BestCarRank
Ford

2016 Ford E-150

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ford E-150 has 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 14. The most common issue is brakes problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: intermittent brake failure. brakes feel "spongy". car slowed slightly, however pedal was pressed to the floor, with no immediate response in braking.. There is 1 recall issued for this model year.

11

Total Complaints

1

Recalls Issued

/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 7)

BRAKES

3 complaints
27%
  • INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES FEEL "SPONGY". CAR SLOWED SLIGHTLY, HOWEVER PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, WITH NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IN BRAKING.
  • DRIVING ON SANTA FE BLVD IN DENVER CO. WAS COMING TO A RED LIGHT, PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR, SWERVED INTO NEXT LANE WITH CARS FURTHER AWAY, AND AVOIDED A CRASH AS THE LIGHT CHANGED.. THIS IS A VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC AREA AND I AM LUCKY TO NOT HAVE CAUSED A ACCIDENT INVOLVING SEVERA
  • 1. VEHICLE CLUNK AND LURCH FORWARD RIGHT BEFORE IT REACHES COMPLETE STOP. 2. WITH FULLY ALIGNED WHEELS, THE STEERING WHEEL CAN NOT BE CENTERED WHEN GOING STRAIGHT. VEHICLE WANDERS ON PERFECTLY LEVELED ROAD.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES FEEL "SPONGY". CAR SLOWED SLIGHTLY, HOWEVER PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, WITH NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IN BRAKING.

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2016 Ford E-150

Based on 10 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 5K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage
0-30K
9
30-60K
0
60-100K
0
100-150K
0
150-200K
1
200K+
0

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (1)

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY03/04/2019

Mobility Specialists, Inc. (Mobility Specialists) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Ford E-150 and Transit vans modified to be equipped with Ricon S-Series and K-Series wheel chair lifts. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle's floor height.

Risk: If the wheelchair lift platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inwards toward the vehicle when exiting the lift, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: Mobility Specialists, working with Ricon, has notified the owners. Ricon will provide instructions and materials for replacing defective parts. Owners may contact Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Ford E-150

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,478
Full coverage / month
$123
Liability only / year
$611
vs US avg
-12%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating1.00x
× vehicle age0.92x
= Full coverage estimate$1478

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford E-150 Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
36 months
Transmission fluid
30K mi
Engine coolant
100K mi
Spark plugs
100K mi
Cabin air filter
20K mi
Engine air filter
30K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
3 yr / 36K mi
Powertrain
5 yr / 60K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
8 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
5 yr / unlimited mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2016 E-150, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500
STEERING(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)
$500
FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 11 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • BRAKES: INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES FEEL "SPONGY". CAR SLOWED SLIGHTLY, HOWEVER PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, WITH NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IN BRAKING.

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MIL

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • OTHER: I PURCHASED MY TRUCK JUNE 18TH 2016. AFTER THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS THE RADIO STARTED GOING OFF FOR PERIODS OF TIME. THE RADIO WORK PROBABLY HALF OF THE TIME. I FINALLY HAD TIME TO BRING IT IN AND FORD TELLS ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS YET. A RADIO IS A EVERY

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MIL

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • RECALLS: Verify all 1 recall have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
11
Recalls
1
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
14

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2016 Ford E-150