CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2023 Ford F-150

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

397

Complaints

17

Crashes

4

Fires

11

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2023 Ford F-150 have filed 397 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2023 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 151 of them (38%). The typical failure was reported at 29,350 miles, the median across the 80 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 12 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (12)

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

26V489000 · July 28, 2026

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 and 2023-2026 F-250 SD vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C37. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 31, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 47,587 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

26V104000 · February 20, 2026

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 17, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 4,381,878 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

25V729000 · October 24, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, 2021-2023 F-150, 2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.
The risk
A detached wind deflector can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and repair the moonroof wind deflector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 30, 2025.

Ford Motor Company · up to 174,853 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

25V512000 · August 8, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
The risk
Damaged axle hub splines can result in a vehicle rollaway when in park without the parking brake applied or cause a loss of drive power. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the left and right rear axle shaft assemblies, free of charge. This is a phased recall. Ford owners will receive letters in multiple phases, beginning August 2025 through Winter 2025. Phase 1 will include 2023 F-150 model year vehicles. Phase 2 will include 2025 F-150 model year vehicles and Phase 3 will include 2024 F-150 model year vehicles. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 22, 2025. Owner notification letters were mailed August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S82. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 23V896.

Ford Motor Company · up to 103,174 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

25V315000 · May 9, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
The risk
A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,076,138 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

24V852000 · November 8, 2024

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy
Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

Ford Motor Company · up to 27,678 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

23V896000 · December 22, 2023

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
The risk
Damaged axle hub splines can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied or cause a loss of drive power. Both of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the left and right rear axle shaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S65.

Ford Motor Company · up to 112,965 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:COLUMN

23V847000 · December 15, 2023

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 and Ford SD F250, F350, F450, F550, and F600 vehicles. The steering wheel clock spring may have an insufficient weld, causing a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
The risk
A deactivated air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the clock spring as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Ford Motor Company · up to 17,970 vehicles across all model years covered

PARKING BRAKE:ELECTRICAL

23V509000 · July 21, 2023

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a single exhaust system. Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly.
The risk
Unexpected activation of the electric parking brake while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will install a protective tie strap, tape wrap, and replace the harness as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S35.

Ford Motor Company · up to 870,701 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

23V128000 · February 24, 2023

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front axle pinion may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to fracture.
The risk
A fractured pinion can result in a loss of 4-wheel drive and may cause the front wheels to lock up, increasng the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the front axle pinion gear set. If there is a broken front axle pinion, the entire axle assembly will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S07.

Ford Motor Company · up to 240 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

23V072000 · February 10, 2023

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150 vehicles. The instrument panel top cover on the passenger-side may prevent the air bag from deploying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the passenger instrument panel top cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 16, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C01.

Ford Motor Company · up to 321 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

23V070000 · February 10, 2023

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."
The risk
The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S06.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,138 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 397.

POWER TRAIN 151 38%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 81 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 64 16%
SERVICE BRAKES 38 10%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 27 7%
ENGINE 26 7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 21 5%
STRUCTURE 21 5%
WHEELS 20 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 18 5%
STEERING 16 4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 16 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 134.

2023 2026
2023 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 injured

My truck features the B&O speakers and initially I heard a very loud pop on the passenger side of the vehicle. Radio and CarPlay was playing but no sound was coming from the speakers. Then an extremely loud static noise vibrated the entire truck through the speakers at full volume. I had family in the car and it scared everyone. Pulled over and shut the car off and the static persisted until the electronics fully shut off. Went back in the truck and turned it on and the static continued. On the 3rd try 5 minutes later the static finally stopped and everything worked “normal”.

NHTSA complaint 11528490. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured · fire · crash · towed

After a crash into a tree on the passenger side the airbags deployed and the truck immediately caught fire and the doors locked and would not open for any reason. The only way I was able to exit was busting through the front windshield. had I been severely injured or knocked unconscious the outcome of this would have been much different. The truck burned to the ground in 11 minutes. It has been inspected by the police and awaiting insurance representative to inspect. There were no warning no recalls regarding a crash that would lock the doors and not allow me to exit.

NHTSA complaint 11728363. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured · fire

This vehicle started having issues. The truck would shut off going down the highway at 60-65 mph. The radio would blink on and off. The truck would shut down and not turn back on for multiple hours. Dealer couldn't replicate the problem. Our son utilized the truck to go and pick up LP gas for us from his shop. On the way back to our home, he stopped at a stop sign and suddenly noticed smoke coming from the dash. He attempted to put out the fire which was then raging under the dashboard and hood. He got the fire out, fire department arrived, truck ignited again. The fire department put out the truck. Son was burned trying to not have the truck explode with gas tanks in the back.

NHTSA complaint 11656711. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS

1 injured · crash · towed · 178 miles

The contact owned a 2023 Ford F150. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 70 MPH, the driver's side wheel and axle detached, the driver lost control, and she crashed into the guard rail. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver sustained injuries to her body, including burns, bruises, and neck and shoulder pain. The driver received medical attention in the emergency room. The air bags were deployed. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not informed

NHTSA complaint 11572195, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Passenger side vertical LED drivers running light bar is out on 2023 Ford F-150 XLT Supercrew. Have heard and seen many Ford F150 trucks that have had this issue. Faulty LED diod heats and burns the light tube from which the light is generated. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECTIVE PART THAT MUST BE RECALLED AND REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint 11757488. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

towed · 46,500 miles

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the brake system malfunction message displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle drove onto a hilly grass embankment before coming to a complete stop. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while loading the vehicle with motorcycles for an event. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but a diagnostic test was not performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 46,500.

NHTSA complaint 11755948. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2023 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly lost power and was totally unresponsive. It slammed into gear and went back to normal operation. The transmission has been reset by the dealership several times and I'm told it's normal operation for it to slam into gear on the upshift and downshift. There are no lights or warnings. This occurred while I was crossing rail road tracks creating a potentially dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration or propulsion. I believe this incident may be

NHTSA complaint 11755461, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
While towing a 6000 pound travel trailer 6/21/26, the brakes on the trailer failed. A trailer wiring fault message came up on the dash each time I braked. It is available for inspection. How was our safety put at risk??? Stopping distance was increased substantually. When you need to stop, you need to stop! The truck has been brought to the dealer 4 times prior to this for the same problem. One of those times was for the recall on the trailer brake, May of 2026. The first time the truck was taken to the dealer for the warning message was April of 2025. The trailer was taken to the RV dealer after the incident (on my Oct 2025 visit, the dealer told me the problem was with the trailer. I

NHTSA complaint 11755242, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
275/50 R22 I was driving on a major interstate approximately 65 mph when a strong vibration was felt. As I started to move to the shoulder and slow down, the tread detached from the tire. The tire remained on the vehicle but the tread delaminated and was in the middle of the highway. This caused significant (>$11k) damages to the truck. I sent the tire to Continental and they declined taking liability for the tire failure. However, this happened to another owner a week or two after my issue and they had the same tire with only 30k miles. Additionally, there is already a recall on the same type of tire (different size) from last year due to tire delamination. This is a serious safety issue

NHTSA complaint 11754535, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Delayed/unexpected transmission gear changes. The transmission delays downshifts at slow speeds causing the vehicle to not accelerate when acceleration is needed. This causes a huge safety issue when maneuvering in traffic (for example). Please help me with a solution to this.

NHTSA complaint 11754322. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford F-150

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 101 12
2024 183 10
2022 576 23
2021 979 29
2020 711 11
2019 1,305 9
2018 2,270 18 3
2017 1,407 17
2016 2,017 13
2015 1,677 13 3
2014 1,516 8 1
2013 2,972 3 4
2012 1,776 4 2
2011 2,184 6
2010 842 1

Other 2023 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst