The Ford F-150 is both one of Ford’s top-selling trucks and one of the most sold pickup trucks in the United States. However, that does not guarantee that the 2019 Ford F-150 was “built Ford tough.” A quick look at complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal the following common problems in the 2019 Ford F-150:
- Abnormal rattling sound
- Delayed shifting
- Sudden lurching
- Faulty cam phasers
- Excessive oil consumption
- Engine knocking
- Tailgate falling
If you experience any of these problems, look for these telltale signs of a lemon: your vehicle has landed in the shop multiple times, or it was stuck in the shop for at least 30 days all added up, and your problems have still not been resolved by your local dealership.
Table of Contents
- 2019 Ford F-150 Engine Problems
- 2019 Ford F-150 Transmission Issues
- 2019 Ford F-150 Electrical Malfunctions
- 2019 Ford F-150 Brake Problems
- Other Ford Lawsuits and Recalls
- Contact a Lemon Law Attorney Today
2019 Ford F-150 Engine Problems
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the most common engine complaints for the 2019 Ford F-150 are abnormal ticking or knocking noises, low oil levels, Auto Start-Stop problems, fluid leaks, issues with cam phasers and vehicle stalling.
One complaint described the cam phaser issue: “Unknown cam position sensor throwing code P0345. Replaced part, a week later came back. Alternator battery and starter tested fine. Started rattling a week later.” Another complaint states: “The vehicle has given codes P0018 and P0021 on multiple occasions. These codes are likely due to an issue with the cam phasers. This is a known issue due to a design flaw.”
Some 2019 Ford F-150 engine problems are reportedly caused by the variable valve timing (VVT) solenoid.
“Failed camshaft phasers and VVT solenoids. Mechanic shop has confirmed the problem and has said this is far from the first failure they have seen with Ford trucks and these parts. No warning lights to indicate the problem to the driver. Will lead to major engine failure.”
– October 3, 2023, CarComplaints.com
“The variable camshaft timing (VCT) solenoid becomes gummed up, causing the engine to lag. Specifically after driving on the interstate or highway and then sitting at a red light. The VCT does not perform properly and the engine idle drops, causing the truck to stall and die at the light. Online forums show this to be a common problem for the past couple generations of this Ford 5.0 L motor and always seems to occur between 80,000 and 100,000 miles.”
– February 14, 2024, NHTSA ID: 11571797
A class action lawsuit alleges that Ford’s 5-L “Coyote” engines are susceptible to excessive oil consumption, engine rattling, vehicle stalling, and other consequences of frequent low oil levels. If your 2019 Ford F-150 guzzles oil at a seemingly high rate, you may be included in this class action lawsuit.
A complaint regarding oil consumption states the following about their 2019 Ford F-150:
“Truck uses an excessive amount of oil that would not be corrected by Ford. Due to this issue the truck failed to operate normally. It stalled in the middle of an incredibly busy intersection, causing traffic back up as well as increasing safety concerns for the driver of the truck as well as other drivers on the road. This has happened multiple times. Ford is aware of the engine oil consumption issue. Has expressed multiple times that it was not a problem. Attempted to fix by selling a new longer dip stick to attempt to hide the problem with excessive oil consumption.”
– December 3, 2023, NHTSA ID: 11558163
2019 Ford F-150 Transmission Issues
The 2019 Ford F-150 pickup typically comes with the 6-speed transmission. However, some 2019 Ford F-150 trucks come with a 10-speed transmission as an option. If your 2019 Ford F-150 has a 2.7-L, 5-L, or 3.5-L gas engine or a 3-L diesel engine, it is likely that your truck came with the 10-speed automatic transmission. Common transmission issues in the 2019 Ford F-150 include delayed shifting, grinding, difficulty in shifting gears, engine revving, lurching, and transmission failure.
Ford’s 10R80 transmissions have come under legal scrutiny for these notable transmission problems. If your truck comes with the 10-speed transmission, you may recognize some issues found in the complaints below. However, the 6-speed transmission isn’t off the hook.
“Transmission will not shift correctly between gears. When you first shift from start up it will make a hard clunk noise. Truck will start jumping and once it’s done the wrench light comes on. At one point I couldn’t get it to go into reverse and I had to shut the truck off and restart it to get it into reverse.”
– July 26, 2023, NHTSA ID: 11534661
“Between 3 and 4 gears on a 10 speed transmission. Accelerating on a cold start or going up a hill after start. Has a lunging gear shift and hard shift then after and catching the correct gear. Have taken the truck multiple times to ford. All they do is just reset the transmission. I’ve had issues with the rentals they give me of the same vehicle. New issue is between 7-3 when braking hard from 60+. Vehicle lunges forward and can hear transmission grinding and having issues switching gears thereafter.”
– July 24, 2023, NHTSA ID: 11534105
“Transmission bucks and skips gears in the 800-2000 rpm range. When acceleration is applied in the rpm range given, it hesitates and then lurches forward . It also ‘jumps’ in a forward motion when starting in park on a level surface. I had the transmission software flashed by Ford last year which helped for 2-3 months only. It is getting worse. Ford now wants to charge to refresh the software again since the truck is out of warranty by 6 months.”
– May 31, 2023, NHTSA ID: 11524749
2019 Ford F-150 Electrical Malfunctions
The most prominent complaints on the 2019 Ford F-150 report issues with the Auto Start-Stop function. Essentially, the Auto-Start stop feature will shut off the engine when the brake pedal is depressed. Once the driver lifts the foot off the brake pedal, the engine automatically restarts. Ideally, this system would lower truck emissions. However, complaints report that this repeated starting and stopping of the engine is hard on the battery and alternator.
“Beginning 3 months ago, intermittently during in-town traffic driving, the vehicle will shut off. It happened about once a month. Three weeks ago when it did this, it said Low Charging System, so I took it to the dealer where I purchased it. The Alternator tested Low, so it was replaced. Two weeks later, it died at a stoplight again & at Idle, then the Dash Message said Disengage Auto-Shut Off and Restart Engine. I called the dealer where purchased it & they came and got it. They tested it for a couple days & also had several people drive it, and they said it did fine with the Auto-Shut Off Turned On. Well this afternoon I drove it local around my own town, and it still runs rough. It idles rough and is acting like it wants to die again at stoplights. The only way to be comfortable driving it is with the Auto-Shut-Off Disabled. In traffic at a red light that turns green, and if you’re stalled out, it’s going to cause a rear-end collision. Not to mention it’s hard on the battery and alternator having to keep restarting at intermittent intervals in traffic. The dealer said they drove it around their lot area, however, it doesn’t do it unless they drive it for 45 minutes or an hour. When discussing this with 3 area Ford Dealers, they all said it’s going to be hard to find. There’s no Check Engine Light or any sort of Code that can be used. They also stated it’s probably something small causing it. One specific dealer stated that something else is causing this issue, and until that is found and fixed, it’s going to keep doing it. The dealer that’s been handling this and purchased from, did a Factory Reset on the PCM.”
– June 9, 2023, NHTSA ID: 11526287
Other electrical issues have prompted multiple recalls of the 2019 Ford F-150. If you have a 2019 Ford F-150, use NHTSA’s recall search function to check if you are part of the following:
- Rearview Camera: Rearview cameras may display a blank or distorted image due to a poor electrical connection.
- Daytime Running Lights: This recall applies to F-150 trucks with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (on/off). When the driver manually switches from Autolamps to “Headlamps on,” the Daytime Running Lamps may not dim to parking lamps as intended.
- Instrument Panel Displays Don’t Work: Excessive sealant adhesive on the positive battery cable, Battery Monitoring System or Power Distribution Box joints could cause malfunctions in instrument panel displays, braking or steering assist. This issue could also cause engine stalling.
- Engine Block Heater: Two recalls have been issued due to the engine block heater cable’s splice connector experiencing corrosion and damage. Corrosion and damage could cause resistive shorts, which can overheat or melt the wiring.
Not all 2019 Ford F-150 trucks were included in these recalls, even if they needed to be. In some cases, resistive shorts have led to 2019 Ford F-150s catching on fire.
“After being parked for over 6 hours, the truck spontaneously started to smoke, sparked, and caught fire at 12:53 am. This ignition was inside the engine compartment on the passenger side. All was recorded on 24hr video monitoring and my truck was in stock condition without any aftermarket parts and no warning lights on. Incidentally my truck had just been routinely serviced with the past month by the dealership and all was fine. Within minutes the truck was engulfed in flames, my neighbors and I attempted to extinguish the flames until the fire company arrived within 6 minutes. Within this short less than 15 minute window the entire engine and cab was destroyed. If this truck was parked in a garage this incident would have been catastrophic. Luckily no one was injured and the prompt response of my neighbors and the fire company prevented this from catching my home on fire. The police and fire company reviewed the video and informed me to notify any safety board and The Ford company directly. In review this problem is not new and well document in the past. There are recalls in place for the same make and model vehicles with the same fire starting in the front passenger side. Unfortunately my VIN was not included in this recall.”
– June 14, 2023, NHTSA ID: 11526923
2019 Ford F-150 Brake Problems
The Ford Master Brake Cylinder lawsuit alleges that 2019 Ford F-150 trucks equipped with a 2.7-L, 3.5-L, 5-L, or other engine with a Hitachi step-bore master cylinder may be at risk of losing braking ability with little warning. A defective front brake master cylinder allows brake fluid to leak into the brake booster and bypass or recirculate internally. This causes a loss of hydraulic brake pressure. That means when the driver depresses the brake pedal, it takes longer for the truck to stop.
A few complaints have reported leaking brake fluid and loss of braking power.
“I was driving approximately 35 mph. I braked hard enough to slow down to avoid hitting a car that blew through an intersection. That’s when my brakes became soft, and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. The truck had limited braking at that point. I was able to continue driving for a bit. The brakes would initially have some braking power when I first applied the brake, but within seconds the brake pedal would go all the way to the floor again. After braking several more times, the low brake fluid message came on. I opened the hood, and you can see fluid has leaked on the passenger side near the firewall.”
– December 1, 2022, NHTSA ID: 11495716
“My wife was driving my truck while I was hospitalized after emergency surgery. While driving, an emergency noise sounded and a “Brake Fluid Low” light came on. Immediately after that, the truck was difficult to stop – having to put the pedal all the way to the floor. She immediately went to a local full service gas station to have some brake fluid put in. She was told there that there was brake fluid all over the engine under the hood and that the brake hose was busted. They topped off the brake fluid and followed her home, one mile away, where she parked the truck (said she was scared driving and several times was unable to come to a complete stop – luckily no one hit her!). Upon getting out of the hospital, I called the dealership where I purchased the truck and an extended warranty that I pay $75-$100/ month for. I was told I was responsible for getting the truck to them (in another town 15 miles away) and that most likely it would be covered under my warranty. I contacted my insurance company and filed an Emergency Roadside claim to have the truck towed to the dealership since it was undriveable. I’ve just received a call from the dealership. They say my brake line is not covered because it’s not a mechanical failure. They say the hose came loose and rubbed against the steering column and because of that, the warranty did not cover the brakes. They said I might have gone off-roading (which I didn’t). I am self-employed and use my truck daily.”
– January 13, 2023. NHTSA ID: 11501619
Other Ford Lawsuits And Recalls
Some 2019 Ford F-150 trucks have been recalled for loose seat backs. The manual front seat back recliner mechanisms on driver and passenger seats may be missing a third pawl required for seat back strength. Someone sitting in those seats may not be properly restrained in a crash.
A class action lawsuit alleging issues with the 2019 Ford F-150’s door latches has already reached settlement. With the Ford Door Latch settlement deadlines having long since passed, you may not be able to pursue an individual claim unless you had already opted out by certain deadlines.
Contact A Ford Lemon Law Attorney Today
If your 2019 Ford F-150 still isn’t fixed after multiple repair visits, it may be time to contact a lemon law attorney. Our Ford lemon law attorneys have substantial experience getting Ford lemon owners the refund (plus extra compensation) they are long owed. If you want to understand how your lemon law buyback is calculated, contact us for a consultation on your Ford lemon law rights. Our consultations are free. Not only that, our legal representation will cost you nothing out of pocket.
Ready for a consultation? Call our Ford lemon law attorneys at 877-217-7676 or fill out our questionnaire below this blog post.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2017–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
