2023 Ford F-150 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
48% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2023 Ford F-150 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 61% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 27 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 45%).
Does the 2023 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 229 of 477 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Ford F-150 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%), and the largest group is filed under power train (191). For comparison, the 2022 scores 40%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2023 Ford F-150
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2023 Ford F-150 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 229 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Ford F-150?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2023 Ford F-150 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2027 F-150 vehicles. The fuel tank may be improperly secured and leak fuel, or detach from the vehicle while driving.
Risk: A detached tank can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, a fuel leak can cause an engine stall or increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank straps, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
Risk: Damaged axle hub splines can result in a vehicle rollaway when in park without the parking brake applied or cause a loss of drive power. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right rear axle shaft assemblies, free of charge. This is a phased recall. Ford owners will receive letters in multiple phases, beginning August 2025 through Winter 2025. Phase 1 will…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
Risk: Damaged axle hub splines can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied or cause a loss of drive power. Both of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right rear axle shaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front axle pinion may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to fracture.
Risk: A fractured pinion can result in a loss of 4-wheel drive and may cause the front wheels to lock up, increasng the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front axle pinion gear set. If there is a broken front axle pinion, the entire axle assembly will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."
Risk: The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…
8 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2023 Ford F-150? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2023 Ford F-150 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 229 of 477 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Ford F-150 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Ford F-150?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2023 Ford F-150 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 in total: 26V578000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting), 25V512000 (power train: axle hubs), 23V896000 (power train: axle hubs), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford F-150 years are better?
Among the Ford F-150 years we track, the 2010 (34%), the 2015 (34%) and the 2014 (39%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (48%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2023 Ford F-150?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2023 Ford F-150 has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 4 body styles NHTSA files separately.