47

Aug 012020

F-150

  • miles
I went to the Ford dealership & they're the ones who told me about the recall on the vehicle after I had purchased it. They made up excuses as to why they couldn't fix the problem, according to them they didn't have parts to resolve the recall issue & to come back another day. Not to worry that my vehicle is fine. I've noticed my truck is malfunctioning when I try to slow down & starts shaking making it hard to break on time. I now put in the VIN number to their website so I can schedule a service & the website tells me there's not a recall on my vehicle. I uploaded a image of what it says so there's evidence of their negligence. Not only did they sell me a truck with mechanical issues guaranteeing me that the truck was in phenomenal conditions but now they're also refusing to fix it.

- Monticello, GA, USA

problem #46

Aug 232020

F-150

  • 30,000 miles
Intermittent failure of reverse gear to engage. On multiple occasions the reverse gear fails to engage after multiple attempts to shift into and out of gear. This appears to be an electronic control issue with the transmission shifting control as it eventually resolves itself after numerous attempts. The problem is both inconvenience and safety as backing up is often necessary to execute a normal turn around. An accident resulting in two insurance claims resulted from this defect; I was attempting to backup in my home driveway and there was delay in the reverse gear engagement; not fully comprehending what was going on, I pressed on the gas to proceed while reverse was not engaging. Then the truck suddenly engaged in reverse and I lurched backward hitting another vehicle before I could apply the brake. Total damages for both vehicles exceeded $15,000.

- Lansing, NC, USA

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