2019 Ford F-150 problems owners report most
2019 Ford F-150 problems are documented in public: owners have filed 1,009 complaints with NHTSA, the earliest in 2018 and the most recent in 2026. Sorting those by the component the filer named puts the powertrain clearly first, at 516 of the 1,009 complaints, close to half of everything filed.
A complaint is not a repair bill and not a defect finding. It is one owner telling the regulator something went wrong. What makes the count useful is the concentration: when one component takes 51 per cent of everything filed on a car, the pattern is doing more than chance.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 516 | 51% |
| ENGINE | 256 | 25% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 97 | 10% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 82 | 8% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 54 | 5% |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 42 | 4% |
Against the 2018 car, this model year has drawn 47 per cent fewer complaints (1,009 against 1,918). Both years are led by the powertrain, so this is a fault that carried over rather than one introduced with the 2019 car.
Of those complaints, 14 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Filers reported 21 injuries.
Recalls on the 2019 Ford F-150
A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator found a safety defect, and the repair is free at a franchised dealer however old the car is. There are 9 recalls on this model year. Your own car may be covered by some, all or none of them, so check the VIN rather than the model.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from the "Autolamps" switch position to "Headlamps On." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
The risk. DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and braking or steering assist. The engine could also stall.
The risk. Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S40.
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.
The 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.
The 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
The risk. A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix. Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
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.
The risk. A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 F-150, Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk. A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the drivers view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix. Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
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 fix. 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 (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
The risk. A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix. Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V097. When the headlight switch is turned from "Autolamps" to "Headlamps On," the Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) may remain fully bright instead of dimming to parking lamps as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
The risk. Daytime Running Lamps that do not dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix. ,Dealers will reprogram the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C28. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
In owners own words
These are complaints filed about the powertrain, quoted as written. They are one persons account rather than a diagnosis, and they are here because a symptom described by a driver is easier to recognise than a component name.
I purchased a 2019 Ford F-150 new from Muzi Ford in Needham Ma. Starting in the winter of 2021 with less than 35,000 miles the truck was sometimes slow in shifting through the gears, ( it is an automatic transmission ) it seemed as though it was slipping on ice . I assumed it was due to cold weather. The same situation occurred occasionally the following winter and seemed worse the colder it was. Several months ago it began to happen more frequently, and now it it has become constant and much worse. The truck stalls , revs up, slips into neutral, then suddenly lunges forward creating a very un
I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure could have caused a severe accident and jeopardized the well being of my wife, daughter, her friend and myself along with any other people that could of potentially been involved in a collision if one had occurred. My dash showed no warning lights. After lots of research and consultation with a private owned mechanic shop, I learned the
On my 2019 Ford F-150 with ~68,000 miles The 10R80 10 speed transmission was jumping out of gear while going down of the road IN 10TH GEAR GOING 58-65MPH, having to feather the gas to get it back into gear. Also during take off from a stop light the gears would slam into gear and sometimes not even go into gear causing me to not only stop traffic but abruptly change the speed of my truck which has almost caused multiple accidents. Thankfully I did not have my family in my vehicle during some of these "Close Encounters." This is an active problem with Ford and already multiple attempts for laws
Transmission started making a loud noise and jerking the truck. Tachometer was showing engine rpm increasing rapidly and dropping back several hundred revolutions; gear indicator didn't change (higher or lower) indicating a gear change. Transmission temperature was running approx. 205F however would increase to 230F when the transmission would make noise multiple times. Vehicle took extra effort to control while this was happening both on an Interstate highway and secondary roads. Coming out of the mountains I had to use the brakes more than usual due to the jerking around and stopped when the
1st safety problem is while accelerating, there is a rough shift in gears despite being an automatic transmission. While attempting to gradually and safely accelerate, vehicle causes an abrupt deceleration where rpms drop and vehicle occupants are thrown forward during the process. Vehicle was brought to Ford Dealership for repair. They noted a known issue with transmission and completed a software restart/update. Vehicle gear shift improved slightly for short period of time but eventually resumed and is noticeably worse in colder months. This problem has been noticed while turning, resulting
My 2019 Ford F150 XLT, began having transmission issues in June of 2024 around the same time the cam phasers failed in the engine (~57K miles). Because the cam phaser failure was the more pressing and unavoidable issue, the dealership focused on the cam phaser repair and ignored my complaints about the transmission shifting hard between 2nd and 4th gear. Within that same month I also had the transmission fluid flushed ~40K miles before recommendation to see if that would resolve the hard and inconsistent shifting issue. It did not, and the dealer stated they could not replicate the problem. Un
Every component, by complaint count
The full breakdown of what owners named when they filed. Components below the top ten are grouped out of this table.
| Component | Complaints | Share of all complaints |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 516 | 51% |
| ENGINE | 256 | 25% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 97 | 10% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 82 | 8% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 54 | 5% |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 42 | 4% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 30 | 3% |
| STRUCTURE | 30 | 3% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 26 | 3% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 20 | 2% |
What parts cost for the 2019 Ford F-150
Prices read from one AutoZone store for this exact year, make and model, covering 8 kinds of part and 228 products. AutoZone year, make and model catalog prices. Engine, trim, transmission and VIN fitment are not confirmed. They are what the shelf said on the day, not a quote.
| Part | Listed | Range | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | 10 | $259.99 to $398.99 | $289.99 |
| Brake rotors | 41 | $65.99 to $749.99 | $151.99 |
| Brake pads | 66 | $32.49 to $185.99 | $69.99 |
| Engine air filter | 10 | $20.99 to $97.99 | $26.99 |
| Cabin air filter partial | 7 | $17.99 to $47.99 | $24.99 |
| Wiper blades | 36 | $10.59 to $43.99 | $24.99 |
| Oil filter | 19 | $5.99 to $18.99 | $13.99 |
| Spark plugs | 39 | $1.69 to $47.99 | $12.49 |
The cheapest way to keep it serviced
Taking the lowest listed price in each routine maintenance category, the filters, plugs and wipers for this car come to $57.25 in parts. That is parts alone, before labour, tax and the oil itself, and it assumes the cheapest option fits your engine.
Battery. 10 products listed, from the Duralast Platinum Group Size 48 / H6 Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery H6-AGM at $259.99 up to the Odyssey Performance Group Size 49 Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery ODP-AGM49H8L5 at $398.99. A refundable core deposit of $22.00 is charged on top and returned with the old part. AutoZone's own labels account for 5 of them, starting at $259.99.
Brake rotors. 41 products listed, from the PowerStop Disc Brake Rotor AR85195 at $65.99 up to the Baer Systems Disc Brake Rotor Set 2261043 at $749.99. AutoZone's own labels account for 9 of them, starting at $126.99.
Brake pads. 66 products listed, from the R1 Ceramic Series Premium Brake Pads 2310-1602-00 at $32.49 up to the EBC Brakes Organic Performance Brake Pads ED93034 at $185.99. AutoZone's own labels account for 12 of them, starting at $44.99.
Fitment is by year, make and model only. Engine, trim and transmission were not selected, so confirm the part number against your own car before buying. Prices change and vary by store.
How other model years compare
The same nameplate across the years we hold. Complaint counts fall naturally for newer cars because fewer of them have been on the road for long, so read the column as a rough signal rather than a ranking. In this set the 2018 Ford F-150 has drawn the most complaints and the 2020 Ford F-150 the fewest.
What to check on the transmission and driveline
Powertrain reports usually describe a shift that arrives late, lands hard, or hunts between gears, often worse when the car is cold or towing. Some describe a shudder at a steady cruise rather than a bang between gears.
Buying a used 2019 F-150
Drive it from cold. A transmission fault that hides once warm is the most common thing a short test drive misses. Take it to highway speed, let it settle into top gear, then slow and accelerate again to make it downshift under load.
If you already own one
Get the fluid condition checked before anything else, and ask for the transmission control software level at the same time. Several of these complaints were answered by the manufacturer with a reflash rather than a rebuild, which costs a fraction as much.
- Test drive from cold, not after the seller has warmed it up.
- Ask whether a transmission software update exists for the VIN.
- Check the fluid condition and when it was last changed.
- Get any rebuild quote itemised into parts, fluid and labour.
Where the 2019 Ford F-150 problem data comes from
Every figure on this page is counted from complaints and recalls published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, read October 12, 2026. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by the agency before publication. We count each complaint once per component it names, so a complaint naming two components appears in both rows.
- NHTSA recalls and complaintsRead October 12, 2026
- NHTSA record for the 2019 Ford F-150Read October 12, 2026
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