2015 Ford F-150: The Most Common Complaints You Should Know About
The F-150 is Ford’s most popular pickup truck and the best-selling truck on the current market. Its towing and engine power are impressive, but how long does it last over time? Ford’s heavy-duty pickups, like the F-250 or F-350, have exceptional reliability ratings. The F-150, on the other hand, only has average predicted reliability scores.
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy a used F-150, especially if you need to save money. However, there are some model years that are worse than others. Models from 2004 had the most complaints, but things got better in later years. In 2015, the truck got a full redesign, which is why many buyers choose this one to buy used. If you want to get a 2015 Ford F-150, CarComplaints highlights some issues you may want to know about.
Updated: 7/29
Transmission problems plagued the 2015 F-150
The most common issues on the 2015 F-150 were related to the truck’s transmission. There were noticeable delays between shifting the car from neutral to reverse. Grinding noises while shifting or using the transfer case were also reported. Some drivers had to replace certain components of the transfer case or install a brand-new one to fix the issues.
The worst transmission issue in the 2015 F-150 models was difficulty downshifting while shifting the truck in 4th gear. Drivers reported that while the truck was towing a heavy load, the engine became unbearably loud or seized up entirely while driving. Despite the volume of complaints, Ford never offered to cover this issue under the truck’s warranty.
Interior issues
Drivers also experienced some problems on the inside of the truck. These included inaccurate speedometer readings, built-in navigation failures, and a warping dashboard. The most common issue was seat ventilation failure.
This is an optional feature that can be purchased on higher trims, so drivers were understandably upset that they paid extra for something that didn’t work correctly. They reported that while the bottom of the seat was cooled, the back of the seat was still uncomfortably hot. The drivers were informed that this was how Ford had designed the ventilation feature.
Engine problems were an expensive repair on used F-150s
The most expensive obstacle for 2015 F-150 owners is engine issues. These problems were at an all-time high in the 2012 models, and drivers continue to report engine malfunctions on even newer F-150 trucks. The issues ranged from illuminated check engine lights to the engine actually failing while the truck was in motion.
In models with the Ecoboost engine, drivers reported that the motor repeatedly stalled while driving. In some cases, drivers experienced multiple dashboard lights flickering before the truck lost power completely.
These problems could usually be fixed with a new throttle body, which costs around $700 on average. While this was not as severe as engine repair costs in earlier models, some drivers had to have the body replaced multiple times.
How does the 2014 F-150 compare?
Because of all the dissatisfaction with the 2015 F-150, it may be wiser to purchase a used 2014 model. While it doesn’t have as many features as its successor, it still has ample engines and relatively fewer complaints. However, it’s far from the perfect truck.
Like the 2015 model, it suffers from engine problems, though these issues aren’t as severe. There were only a few cases of lost power while driving, but some trucks needed a costly new timing chain to fix the problem.
The 2014 model also has a sizeable amount of complaints about its brakes. Vibration or squeals while braking was the most common issue, which was often the result of warped rotors. It typically costs around $420 to repair this issue.
