Ford E-150 Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Ford E-150 model year (1975–2014) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Ford E-150 Years to Avoid
3 recalls · 31 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
Problem score: 44
11 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
Problem score: 33
10 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
Problem score: 30
Best Ford E-150 Years to Buy
0 recalls · 2 complaints
Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Problem score: 2
0 recalls · 2 complaints
Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Problem score: 2
1 recall · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 3
Found the right year? Verify that specific E-150 with a free VIN report.
Ford E-150 — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | Good |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | Good |
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | Good |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | Good |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | Good |
| 2009 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 21 | Caution |
| 2008 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 30 | Avoid |
| 2007 | 11 | 0 | — | — | 33 | Avoid |
| 2006 | 9 | 0 | — | — | 27 | Caution |
| 2005 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | Good |
| 2004 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 15 | Good |
| 2003 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 15 | Good |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | Good |
| 2001 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | Good |
| 2000 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | Good |
| 1999 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 12 | Good |
| 1998 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | Good |
| 1997 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 12 | Good |
| 1996 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4 | Excellent |
| 1995 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 11 | Good |
| 1994 | 3 | 31 | 2 | — | 44 | Avoid |
| 1993 | 2 | 13 | 1 | — | 21 | Caution |
| 1992 | 3 | 11 | 1 | — | 22 | Caution |
| 1991 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | 12 | Good |
| 1990 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 10 | Good |
| 1989 | 2 | 9 | — | — | 15 | Good |
| 1988 | 0 | 2 | — | — | 2 | Excellent |
| 1987 | 0 | 7 | — | — | 7 | Good |
| 1986 | 0 | 3 | — | — | 3 | Excellent |
| 1985 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 1984 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 1983 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | Excellent |
| 1981 | 0 | 2 | — | — | 2 | Excellent |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | Excellent |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | Excellent |
| 1978 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | Good |
| 1977 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | Excellent |
| 1975 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | Excellent |
All 40 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Ford E-150 Shopping Guide by Era
2013–2017
Best: 2014Mid-decade E-150 units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2014 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder E-150 models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year E-150 should I avoid?+
Avoid the 1994 Ford E-150 if possible. It has 3 recalls, 31 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 44 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year E-150 to buy?+
The 1981 Ford E-150 is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 2. It has only 0 recalls and 2 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which E-150 has the fewest problems?+
The 1981, 1988, 1976 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Ford E-150 Research
Check a Specific Ford E-150 VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
Run a Free VIN Report →