2016 Ford F-150: The Most Common Complaints You Should Know About
For truck enthusiasts, 2016 was a good year. Most pickups like the Ford F-150 were equipped with the modern amenities we see today, so if you want to save money on a used, reliable truck, this is a good model year. You’ll get most of the same advanced technology as a new truck without breaking the bank to get it.
But finding a trustworthy used truck takes research. The Ford F-150 is one of the most popular full-size trucks on the road. It’s seen as reliable, tough, and comfortable. But you’ll see negatives about used F-150s trucks, too. Here’s what you need to know.
The biggest complaint about the 2016 Ford F-150
CarComplaints.com allows drivers to enter data about issues they’ve encountered with vehicles of all makes and models. For the 2016 Ford F-150, the most common issues reported by drivers involve engine problems.
While that’s a pretty big category, the biggest complaint with the engine is that it will stall while driving. That’s a pretty big problem to have. The most common solution is to replace the throttle body, with a typical repair cost of about $60.
Drivers also reported another common engine problem. They saw the check engine light come on for no apparent reason. After having diagnostics run on it, no specific cause could be found.
A final engine issue was feeling the engine shudder occasionally, again with no apparent cause. Engine shudders can turn into more serious problems down the line, but it wasn’t found to have any serious common causes in the F-150.
The 2016 Ford F-150’s other common complaints
Another common complaint concerned the brakes. Brake failure was reported a number of times, with many drivers stating they needed to have the master cylinder replaced after the brakes simply didn’t work. Drivers saw a “low brake fluid” warning on the dashboard, and within minutes they weren’t able to use the brakes.
On a less serious note, other drivers found a few issues in the interior. Some of the technology, including the radio, power door locks, and reverse camera, didn’t work for some people. Both could be fixed relatively easily and don’t pose any serious safety hazards.
On the exterior, a few drivers noted that they had problems getting the doors to latch properly. Some drivers’ doors would get frozen shut and others’ doors flew open at random. Definitely a cause for concern. These issues were often solved by replacing the door latch and by keeping the doors clean from debris.
Is the 2016 Ford F-150 a reliable truck?
Despite all of these complaints, it’s important to keep in mind that for every complaint, a number of trucks had nothing wrong with them from the same fleet. The 2016 Ford F-150 is rated 3.5 out of 5.0 for reliability by J.D. Power, which is higher than the average for a used vehicle.
While some of the reported problems are serious and must be remedied ASAP, most of the issues described are minor and can be taken care of as you see fit. Overall, 2016 is a good year to look for a used F-150. You’ll get most of the modern touches of a new one without having to spend as much.
