2016 Ford F-150 Window & Wiper Problems

137 owners have reported windows, wipers & sunroof problems with the 2016 Ford F-150 to NHTSA — 7% of all 2,080 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 48,000 miles. That ranks #5 of 31 F-150 model years for window & wiper complaints (a typical year has 50). No window & wiper recall has been issued for this model year.

137complaints
48ktypical miles
0related recalls
0crashes
4fires
3injuries

Which parts fail

  • Sun/moon roof assembly
    14
  • Glass, side/rear
    7
  • Windshield
    3
  • Rear window wiper/washer
    2
  • Fixed panaramic roof/sky light assembly
    1
  • Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
    1

Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    1923%
  • 25k–50k
    2530%
  • 50k–75k
    2530%
  • 75k–100k
    78%
  • 100k–150k
    810%
  • 150k+
    00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact turned off the vehicle and restarted the vehicle after a while. The contact continued driving; however, the failure recurred several times while driving. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where unknown repairs were performed. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 20 MPH on a slight incline and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The message "Hill Assist Not Working" was displayed. The contact stated that she reversed at 3 MPH to her residence. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving on a level road. …

Windshield wiper/washer › Motor · 90,000 miles · Jun 2022

This vehicle 2016 ford F150 is known to have shorting issues. From literally all wiring harnesses. I had a small fire in my truck due to this issue, caused melting of the ribbon cable in my seat heater control module, which is a known issue from Ford. I have shorting in my turn signal switch (no wipers). Is that safe? I am a research scientist and engineer, I can tell you now it is not safe. If i need to prove it, I can do so with ease and write the necessary literature. If I cant use my AC sometimes, the windows fog, then i cant use the wipers to unfog them, how is this not a visibility issue? Not to mention all the shorts. I have a 40 gallon fuel tank, if any shorts get near it, is that going to be a fun experience for me? Please give Ford a penalty, the average owner of this truck pays thousands a year in repairs. I paid $17,800.00 in 2025 to repair this piece of shit. …

Aug 2026 · fire

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 20-25 MPH, he heard water sounds coming from the body of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the door drains were inspected and drained; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Ford Service (1401 S Beacon Blvd, Grand Haven, MI 49417), where it was diagnosed that the sunroof rivets were installed incorrectly, causing water intrusion into the sunroof and curtain air bags. The dealer diagnosed that the sunroof, the sunroof frame and the curtain air bags needed to be replaced. The dealer forwarded the diagnostic report to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer agreed to partially cover the repair cost. However, the contact stated that the failure was due to a Manufacturer's defect; therefore, the manufacturer should completely cover the repair. …

Sun/moon roof assembly · 19,000 miles · Apr 2018

The contact's son owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 60 - 65 MPH with the defroster activated, the rear windshield started to crack. The driver drove the vehicle to the contact's residence and parked the vehicle. The dealer was contacted; however, the contact was prompted to leave a voicemail. The contact had not heard back from the dealer. The contact had made an appointment with a local glass replacement company. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer to determine if the failure was caused by an impact before receiving assistance with the replacement. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 85,986.

Windshield · 86,000 miles · Jan 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the HVAC system was not functioning properly. Due to the failure, the contact was unable to activate the front windshield defroster. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the blend door actuator. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V726000 (Visibility), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 120,000.

120,000 miles · Feb 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and attempting to open the sunroof, the sunroof made an abnormal popping sound. The contact noticed that the panoramic sunroof panel had become inoperable. The contact stated that the sunroof panel and the sunroof rails had fractured. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer confirmed that the VIN was not under recall and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

85,000 miles · Nov 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on various occasions, water was entering into the vehicle through the sunroof. The contact also stated that water was seen coming from the ceiling light buttons. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the sunroof guard, motor and trim needed to be replaced. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V977000 (Visibility). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000.

Sun/moon roof assembly · 12,000 miles · May 2016

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after remotely starting the vehicle and waiting approximately 2-5 minutes, there was an abnormal chemical odor coming into the cabin of the vehicle. Shortly afterwards, the rear window fractured into several pieces onto the rear seats. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacture was made aware of the failure and confirmed there was no recall on the VIN. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Glass, side/rear · 100,000 miles · Nov 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while opening the panoramic moon roof, the moon roof functioned as intended; however, the moon roof then failed to close. Later, the contact became aware that the moon roof would open but not close. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the moon roof assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 77,000.

Sun/moon roof assembly · 77,000 miles · Jul 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to open the sunroof, the sunroof failed to open and made an abnormal powerful roaring sound. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact of a Class Action Lawsuit being opened regarding the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

Sun/moon roof assembly · 44,000 miles · Jun 2020

Window & Wiper complaints in other F-150 years

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26’2734134628023242919862267184851711291141771289713750813662130462566
Window & Wiper complaints per model year, Ford F-150.

Frequently asked questions

How common are window & wiper problems on the 2016 Ford F-150?

NHTSA has 137 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2016 Ford F-150, 7% of the model year's 2,080 complaints. The component named most often is sun/moon roof assembly (14 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2016 Ford F-150 window & wiper problems?

No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2016 Ford F-150, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.

At what mileage do 2016 Ford F-150 window & wiper problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 0 crashes, 4 fires and 3 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.