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2015 Ford F-150 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
34%
459 of 1,425 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2015 Ford F-150 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 64% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2015 Ford F-150 have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 459 of 1,425 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Ford F-150 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under engine (238). For comparison, the 2014 scores 39% and the 2016 scores 40%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
459
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
1,425
this model year
Fires reported
12
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
14
40 crashes · 78 injuries

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES309 · 22%
ENGINE238 · 17%
POWER TRAIN198 · 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER167 · 12%
STRUCTURE142 · 10%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM135 · 9%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2015 compares with other Ford F-150 years

Of the 14 Ford F-150 years with enough complaints to score, the 2015 is the best on engine and transmission share (34%). The worst is the 2019 (76%). By volume, the 2015 drew 1,425 complaints (459 drivetrain), against 1,362 for the 2014 and 1,765 for the 2016.

Ford F-150 years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2015 Ford F-150

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2015 Ford F-150 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM09/24/2021CRASH1 INJURED
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that he parked the vehicle in the garage and as he exited the vehicle, the vehicle inadvertently started reversing on its own. The contact stated he attempted to jump back in the vehicle to depress the brake pedal but he was unable to do so as the vehicle was movin…

One of 459 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2015 Ford F-150 engine and transmission recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2015 Ford F-150 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: automatic transmission26V237000 · Apr 2026

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150 vehicles. A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.

Risk: Unexpectedly downshifting into second gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…

engine20V098000 · Feb 2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2016 F-150 pick-up trucks equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines and block immersion heaters that were potentially relocated from their originally installed location. The incorrect location could put the heater too close to hot engine components, possibly resulting in a damaged cable.

Risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the block heater's location and its cable, replacing components as necessary, free of charge. If the replacement parts are not available, dealers will disable the…

engine19V278000 · Apr 2019

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.

Risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord,…

engine18V894000 · Dec 2018

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.

Risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019.…

10 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint21E027000 · Apr 2021
Tenneco Automotive (DRiV) is recalling certain MOOG K500359 ball joints, for aftermarket installation on 2015-2018 Ford F-150 trucks. The ball joint may have a misaligned dust boot and may be…
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder20V332000 · Jun 2020
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2017 F-150 pickup trucks equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may leak brake fluid into the brake booster.
seat belts: pretensioner18V568000 · Aug 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite…
latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch17V652000 · Oct 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable…
seat belts: rear/other17V526000 · Aug 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250 and F-350 trucks equipped with a crew cab. The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle assembly may be inadequately…
latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch17V331000 · May 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles originally produced with black or body colored exterior door handles that may have…
seat belts: front: anchorage15V867000 · Dec 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford F-150 SuperCrew trucks manufactured January 22, 2015, to March 17, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with driver or…
forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control15V614000 · Sep 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford F-150 trucks manufactured March 18, 2014, to August 6, 2015 and equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). While using the…
steering15V279000 · May 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford F-150 trucks manufactured March 19, 2015, to March 30, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been built with a steering upper…
structure: frame and members: underbody shields15V251000 · Apr 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford F-150 vehicles manufactured January 30, 2015, to January 31, 2015. The affected vehicles may have loose or missing underbody heat…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2015 Ford F-150? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2015 Ford F-150

Does the 2015 Ford F-150 have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 459 of 1,425 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Ford F-150 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2015 Ford F-150?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2015 Ford F-150 is service brakes: 309 of 1,425 complaints (22%) name it, followed by engine (238) and power train (198). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 34% of the relevant total.

Is the 2015 Ford F-150 reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 34% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 64% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford F-150 years we score, it ranks best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 Ford F-150?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2015 Ford F-150 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 in total: 26V237000 (power train: automatic transmission), 20V098000 (engine), 19V278000 (engine), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Ford F-150 years are better?

The 2015 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Ford F-150 years we track (34%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-f-150

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.