Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2015 Ford F-150
The 2015 Ford F-150 has a considerable number of owner complaints and recall campaigns, particularly for service brakes, engine, and power train. While these issues may not affect every vehicle, potential buyers should be cautious and perform thorough inspections. Given the range of complaints, it's crucial to check multiple components closely.
NHTSA data on file today
The 2015 Ford F-150 has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,427 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 6 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V237000 Unexpected Downshift Can Cause Loss of Control NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21E027000 Upper Ball Joint May Be Installed Incorrectly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V332000 Brake Master Cylinder May Leak into Booster NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V098000 Damage To Block Heater Cable May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V278000 Damage to Block Heater Connector may cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V894000 Block Heater Cable Splice Connector May Corrode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V568000 Fire after Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V652000 Doors may Open while Driving NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V526000 Left Rear Seat Belt may Detach/FMVSS 210 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V331000 Door may Unlatch in a Side Impact Collision NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V867000 Seat Belts may not be Anchored/FMVSS 209, 210 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V614000 Unexpected Braking using Adaptive Cruise Control NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V279000 Steering Intermediate Shaft may Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V251000 Loose or Missing Underbody Heat Shields NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes 292 complaints
- Engine 238 complaints
- Power Train 198 complaints
- Unknown or Other 167 complaints
- Structure 142 complaints
- Electrical System 135 complaints
Of the 1,427 complaints on file, 40 report a crash and 12 a fire; across all 1,427 complaints, owners report 78 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Known issues to inspect
Brake fluid leak
How to check: Inspect under the hood for fluid leaks around the brake master cylinder.
Block heater cable damage
How to check: Examine the engine block heater cable for corrosion or damage.
Unexpected downshift
How to check: Drive at various speeds to check for unexpected gear shifts.
Door latch failure
How to check: Test all doors to ensure they latch securely.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Listen for unusual engine noises.
Red flag: Loud knocking or ticking sounds
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Observe for dashboard warning lights.
Red flag: Check engine light stays on
- 03
City driving
What to check: Test brakes for firmness and response.
Red flag: Spongy brakes or delayed response
- 04
Highway acceleration
What to check: Monitor for smooth gear transitions.
Red flag: Harsh or unexpected shifting
- 05
Straight road cruising
What to check: Maintain straight line without steering correction.
Red flag: Pulling to one side
- 06
Parking maneuvers
What to check: Check for smooth steering and noise.
Red flag: Grinding or resistance in steering
- 07
Final walk-around
What to check: Look for fluid leaks underneath the vehicle.
Red flag: Noticeable puddles or drips
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the transmission been serviced?
- Any recent brake repairs performed?
- Is there a history of door latch issues?
- Have all recalls been addressed?
- Are there any engine modifications?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Maintenance records
- Recall repairs documentation
- Vehicle history report
- Previous owner details
- Warranty information
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2015 Ford F-150 at the time. AI output can be wrong; confirm anything you find with a mechanic.
Next step
Looking at a specific 2015 Ford F-150? Check the actual car
This checklist covers the model. From your free try.vin dashboard you can go further — paste the seller's listing for a deal score, or drop their photos for an AI condition report.