Alternator for the 2015–2020 Ford F-150

What 2015–2020 F-150 owners report about the electrical system

Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, the US federal vehicle-safety regulator, that mention the alternator on the 2015–2020 Ford F-150, and 679 filed under its electrical system. Those 19, by model year, as of September 18, 2026:

• 2015 F-150: 3 complaints
• 2016 F-150: 4 complaints
• 2017 F-150: 2 complaints
• 2018 F-150: 4 complaints
• 2019 F-150: 5 complaints
• 2020 F-150: 1 complaint

NHTSA publishes complaints as owners wrote them and does not verify them, so read them as a pattern rather than a diagnosis.

A 2019 F-150 owner, NHTSA complaint 11526287: "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 purchased it. The Alternator tested Low, so it was replaced."

A 2020 F-150 owner, NHTSA complaint 11577775: "1 year ago I started getting the “Charge System Fault” alert on my truck, took to the shop and they advised the battery needed to be replaced. After replacing, a few weeks later it started happening again, so they did further testing and advised the alternator was bad."

Recalls that cover the alternator on the 2015–2020 F-150

As of September 18, 2026, NHTSA lists no recall on the 2015–2020 Ford F-150 whose defect is in the alternator. If your car has a warning light or a symptom that a recall could explain, check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls anyway — it takes a minute.

Which alternator a 2015–2020 F-150 takes

Alternators differ by engine, by output rating, and on stop-start cars by whether the charging system is managed by the battery sensor. The 2015–2020 Ford F-150 came with several powertrains, among them 2.7L V6 Automatic 4WD, 3.3L V6 Automatic RWD, 3.5L V6 Automatic 4WD and 5.0L V8 Automatic 4WD. That is why we ask for the VIN, or the year, engine and trim, and confirm the part against it before you pay rather than after it arrives.

What we source it from

5 alternators from Bosch, Cardone, Denso, Remy and Valeo, new and remanufactured, $239.99 to $309.99, with flat $30 shipping anywhere in the US. If a part we confirmed as a fit does not fit your vehicle, we cover the return and the replacement.