1994 Ford F-150: Reliability Data

908
Total Complaints
130,000mi
Median Mileage
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Top Issue
79
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

85,000 25th Percentile
130,000 Median Mileage
167,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
57
Air Bags
49
Frontal
46
Cruise Control
45
Rotor
35
Selector Devices
35
Vehicle Speed Control
30
Automatic Transmission
27
Tank Assembly
26
Foundation Components
25

Severity Assessment

79
Crashes
114
Fires
57
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"STEERING FAILURE, WHEN TURNING WHEEL WILL LOCKUP. TT"
"ANTI LOCK BRAKES STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. TT"
"AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION. TT"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Air Bags 49 complaints
25th: 54,200 mi Median: 105,000 mi 75th: 166,750 mi
Frontal 46 complaints
25th: 102,250 mi Median: 115,500 mi 75th: 139,000 mi
Cruise Control 45 complaints
25th: 95,000 mi Median: 133,000 mi 75th: 177,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 77 CA: 69 OH: 58 PA: 56 FL: 55 MI: 40 NY: 39 VA: 36 TN: 34 KY: 30

Who Files Complaints?

30.6%
Original Owners
69.4%
Second+ Owners

Ford F-150 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

YearComplaintsCrashes
1990250
199135712
199255325
199375332
199578861
199638322
19973285205
1998162496
19991322116
20001269102
20011451113
200296363
200352057
2004242999
2005136366
200673572
200762351
200845548
200939734
2010113133
2011293870
2012242257
20133849102
2014185956
2015203664
2016237367
2017159547
20182627104
2019153230
202079730
2021113819
202270229
202349425
202419525
20251127

Active Recalls (13)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Exterior Lighting
Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 06E026000 | 23/03/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Vehicle Speed Control
Campaign 05V388000 | 07/09/2005
A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.
BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO
Headlights
Campaign 09E025000 | 11/05/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 06E049000 | 24/05/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Tread/Belt
Campaign 01X001000 | 22/05/2001
SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
Tread/Belt
Campaign 00T005000 | 21/08/2000
IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
Air Bags
Campaign 93V155000 | 24/09/1993
INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG CAN RESULT ININJURY TO THE DRIVER.
INSTALL A REDESIGNED AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR.
Seats
Campaign 96E010000 | 25/03/1996
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION. THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE
Seats
Campaign 96V064000 | 16/04/1996
CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: OVER HEATING OF THE SUPPORT WIRES COULD RESULT, AND MELTING, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLE IGNTION OF THE SURROUNDING MATERIALS COULD OCCUR.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEATS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. IF NO DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE DRIVER SEAT WIRE HARNESS WILL BE COVERED WITH A PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE TUBING, WRAPPED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE AND THE HARNESS WILL BE REROUTED. IF DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE WIRE HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED.
Bumpers
Campaign 94V018000 | 02/01/1994
IF ONE OF THE U-CLIP NUTS FRACTURES, THE BUMPER WILL LOOSEN AND RATTLE CAUSING FRACTURE OF THE REMAINING U-CLIP NUTS, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE BUMPER FROM THE VEHICLE. IF THE BUMPER WERE TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN, A VEHICLE COLLISION COULD RESULT.
INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FOUR U-CLIP NUTS AND THE ASSOCIATED BOLTS.
Air Bags
Campaign 93V184000 | 10/11/1993
THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT AND THE AIR BAGWARNING LIGHT WILL NOT FUNCTION. THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED OCCUPANTPROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THAT SHOULD ACTIVATE THE AIR BAGSUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL THE CORRECT AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MODULE.
Conventional
Campaign 94V169001 | 07/09/1994
WHEN THE ABOVE OCCURS, IT CAN RESULT IN PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM INEFFECTIVENESS. THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY, IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT LEFT IN GEAR.
A WEDGE WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL SERVE TO LOCK THE PARKING BRAKE SELF-ADJUST MECHANISM PAWL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RACHET. ALSO, OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED TO RELEASE AND REAPPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WHENEVER TOOTH SKIP OCCURS AND WILL BE REMINDED TO ALWAYS TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE I

Extend Your Brake Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

  • Replace brake pads before they wear to the metal — rotors cost 3x more
  • Flush brake fluid every 2-3 years regardless of mileage
  • Don't ride the brakes downhill — use engine braking
  • Address any grinding, pulsing, or pulling immediately
  • Have brakes inspected during every tire rotation

Looking for a replacement?

Based on the data above, here are relevant options.

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28