Samuel Gitukui on August 5, 2022 No Comments
2016 saw the introduction of some cool trucks. The majority of the pickup trucks available came with plenty of modern features that we still see today. However, they still had some issues such as the 2016 Ford F150 problems we will look at later on.
That said, if you are thinking of getting a used pickup truck then choosing one from 2016 isn’t such a bad idea.
The great thing is that you will be able to get advanced technology similar to what you will find in modern cars at a fraction of the overall price.
That said you will need to do plenty of research to find a truck that is reliable. One of the bigger trucks from this time that you are likely to find in the market is the Ford F150. It is not just a reliable car but it is also comfortable and highly durable.
That said the 2016 Ford F150 isn’t all perfect and does come with some engine and transmission issues. more on that later.
- 2016 F150
- F150 Reliability
- Problems With The Ford F150
- 5.0 Engine Problems
- Frequently Asked Questions
2016 F150
Let’s take a quick look at the 2016 Ford F150, with its numerous pros and cons.
The Pros
- Up to four different engine choices
- Modern interior features
- 7-liter EcoBoost
The Cons
- Not the best fuel economy
- A rough ride
- Some interior parts and accessories feel cheap
The 2016 Ford F150 comes with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist, as well as a special edition package for the Lariat and XLT trims. Furthermore, it also comes with a SYNC 3 communication and entertainment system.
The 5.0 liter V8 also features the compressed propane/natural gas fuel prep package.
The Ford F150 is the company’s best-selling vehicle. It is also the smallest in the F-series of trucks. Moreover, it is much smaller than the heavy-duty F-250 and F-350.
The Design
The F150 can also come with a regular cab design or a two-door model and comes with a truck bed that is 6 feet and 6 inches long. It may also come with an 8-foot truck bed.
The Super Cab can also come with a 6-foot 6-inch bed as well as an 8-foot-long bed. That said, the super crew is the smallest of the two-door models and comes with a 5-foot 6-inch bed. It can also feature a 6-foot 6-inch bed.
Furthermore, you can also opt for the King Ranch model which features king ranch leather, heated seats in the front and the back, voice-controlled navigation, a power driver, heated steering, a power inverter of 110 volts or 400-watt power, LED tail lights, LED box lighting, remote tailgate release, and two-tone paint to mention a few.
Finally, there is the Limited trim which is the Ford F150 top-of-the-line model. This one features 22-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, black carpet flooring, label keeping system, floor mats at the rear, a power lock tailgate, and a twin-panel moon roof. It also features a cargo box tie-down with hooks and wheel lips moldings.
The Powertrains
Remember what we said about the F150 2016 model offering customers a choice of four different engines? These are also connected to two different transmissions although both of the transmissions are six-speed.
These are the two-wheel and the four-wheel transmission systems.
3.5 Liter V6
The first engine is the 3.5 liter V6 which is able to produce up to 282 horsepower and 253-pound feet of torque. This engine is also able to do 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway for the 2-wheel drive system.
As for the 4-wheel drive system, you get 17 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the highway.
2.7 Liter Turbocharged V6
Furthermore, you can also get the 2016 Ford F150 with a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine that is able to produce 325 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque. For the 2WD it can do 18 to 19 miles per gallon in the city as well as 24-25 miles per gallon on the highway.
As for the four-wheel drive, it can do 18 miles per gallon in the city and 23 miles per gallon on the highway.
3.5 Liter Turbocharged V6
The third type of engine which you can get with the 2016 Ford F150 is the 3.5-liter turbocharged V6. This one is also able to produce 365 horsepower and up to 420-pound feet of torque.
Moreover, it can do 16 to 17 miles per gallon in the city and 22-24 miles per gallon on the highway for the 2WD. As for the 4WD, it can do 15 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the highway.
5.0 Liter V8
Finally, there is the 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 385 horsepower and 387-pound feet of torque. For the 2WD, it can do 15 miles per hour in the city and 22 miles per hour on the highway. As for the 4WD, it can do 14 miles per hour in the city and 19 miles per hour on the highway.
Safety Features
In every body style, the Ford F150 received a high rating as far as safety goes from the NHTSA. They gave the F150 2016 models a five-star rating. As for the IIHS, both the SuperCrew and the SuperCab received the highest rating when it came to all their crash evaluations.
That said, the 2016 Ford F150 didn’t get the best rating when it comes to front crash evaluation since even while the truck walk warns you of a possible crash and accident, it will not brake automatically.
That said, the forward collision control feature warns the driver of possible collision as well as makes ready the brakes for maximum stopping power. There is also the curve control which works to slow down the truck whenever it is going through a curve.
F150 Reliability
The Ford F150 gets a reliability rating from RepairPal of 3.5 out of 5. They also gave it a rank of 7 out of 17 vehicles.
The Ford F50 also comes with an annual repair cost of around $788. This is much higher than the average of most cars on the roads. The repairs are also severe compared to most other cars but on the upside, such repairs occur less frequently.
The handling, as well as the balancing, is great and there is plenty of room in the interior. The materials are topnotch similar to those you would get in a Supersnake and the infotainment system is user-friendly.
So the question on everyone’s mind is are Ford F150 trucks good cars?
The simple answer is yes, the F150 is a good car. It also comes with some amazing figures such as a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds, as well as a payload capacity of 3300 pounds.
All the V6 and V8 engines are super powerful and are all top-performing powertrains.
Problems With The Ford F150
The Ford F150 is a great truck which is why it is so popular in the North American market. However, it still comes with its fair share of issues.
Some of the more common issues include:
2016 Ford F150 Problems – Shutting Down When Driving
There have been complaints about the vehicle shutting down in the middle of the road. This results in a lack of ability to accelerate, zero power, and stiffening of the brake pedals.
This then makes it hard to control the vehicle creating a potentially hazardous situation. Some of the factors that could cause such stalling include:
- Faulty alternator
- Issues with the throttle body
- Failure of the internal components
2016 Ford F150 Problems – Shutting Down When Idle
This is a different issue from the one we just mentioned above and this time the vehicle shuts down when idling. The main issue comes from the engine bay.
Some of the 2016 Ford F150 problems that could cause the engine to shut down when idling include:
- A damaged MAF sensor
- A throttle body that is dirty
- Vacuum leak
- Leak in the intake gasket
Often times in case of such an issue, there will be a check engine light and a code stored in the computer which will help pinpoint the mechanic or technician as to the main cause of the problem.
2016 Ford F150 Problems – Cranking Without Starting
Another issue that occurs although not very often with the 2016 Ford F150 model is cranking without starting. The main cause of the issue is a faulty or burnt fuse.
Once the fuse burns, there is an open circuit which then prevents the fuel pump from working.
If you notice that your Ford F150 is cranking but is still not starting, then you may want to check out fuse #27.
You may also find that instead of popping, the fuse melts as a result of contact with the fuse box terminals.
To help stop this from occurring again in the future, you can purchase a fuse relocation kit from Ford that will cost you roughly $20. Keep in mind that you will need to solder it.
This is why it’s a good idea if the repair is done by a professional. This is a quick fix that takes about half an hour. Therefore you should not have to worry about labor costs being too high.
Check The Fuel Pump
For the Ford F150 2016 model, you may also want to check out the fuel pump fuse. If you notice that there is nothing wrong with this fuse then you may want to check out other issues such as:
- A fuel pump that is faulty
- Wiring of the fuel pump
- A fuel filter that is clogged
- Spark plugs that are defective
There are plenty of components that could cause your Ford F150 to crank but not start. Most of these 2016 Ford F150 problems however are better diagnosed by a technician.
For much older Ford F150s that come with an inertia switch. This is a safety measure that is intended to stop fuel from flowing in case of a collision.
That said, the inertia switch doesn’t always have to be triggered by a collision. There are times when slamming the doors too hard or driving over a deep pothole could trigger the switch. This is why it is important that you check if the reason for the cranking without starting is the inertia switch.
You can locate the inertia switch under the glove box. This switch will come with a red button. You can tell if the inertia switch is turned on in the button is raised. You can supply power to the fuel pump again by simply pressing the switch inwards. Now try and see if your F150 is going to start.
2016 Ford F150 Problems – Car Doesn’t Start In Cold Weather
Many Ford F150 owners have reported the truck failing to start when the weather is cold. This is not surprising considering that winters are usually very hard on the starting system of the car.
Some of the issues caused by cold weather that result in the Ford F150 failing to start to include:
The batteries are usually very susceptible to cold weather. The first thing that you may need to do therefore is to test the battery. This can be done for free at some auto shops.
You may notice that the battery has enough power yet still struggles to start the F150 in this case you will also need to check if the battery is of the right size.
You will also need to consider the CCA or the cold cranking amps. If you drive an F150 with a V6 your car’s battery may come with a lower CCA than a Ford F150 with a V8 engine.
Many times Ford F150 owners will change the battery and install one which has a low CCA only to be left wondering what happened during the winter months.
2016 Ford F150 Problems – A Lack Of Electrical Power
It can be a headache having an F150 that doesn’t have enough electrical power. You can tell this when you notice that the headlights will not turn on nor will the truck’s engines. You may even find that the truck doesn’t even crank leave alone start and run.
The first rational thing to do as we saw above is to the battery and have it tested. For the most part, a loss of electrical power often has to do with a defective battery.
If you get the battery tested and still your F150 doesn’t have any power then the next thing that you should check is the connections to the battery. Check that the terminals are clean and that they are connected tight.
If you still notice that the problem persists it’s time to have your truck checked by a technician. This is because there are plenty of many other factors that could cause the lack of electrical power such as a blown fuse.
Since there are many factors that could cause a lack of electrical power, the causes will also come with their own individual repair costs. You may find the electrical system to be highly complicated. This is why it is hard to say how much it will cost to fix his problem.
Moreover, it is also the reason why you should take your vehicle for repair to a professional.
2016 Ford F150 Problems – Transmission Issues
The role of a vehicle’s transmission is to transfer the power from the engine to the wheels allowing you to pick a driving speed.
Since the transmission is responsible for taking the right amount of power and translating this to the speed of the car, it makes sense that a small issue with the transmission can result in a lot of 2016 Ford F150 problems.
It is not hard to notice issues with the transmission. One of the ways that you can tell that you have an issue with the 2016 Ford F150 is delays in shifting. You may also notice a grinding sound when you accelerate.
And that’s not all, you may notice a whistling sound or even a burning smell and smoke coming from under the hood. A decrease in the fuel economy after such 2016 Ford F150 problems can be a good sign that you have transmission issues. In a worst-case scenario, your 2016 Ford F150 may stop working altogether.
How To Deal With The Transmission Issues
It is best to take your truck for a routine inspection for signs of depreciation. For one, you should always use Ford-approved transmission fluid and have it changed when it’s time for a service.
This will help prevent major 2016 Ford F150 problems with the transmission in the future.
Keep in mind that in case of damage to the transmission the cost of repair will vary widely depending on the extent of the damage.
2016 Ford F150 5.0 Engine Problems
Transmission problem aside, the 2016 Ford F150 5-liter engine also comes with some issues. These include:
Rough Running Of The Engine
This is a problem that often occurs when the engine reaches about 100,000 miles. Often the problem is caused by a dirty mass airflow sensor that starts by being dirty and then eventually failing. Ford recommends that drivers change the MAF sensor when the car reaches 100,000 miles.
The issue is that most car drivers will not know exactly how they can do this.
One way to deal with the problem is to get a hold of an electronic cleaner, take out the MAF sensor and then clean it. This is easy to do and will take around 5 mines.
You could also replace the old MAF sensor with a new one which will cost you between $165 and $250. Changing it yourself is a lot cheaper and will cost around $100.
Rattling Or Clicking
Another issue that is common with the F150 5.0 engines is rattling, ticking, or scratching. This happens often whenever the engine reaches moderate operating temperatures. When this happens over time, the timing chain may lose tension causing the motor to lose its timing.
Consequently, this can cause plenty of major 2016 Ford F150 problems. This is one repair that can end up costing you a lot of money so it’s important that you are under Ford’s warranty. The cost of repair can reach over $2,000.
Leaking Of The Coolant
The coolant moves into the car’s radiator and circulates throughout the engine. If you have corrosion in the car’s radiator, then the coolant will leak out through the gaps. However, while this is the most common issue with most cars when it comes to coolant leaks, it is not the main one with the F150.
There are several other factors that could cause a rattling noise with your Ford F150. These could range from issues with the struts as well as strut mounts, issues with the sway bar links as well as problems with the ball joints. Whatever the cause, the problem needs to be checked and fixed promptly to avoid any serious issues.
Coolant often leaks from the reservoir. Since the container doesn’t have any clams but instead has an O-ring as well as a threaded connection. This connection however is prone to failure. Many owners will be able to change the O-ring but the problem often comes back.
Often times you’ll find that you need to make a total replacement. This will come to about $250 inclusive of both engine parts and the cost of labor. Making the replacement on your own will only cost around $60 for the parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Miles Can A Ford F150 Last
It is generally agreed that the Ford F150 can last 200,000 miles according to many experts. Once it goes beyond this mileage the truck starts to demand expensive repairs and maintenance. This mileage can be equated to around 17 years of driving. If that is you drive 12,000 miles a year.
Are Ford F150 Reliable
According to RepairPal, the Ford F150 gets a reliability score of 77 out of 100. This makes it a reliable truck.
Is The 5.4 Triton A Good Engine
The 5.4 Triton engine was popular with many Ford trucks and vehicles for over 20 years. It was the fact that the Triton engine was reliable and highly drake that propelled the popularity of the Ford vehicles. This is especially so with the Ford F150. With proper driving and maintenance, the Triton engines can last 150000 miles.
