2016 Ford F-150 engine problems
347 of the 2,059 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford F-150 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 80 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 347 reports a crash · 6 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 22 · 2017: 16 · 2018: 25 · 2019: 21 · 2020: 27 · 2021: 25 · 2022: 38 · 2023: 52 · 2024: 52 · 2025: 43 · 2026: 26
Half of the 184 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 30,000 and 90,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
2,059 complaints in all about the 2016 Ford F-150, 26 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford F-150 engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
While driving on a highway, vehicle's low engine oil pressure illuminated, vehicle's speed dropped to coasting level and had to pull to side of highway with no ability to accelerate. This is an extremely dangerous situation where there is loss of power and the engine would not restart. Oil level was checked and was near the high mark.
Loss of throttle response while driving around 25 MPH, check engine light came on and the engine was idling rough. Was able to drift over to the side of the road. Turned engine off then on with no change, turned off then on again and throttle worked normally but check engine light stayed on.
Driving on interstate at approximately a steady 60 MPH. Without warning power loss and no response to accelerator. Error code P2111
While traveling on the interstate level terrain and a stationary cruise at 70 MPH, the wrench icon and check engine light appeared with a message to "see manual" at the same time the engine became unresponsive to accelerator pedal input. The limp home mode was not working and we could not get the truck moving again after stopped.
While driving the vehicle 157 miles from home I had the check engine light came on and vehicle had no throttle response. The vehicle would only move about 3-5 miles per hour. Very dangerous was crossing a large busy intersection almost got hit but another vehicle
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 18V894000 CriticalDec 18, 2018 · 410,289 vehicles
- 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.
80 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P2112 P0011 P0015 P0016 P0017 P0018 P0019 P0021
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Ford F-150 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Ford F-150
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 588 complaints
- brake problems 341 complaints
- body and structure problems 201 complaints
- electrical problems 188 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2016 Ford F-150?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 347 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (17% of everything owners filed about it), and 80 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2016 Ford F-150?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 18V894000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2016 Ford F-150?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 56,749 miles; half of them between 30,000 and 90,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.