2016 Ford F-150 Recall

On certain trucks, a software problem could cause the transmission to downshift suddenly to second gear. If this happens, there could be a loss of control. Note: This recall only affects trucks equipped with a 6-speed transmission.

A loss of control could increase the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your truck to a dealership to update the powertrain control module software.

On certain trucks, the windshield wiper linkage could corrode and seize. If this happens, the windshield wipers may not work.

Windshield wipers that don't work could reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your truck to a dealership to replace the windshield wiper linkage.

On certain trucks equipped with a 3.5 L Ecoboost engine, brake fluid could leak from the brake master cylinder into the brake booster. This can cause reduced front brake performance, and the driver may experience increased brake pedal travel and increased pedal effort. Full braking function remains in the rear wheel circuit. Note: Depending on the amount of brake fluid loss, the driver may hear a warning chime and see a red brake warning indicator in the instrument cluster. This is an expansion of Ford recall 20S31 (Transport Canada Recall No. 2020-252).

Reduced front brake performance can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a dealer to replace the brake master cylinder. The dealer will also replace the brake booster if the brake master cylinder is leaking.

On certain trucks, brake fluid could leak from the brake master cylinder front wheel circuit into the brake booster. If this happens, the driver may experience increased brake pedal travel and increased pedal effort. This can cause reduced front brake performance. Full braking function remains in the rear wheel circuit. Note: Depending on the amount of brake fluid loss, the driver may hear a warning chime and see a red brake warning indicator in the instrument cluster.

Reduced front brake performance can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your truck to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to replace the brake master cylinder.

On certain trucks with a 3.5-L engine, there could be a problem with the engine block heater cable. The wrong cable may have been installed when your vehicle was repaired under a previous recall. The cable that was installed may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high engine temperatures. When plugged in, this could cause a short circuit to occur, resulting in overheated or melted wiring. It could also cause the block heater not to work, and/or it could cause a household circuit breaker to trip. For details of the previous recall, please see Transport Canada recall no. 2019-174 (Ford no. 19S11/19G01).

Overheated or melted wiring could create the risk of a fire.

Do not use your block heater until the recall inspection and repairs are completed. Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the block heater and cable. Depending on the results of the inspection, the heater element and/or block heater cable will be replaced, as necessary. If the replacement parts are not available, the dealer will disable the engine block heater. Ford will send you another notice when the replacement parts are available, and will ask you to take your vehicle to a dealer to have them installed.

On certain trucks, the electric tailgate latch could malfunction. This may cause the tailgate to unlatch on its own. If the tailgate opens while driving, cargo that is not secured could fall out of the truck bed and onto the road.

Cargo that falls from the truck bed could create a road hazard for others.

Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to modify the tailgate/frame wiring harnesses and will install a new tailgate handle release switch.

This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempered. If the window breaks, the glass may separate into large pieces instead of very small ones. Note: This is a voluntary recall that is not being conducted under the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Glass that breaks in to large pieces could create a risk of injury.

The company will notify consumers by mail and instruct them to inspect the designation code marked on the rear window glass. Products affected by this recall have the designation “DOT 287” along with the lettering “VMR” (Replacement Market) and a date code that is before July 2019. This information is printed on the bottom corner of the glass. Consumers should contact Vitro's customer service at 1-412-995-6457 or argbacklites@vitro.com to arrange for replacement of the glass.

The connectors on the engine block heater cable may have been damaged when your truck was serviced for recall campaign 2018-718 (Ford #18S45). This could cause a short-circuit, which may result in overheated or melted wiring.

Overheated or melted wiring could create the risk of a fire.

Stop use of your engine block heater immediately. Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. Ford will send you another notice when replacement parts are available, and will ask you to take your vehicle to a dealer to install them. Do not use your engine block heater until the replacement parts are installed.

Water and contaminants may damage and corrode the block heater cable connectors. This could cause a short-circuit, which may result in overheated or melted wiring.

Overheated or melted wiring could create the risk of a fire.

Stop use of your engine block heater immediately. Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. Ford will send you another notice when replacement parts are available, and will ask you to take your vehicle to a dealer to install them. Do not use your engine block heater until the replacement parts are installed.

On certain vehicles, the activation of the front seat belt pretensioners in a crash may result in momentary ignition of pretensioner exhaust gases. This could ignite materials in the B-pillar area, leading to a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the B-pillar area, modify the floor covering and sound insulation, and apply heat-resistant tape.

A failure of this component (seats and restraints) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the front power seat adjuster assembly joint may become loose over time. A loose seat adjuster assembly may increase seat cushion deflection and not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, which could increase the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect for proper torque of the power seat track upper pivot link bolt. If the bolt passes inspection, dealers will remove and clean the bolt, apply new threadlock and reinstall the bolt to the specified torque. If the bolt fails the torque inspection, threadlock will be added to the bolt and will be reinstalled as an interim repair until the final repair is available. The final repair will include replacement of the lift link, including new bushings and fasteners.

A failure of this component (seats and restraints) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, door latch shielding may not be sufficient. As a result, water could enter into the side door latch and freeze, causing the latch mechanism to bind after opening. In addition, latch actuation cables may have been bent or kinked during installation, and could result in latch binding. A frozen door latch, or bent or kinked actuation cable may result in a door that will not open or will not close. If a latch does not fully engage the door striker, there is a potential for a door to open while the vehicle is in motion, which could increase the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will install water shields over the door latches and the door latch actuation cables will be inspected and repaired if needed.

A failure of this component (structure) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

Certain vehicles equipped with rear inflatable seat belts may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 210 – Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages. The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle may have been assembled with a rivet that was improperly staked. As a result, the left rear seat belt assembly could separate from its mounting bracket during a crash, which could increase the risk of injury and would fail to meet the anchorage strength requirements of the standard. Correction: Dealers will inspect the left rear seat belt buckle rivet, and replace the seat belt buckle assembly if necessary.

A failure of this component (seats and restraints) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

Certain vehicles equipped with a manual driver's seat recliner may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 202 - Head Restraints and CMVSS 207 - Anchorage of Seats. There may be an inadequate weld between the driver's seat back and the manually operated seat back recliner mechanism, which may fail to meet the requirements of the standards. As a result, the driver's seat back may appear to be loose, twisted or lean to one side, and/or squeak/rattle. If this condition were present, in the event of a vehicle crash, the seat may not adequately restrain an occupant and would increase the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame.

A failure of this component (seats and restraints) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software developed for optional Multi-Contour seats may not properly classify an adult occupant sitting in the front passenger seat when the seat massage feature is activated. If an adult occupant in the front passenger seat is incorrectly classified as a child, in the event of a crash, the frontal airbag may not deploy which could increase the risk of injury. Correction : Dealers will update the occupant classification system module with a new software.

A failure of this component (accessories) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).