AC & Heater complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 1% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 0% | 32,000 miles |
| 2020 | 2 | 0% | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 0% | — |
| 2018 | 7 | 0% | 21,000 miles |
| 2017 | 4 | 0% | 120,000 miles |
| 2016 | 10 | 0% | 56,000 miles |
| 2015 | 4 | 0% | 120,000 miles |
| 2014 | 23 | 1% | 64,000 miles |
| 2013 | 22 | 1% | 75,000 miles |
| 2012 | 17 | 1% | 60,000 miles |
| 2011 | 23 | 1% | 66,000 miles |
| 2010 | 30 | 4% | 44,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 0% | 76,000 miles |
| 2008 | 6 | 2% | 3,000 miles |
| 2007 | 5 | 1% | 36,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 1% | 1,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2004 | 5 | 0% | 39,000 miles |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% | 168,000 miles |
| 2002 | 1 | 0% | 20,000 miles |
| 2001 | 3 | 0% | 45,000 miles |
| 2000 | 6 | 1% | 75,000 miles |
| 1999 | 7 | 1% | 65,000 miles |
| 1998 | 8 | 1% | 183,000 miles |
| 1997 | 26 | 1% | 114,000 miles |
| 1995 | 6 | 1% | 121,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (air conditioning, heater, defroster, HVAC controls).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
the blower in my Truck seems to be malfunctioning. while the AC or heater will turn it when first started, approx. 20 minutes into driving and it quits blowing. you can hear it blowing but nothing comes out of the vents. this first happened at 300 miles while running the heater and I had no defrost! I repeatedly had to stop and wipe down the windshield in order to see! when sent in for repair they kept truck for 1 week. no error codes showed. Service tech told me I didn't know how to run the AC correctly. today I carried it in again with same complaint and they said they might get it into service in couple of weeks but made no attempt to schedule an appt. again, they made me feel as though I did not know what I am talking about. there are many forums online with same issue and no resolution.
The ac fan is blowing but no air is coming out looked on line there are a lot of people with same problem but when you cut the truck off and restart it the ac works fine his problem only occurs various sporadic but dealerships and Ford will not fix it because when they look at it, it does not do the issue. The issue does not come up. It is not a on-demand issue. There are no codes online flap sensor that allows the air to come through, Ford wants to leave the truck for 3 to 4 weeks and then when they start it don't do it then you're just been without your truck for no reason whatsoever to recall so you actually have your vehicle fixed thank you thank you
Back glass shattered for no reason , alone on a state highway with no houses and other traffic . Thousands of not hundreds of thousands of other people have had the same thing happen to them in f150s for years apparently. A quick google search didn't take long to read hundreds of other f150 owners sharing the same experience . Ford refuses to accept responsibility for what is an obvious design flaw. Broken shards of glass flying around in the cab . Luckily I didn't have my grandson in the backseat today.
Rear window exploded. No impact. Remote started my truck, cold out so rear defrost was on from the remote start. Go in truck shut the door and before I could press the start button (it was running from the remote start but still have to press the start button) the rear window exploded shattering everywhere except for the power slider. After some internet research, this appears to be a common problem with F-150's which Ford refuses to acknowledge.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the AC was being used at 70% power when suddenly, the AC no longer gave cool air and the airflow was weak. The contact stated this happens when he drives the vehicle longer than a 4 hour period. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it could not be diagnosed due to no being able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle with the air conditioner activated, condensation leaked inside the front passenger's side of the vehicle from a faulty air conditioner drainage hose. The contact stated that the failure created a foul odor inside the cabin of the vehicle, causing the contact to become nauseous. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and upon activating the rear window defroster, she observed smoke filling the interior of the vehicle. After a visual inspection of the rear window, the contact observed the rear window lower wire cover on fire. After turning the vehicle off, the fire extinguished on its own, after which the rear window shattered. Emergency services were not called. A fire report was not filed, and no injuries were reported. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the rear defroster wiring had shorted, causing the wiring to catch fire. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 106,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 5 MPH out of the driveway, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's husband then heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the rear window cracked. The contact called an independent mechanic and was informed that the defroster had heated up and cracked the rear window. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-150 years have ac & heater problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2010 (30), 1997 (26), 2011 (23), 2014 (23) and 2013 (22) model years. AC & Heater complaints make up 4% of all complaints for the 2010.
Is there a recall for Ford F-150 ac & heater problems?
No. NHTSA lists no a/c & heater recall for any Ford F-150 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Ford F-150 ac & heater problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles; 44% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the defroster/defogger/hvac system › rear window (95 mentions), followed by the defroster/defogger/hvac system (57).
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.