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Oh no, the Ford F-150 is facing new trouble on the horizon due to receiving a much lower reliability rating than last year. The 2023 Ford F-150 isn’t holding up like the 2022 or 2021 models, and we’re here to find out why. 

  • The 2023 Ford F-150 has received a reliability rating of 78 out of 100 from J.D. Power, indicating an average score.
  • This rating places the 2023 F-150 behind some rivals like the 2023 Ram 1500 (81) and the Nissan Titan (88).
  • The 2022 Ford F-150 scored an 86, but the 2023 model’s rating dropped by a surprising eight points.
  • Both the 2022 and 2023 F-150 models have had recalls, with the 2022 model experiencing more electrical issues, particularly related to loud radio static and speaker problems.

How reliable is the 2023 Ford F-150? 

The 2023 Ford F-150 off-roading over rocks
2023 Ford F-150 | Ford

The 2023 Ford F-150 has a reliability rating of 78 out of 100 from J.D.Power. This means that this truck has an average score. Ranking between 70 and 80 is average, while scores between 81 and 90 are above average, and anything between 91 and 100 is best. 

You may feel like an average rating isn’t too bad, but rivals like the 2023 Ram 1500 earned an 81, and the Nissan Titan got an 88. The Chevy Silverado beats it with a score of 80, and the Toyota Tundra has a 78. 

We didn’t expect the F-150 to tie with the Tundra near the bottom of the list. Especially because the 2022 Ford F-150 earned a score of 86 out of 100. It was just in the above-average category before dropping by eight points. What happened? 

The J.D.Power reliability rankings are based on actual driver experiences. Thousands of surveys are sent out, allowing owners of previous model years to report all of the trouble they faced from the paint quality, electronics, headlights, interior quality, engine, transmission, and more. 

What are the biggest Ford F-150 issues?

The 2023 Ford F-150 has five recalls that should have been corrected at a local dealership at no cost to owners. They involve parking brake failure, exterior lighting failure/flickering, the loss of four-wheel drive/tires locking up, a roll-away risk, and malfunctioning airbags. 

The 2022 Ford F-150 has 11 recalls for the parking brake engaging while in motion, exterior lighting issues, a roll-away risk, inoperative windshield wipers, another flicking light issue, malfunctioning airbags, wheel separation, a fracturing drive shaft, malfunctioning steering, a loss of drive power, and inoperative trailer lights. 

While some of the recalls overlap, the 2022 model has more electrical issues. This tracks as it’s the most common complaint. 

2022 F-150 owners reported that the speakers would randomly blast static until they turned their trucks off. It was accompanied by loud popping sounds, the sound of shattering glass, and the smell of smoke. 

Some drivers experienced unintended acceleration with remote start, kept finding their batteries totally drained after holding a charge, faced the loss of their brakes, dealt with their lights not coming on, and struggled with a blue infotainment screen/camera screens. 

Most of the other complaints are about the lights, interior accessories, windshield, and lights. They seem to be related to electrical issues. 

There are a few reports of transmission problems with rough shifts and loud knocking. However, the complaint about the ear-shattering radio noise is by far the most prevalent issue. 

Does the 2023 F-150 have electrical problems? 

The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R kicking up sand
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R | Ford

The 2023 Ford F-150 does have a few reports of electrical problems related to loud radio static, rapid battery drainage, the charging cable overheating, and getting stuck in limp mode. But there are way fewer complaints compared to the 2022 model. 

The 2023 F-150 model hasn’t had as much time in the wild for drivers to discover and report issues. More complaints could roll in, or perhaps the electrical issues were corrected. There were a few electrical-related recalls, but none were related to the mysterious speaker issues. 

As far as we know, there weren’t any radio changes or electrical updates between the 2022 and 2023 model years. However, Ford did develop a software fix to correct the problem. 

Stay tuned as we continue investigating the F-150 for potential issues. Do you think the static problem was enough to bring down the 2023 model’s score?