Ford Boosts F-150 Testing to Address High Recall Rates

The manufacturer is increasing testing mileage to improve reliability for future truck owners after a difficult 2025.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Trucks

A pickup truck speeds along a curved, banked concrete test track under bright midday desert sunlight. — Ford is quintupling its durability testing mileage for the next-generation F-150 truck to address recent recall frequency and improve long-term vehicle reliability. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Is vehicle reliability more important to you than the latest technological features?

Ford is scaling up its durability testing protocol after recording 153 U.S. recall campaigns in 2025 that impacted nearly 13 million vehicles. This initiative aims to improve reliability for future F-150 owners by significantly increasing prototype testing mileage.

Why it matters

Ford aims to reduce high recall frequencies that increase ownership costs and downtime for fleet operators and drivers. By strengthening testing, the manufacturer seeks to better compete with the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado.

Ford logged 153 recall campaigns during 2025 affecting nearly 13 million vehicles, including a specific speedometer and tachometer fault impacting over 100,000 F-150 trucks. Test mileage for the next-generation F-150 will rise from 1.6 million to nearly 4 million miles.

The players

Ford

A major American automotive manufacturer that produces the F-150 truck and recently faced high recall volumes.

Ram

A truck manufacturer and direct market competitor to Ford in the full-size pickup segment.

Chevrolet

A brand producing the Silverado, which competes directly with Ford trucks in the domestic market.

The details

To address reliability issues, Ford is increasing its powertrain durability testing by five-fold. The company will expand full-vehicle test mileage for the next-generation F-150 to nearly 4 million miles to identify potential mechanical failures before they reach the consumer market. This shift responds to recent hardware-based recalls, such as those involving tailgates and instrument cluster gauges.

2025: Ford logged 153 total recall campaigns across the United States.
Q3 2026: Ford leadership confirmed the expanded testing program during an earnings call.
October 2026: F-150 models were subject to fresh recall campaigns.
Q1 2027: Prototype builds for the next-generation F-150 are scheduled to begin.

The Home Front

Automakers are currently under pressure to curb record-high recall counts that contribute to unplanned maintenance and depreciation for owners. This shift toward rigorous prototype testing reflects an industry-wide move to mitigate the reliability issues that defined the 2025 model year.

If you own an F-150, check the official NHTSA website using your VIN to see if your truck is included in recent recalls regarding speedometer or tachometer faults. Keep your service records organized and consult a licensed mechanic if you experience instrument cluster failures.

The takeaway

Ford is significantly increasing testing mileage to improve vehicle durability and reduce the recall volume seen in 2025. Owners should prioritize regular maintenance checks and verify any outstanding recall notices via official safety portals using their vehicle identification number.