What 1,686 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford F-150 Regular Cab

Driving out of town for a trip and out of nowhere at“Steering Assist Fail” alert hill decent alert

NHTSA ODI 11654200

Today 10/23/23 I remote started my f150 and the defrost on the rear window overheated causing the glass to explode and shatter. The wires burnt to the point of smoking out and catching on fire

NHTSA ODI 11551507

Used the remote start and came out to the truck and got in to a cab full of smoke, shut the truck off and found a electrical fire in the rear defrost system

NHTSA ODI 11489645

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? While parked, the rear defrost button was engaged. Shortly afterwards (1-2min) the backseat filled with smoke. I had my family immediately exit the vehicle and the rear window exploded. I checked the area and found an electrical wire draped over the rear passenger seat. It was melted and had clearly exploded up and over the seat. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Yes, had my children remained in the vehicle, they would have been sprayed with glass or burned from the electrical short. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, however, I looked online and found this has happened to others. I called Ford service center and they informed me their were no recalls out on the truck. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. However, Glass doctor performed the repair since Ford outsources their glass repair work Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No

NHTSA ODI 11432903

I HAD JUST DROPPED OFF MY SON AT DAYCARE AND TURNED ON THE DEFROSTERS. I WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK, AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STATIONARY AT THE TIME. A RANK, BURNING SMELL FILLED THE TRUCK AND I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF. SECONDS LATER A LOUD "POP" OCCURRED AND THE REAR WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THERE ARE SMALL PIECES OF GLASS THROUGHOUT THE BED AND INSIDE THE BACK SEAT. THANK GOD MY CHILD WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND THAT I TURNED OFF THE CAR BEFORE THE ENTIRE THING ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11403829

REAR DEFROSTER SHORTED OUT. OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT THE PLASTICS ON FIRE. THE WINDOW THEN SHATTERED FROM THE EXCESS HEAT FROM THE REAR DEFROST. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 28 DEGREES. REAR DEFROST AND HEAT WERE ON FOR THE VEHICLE. WHILE TRAVELING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE INTERNALLY. THE CAR WAS PULLED OVER, AND SHUT OFF. THE SMOKE STOPPED AND THE WINDOW SHATTERED. THE PLASTIC AND SEAT SURROUNDING THE REAR DEFROST CONNECTION TO THE WINDOW WERE MELTED.

NHTSA ODI 11383571

I WAS COMPLETING A 3 HOUR DRIVE OF APPROXIMATELY 120 MILES (I HAD LESS THAN 5 MILES TO GO TILL I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION) WHEN MY SENSORS STARTED LIGHTING UP MY MESSAGE BOARD AND DASH SYSTEM. I WAS IN THE LEFT TURN LANE TO ENTER THE ON-RAMP TO US65 SOUTH WHEN THIS HAPPENED SO I PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER TO INVESTIGATE. I HAD JUST PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK WHEN A CAR PULLED UP AND SAID THAT MY ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK, THE FIRE WAS ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL. AS WELL, THERE WAS EITHER A FLUID OR MELTED PLASTIC DRIPPING DOWN TO THE ASPHALT THAT WAS ALSO ON FIRE. THE FIRE APPEARED TO PUT ITSELF OUT, FOR THE MOST PART, PRIOR TO THE FIRE COMPANY ARRIVING WITHIN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES. I HAD, WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE AT THE TIME, RECALL WORK DONE BY MIKE RAISOR FORD IN LAFAYETTE, IN, LESS THAN 1 YEAR AGO. IN THAT RECALL WORK, I THOUGHT THE BLOCK HEATER WAS DISCONNECTED SO AS TO PREVENT AN ENGINE FIRE SUCH AS THIS. NOW, I AM HAVING DOUBTS AS TO WHETHER THIS WAS COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 18V894000 AND FORDS RECALL NUMBER IS 18S45.

NHTSA ODI 11301914

LOADED UP MY 6 YEAR OLD SON AND 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN CARSEATS IN THE REAR OF A 4 DOOR F150. STARTED VEHICLE TURNED ON REAR DEFROST. WITHIN 30 SECONDS, THE REAR CORNER BEHIND MY CHILD'S SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE. 30 SECONDS MORE AND THE ENTIRE BACK WINDOW SHATTERED. NOT ONLY WAS THIS VERY DANGEROUS WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT, IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC FOR THEM

NHTSA ODI 11286964

IT IDLES ROUGH AT STOP LIGHT SOMETIMES SHUTS DOWN ,RADIO SCREEN IS BLANK SOMETIMES W RADIO OR PHONE CALL. ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL ENOUGH TO MAKE ME NAUSEOUS. THE COMPUTER READS NO CODES. THIS HAPPENS EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS, IT HAS BEEN AT 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS UP TO WEEKS AT A TIME THEY HAVE CHANGED SEVERAL PARTS BUT NONE HAVE FIXED IT.

NHTSA ODI 11231166

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH, 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE POLICE WAS CALLED, THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A REPORT WAS FILED ON THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BACK IN FEBRUARY 2019 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V568000 (SEAT BELTS, STRUCTURE) BY THE DEALER (DAVID MCDAVID FORD FORT WORTH, 300 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76108). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AFTER THE FIRE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ODI 11218528

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD F-150. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ON VACATION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT'S CHILD WAS AT HOME, SAW THE VEHICLE ON FIRE, AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11182520

HAD A FIRE START IN THE REAR SEAT AREA WHILE THE TRUCK WAS WARMING UP IN THE REMOTE START MODE . THE REMOTE START WAS FACTORY INSTALLED BY FORD . THE TRUCK WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS

NHTSA ODI 11171943

FIRE AND LOTS OF SMOKE INSIDE MY TRUCK WHEN I USED MY REMOTE START INSIDE MY GARAGE ...DROPPED BACK SEAT, PULLED CARPET BACK AND WITNESS AND RECORDED A BURNT WIRE HANGING DOWN ACROSS REAR WINDOW THAT KEPT BURNING AND NEVER STOPPED/POPPED A FUSE OR RELAY UNTIL I SHUT DOWN THE REMOTE START. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE REAR DEFROSTER THAT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON WHEN USING REMOTE START ...REPLACED ENTIRE BACK WINDOW AND WIRE HARNESS SPLIT COST WITH FORD NOT UNDER WARRANTY '.

NHTSA ODI 11154155

I WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS THE SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRONICS AND MY TRUCK CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE. I PULLED OVER, AND SAW THE DEFROSTER ON THE REAR WINDOW WAS SMOKING. I EXITED THE VEHICLE, OPENED MY DOORS TO LET THE SMOKE OUT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD AN EXPLOSION LIKE A GUN SHOT AND THE REAR GLASS GLASS SHATTERED.

NHTSA ODI 11151753

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD F-150. AFTER ACTIVATING THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, THE REAR DEFROSTER WIRING BEGAN TO SMOKE. MOMENTS LATER, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIVE STAR FORD (6618 NE LOOP 820, NORTH RICHLAND, TX) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DEFROSTER WIRING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 11142953

IN ABOUT JANUARY OF 2017, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, MY TRUCK STARTED EXPERIENCING IRREGULAR FUNCTION OF THE SYNC III SYSTEM. IN ABOUT MARCH OF 2017 THE SYSTEM STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT ANY TIME. AT THAT TIME IT HAD ABOUT 37,000 MILES ON IT. BY THE TIME I COULD GET IT TO THE FORD DEALER IT HAD ABOUT 39,000 MILES. FORD DENIED ANY OBLIGATION TO REPAIR. SOME OF THE MAJOR REASONS I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WERE TO ABILITIES OF THE SYNC III SYSTEM SUCH AS: (1) THE GPS MAP SYSTEM AND THE ABILITY TO INPUT DESTINATIONS AND RECEIVE DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS, (2) THE HANDS FREE BLUE TOOTH TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS, (3) THE BACKUP CAMERA, AND THE TOUCH SCREEN MENU. ALL OF THESE WERE IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES. NONE OF THEM WORK AND FORD WANTED $1,500.00 TO REPLACE THE "APIM" MODULE, WHICH PURPORTEDLY WOULD MAKE IT WORK AGAIN. IN ADDITION, WHILE BACKING IN TO A PARKING PLACE, IN ABOUT NOVEMBER OF 2017, I COULD NOT SEE A POLE SET IN CONCRETE BECAUSE OF MALFUNCTION OF THE CAMERA, AND BACKED INTO IT, DAMAGING MY BUMPER TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $1,200.00 REPLACEMENT COST. WORSE YET, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A CHILD OR OTHER PERSON. OCCASIONALLY THE BACKUP CAMERA WORKS, BUT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11121501

REAR DEFROST WAS TURNED ON AND WITHIN SECONDS THE CABIN WAS ENGULFED IN A WHITE SMOKE AND STRONG ELECTRICAL FIRE SMELL. AS I WAS PULLING OVER, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED.

NHTSA ODI 11056131

REAR GLASS EXPLODED. REAR DE-FROST TURNED ON, ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ISSUE CAUSED REAR GLASS TO OVER HEAT AND BURN UP, ALONG WITH COLD EXTERNAL WEATHER CAUSING VERY HOT GLASS EXPLOSION WHILE DRIVING SENDING GLASS PIECES EVERYWHERE. GLASS PARTICLES VERY FINE AND CAUSED SCRATCHES AND BLEEDING.

NHTSA ODI 11023760

ON JANUARY 10 2017, AT APPROXIMATELY 7:45 A.M. AFTER DROPPING OFF MY 3 KIDS AT SCHOOL, THE REAR WINDOW ON MY 2016 FORD F-150 EXPLODED AND SHATTERED AFTER THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED.

NHTSA ODI 10944304

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD F-150. THE DRIVER WAS ALERTED TO AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. UPON INSPECTION, THE DRIVER OBSERVED FLAMES COMING FROM THE FUSE BOX OF THE VEHICLE. MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

NHTSA ODI 10893243