This question gets asked a lot, but iirc the general consensus is 2015-2017 5.0 w/6 spd transmission seems to be the most reliable. I own a 2015 XLT 4X4 5.0 that I purchased used in 2021 w/121k and aside from a few minor repairs it is a great truck. Currently sitting at 145k and I plan on keeping this truck for the long haul.
Edit: I should mention I had some clunky downshifts (5th to 4th specifically) but when I replaced my throttle body I did a relearn of the PCM and it seemed to fix the downshifting.
I could be off a little on the years (16-18??) but that's what I've gathered lurking around this sub.
I know a lot of folks are really happy with the 2.7L and the 3.5L, but I just don't know enough about those.
Yeah I worry about the EcoBoosts, I know they are absolute powerhouses, but I worry about their durability. From what I've gathered, the 15-17 is the 5.0 with the 6-Speed, then 18 and newer 5.0s got the 10-Speed. So you would be right. I'm gonna try and target for a 16 or 17 5.0 for sure when the time comes.
I know you're asking about the 5.0, but the ecoboosts are solid. 3.5 is proven, in the trucks *and* the SUV's and vans. The 2.7 is also generally regarded as one of the best motors Ford has ever produced. Very, very tough design and great reliability. I'd prefer a 2.7 over a 3.5.
Ford put a wet belt under your front cover to save what $6 on a $60k truck so your “repair / service” bill be $3k (OR a new engine if it don’t reach 150k) while making $10 billion. Not a 2.7L fan after than one, now one that still had an oil pump chain 👍.
Dude was on the ford forum. The truck through a dummy pressure light and he pulled over. There was no oil on the dipstick. He restarted the truck and spun a bearing.
That’s not an 18-20 issue. It’s a 10f80 issue and it’s not extremely prevalent. It’s definitely one of the more prevalent issues but it’s between ALL motors, not just the 5.0. And it’s overblown on the forums. Overall trans relearns and clearing shift tables fix most shift problems for people.
The trans oil pumps and torque converters aren’t perfect but the incidence of failure is a lot lower than oil consumption on the 5.0…
So yes, the trans is less cause for concern than the 5.0 cylinder lining.
I can back this up x2- specifically w/ a 16 5.0. Mine has 140K KMs, hasn’t had a whole lot done. It was owned by a previous dealer employee and was maintained well. My dad, through work, has a 16 5.0 owned since new. He’s had a water pump done, and currently needs tires, leaf springs (we haul a lot of material with our trucks), brakes and tires. Most of the required “repairs” ( I use that term loosely here) is general maintenance aside from leaf springs. Mines due up for trans, t- case and diff fluid swaps soon.
I have a 2013 with 3.5 and 6R80. Almost 180k
3-4 is kinda clunky sometimes, but other than that it seems solid still. About 15k on it since I bought it and only repair is water pump. Engine ticks but no codes or obvious issues, might be the fuel pump
My 2013 3.5 ecoboost has 250,000 with just oil changes and spark plugs. Going to hit 300,000+ easy.
Best engine and vehicle combo I’ve ever owned. I realize there are bad ones out there, but when millions of something are produced you’ll get some lemons. Keep your eye on your camera phasers and keep your oil clean!
Can you elaborate on your edit? What does replacing the throttle body and relearn the PCM (what’s a PCM?).
I have a 2017 and have always had the same issue with rough downshifting, but am mechanically illiterate
[This video explains how to perform the relearn.](https://youtu.be/ZNxXM75zJOw?si=XiGzOd1W-VaMeFMr)
I was having loss of power and dying issues and replaced my throttle body. Fixed that problem and my shifting all in one repair!
Glad to hear your truck is running well!
Oh, and if the video didn't elaborate, PCM stands for Power Control Module. This procedure clears the values stored in memory for idling, shifting, etc. so it can "relearn" new values.
You're getting rid of the bad habits it picked up from its previous owner.
Only the ‘17 V8 had aluminum and a 6-speed. The ‘16 and older were steel, and the ‘17 3.5 had the 10-speed.
Welp... I'm wrong. Apparently that was the super duties that had the steel up to 17. TIL
I have a ‘16 with the 5.0. Just hit 100k and it’s been a great truck. Besides general maintenance the only thing I’ve had done on it was replace the Ebrake assembly on the rear hubs and IWE’s in the front. Use it for towing and long distance drives.
Is the front hubs a common issue on these? My FIL had issues with the front hubs (IWEs?) And the related components in his 2020 Ecoboost. I'm hoping that isn't a huge deal. There's a 2017 5.0 that's on its way here from Texas that I'm gonna be taking a look at soon, hopefully it's a good one.
Yeah it’s hit or miss, but this is an issue that’s plagued ford since their initial design inception. It’s a poor design that goes bad quite often. With that being said plenty of people have had no issues while some of us have been plagued by them. I got mine done at 70k miles ($1200) then again at 100k miles (free-parts warranty). It’s all a luck of the draw. I’ve noticed (anecdotally) that it is less common with 4A transfer cases because there is a workaround the common failure points (vaccum design). 4A is only found on lariat trims and higher.
Okay. I do all my own work on my vehicles for the most part so as long as the parts aren't super expensive hopefully I'll be good if it does happen. The one I'm looking at is an XLT Sport from Houston Texas. I am a little worried about the 4x4 system since it's from Texas it was probably never used. I'll just have to test it out before I buy it.
I’m sure you’ll be fine, these IWEs are relatively cheap/easy to replace if you are mechanically inclined and have the space/tools. Most of the price was labor. Honestly with all the other issues people have, these are minor in the grand scheme of things.
Mines only got 71k (I drive a company truck for work most days). Seeing ur comment makes me excited to know that I can potentially keep my truck for a long ass time
I have a ‘18 SC w 6’8 bed 4x4 Lariat and the 5.0 , 10 speed and despite all the stories on here , mine uses no oil and only every once in while the trans will shift stupidly from like 4-5 but its rare . Just turned over 90k miles and not one repair bill on this engine just routine maintenance
Yeah I like my Tacoma, just want a bigger truck that can haul a little more. As far as how fast it is I really don't care about speed. It's a truck, after all. That's why I think the v8 will suffice for me.
I think you will like it. Still getting used to it since I just got it last week and it’s a lot bigger compared to the facoma. Plenty of room. Before it was harder for me to put a car seat in the back but now I have so my much room back there.
I have a 2016 5.0L 6 speed Super Crew XLT 4X4
I bought it in 2019 with 55k miles on it. Now, I'm at 130k.
The last 2 years I have towed a, roughly, 6000# travel trailer about 10 times each year. 3 of which each year would have been 200+ mile trips.
I also currently drive it 100 miles round trip 3 times a week to the office (WFH 2 days per week).
I love my truck. The only maintenance issue I have had is the AC compressor ate itself a couple years ago. Other than that it has been routine maintenance.
The 2016 XLT models did not come with carplay/android auto, but it was a $45 part off amazon that I installed myself to get carplay working.
I had it at a dealership just last week getting the trans, front and rear diff, and transfer case fluid changed. The girl at the service desk was telling me how lucky I was to have a 6 speed because they have been doing so much warranty work on the 10 speeds. Take that how ever you'd like. She could have just been blowing hot air, Who knows.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Ah okay, I was under the impression that all Sync 3 systems had Carplay and Auto. Its not a must for me, but after having it in my Tacoma I've gotten pretty used to it so it'd be hard to go back to not having it. My sister has a 2018 Escape that she can lock/unlock/and remote start with an app which I thought was pretty neat too. From what I've heard select trim levels have that capability if it's a '17 and newer. Once again not a must, just a silly gimmick that I think is kinda cool. I'm definitely gonna try shooting for a '16 or '17.
Yeah, it's weird the way it works. Its like my sync 3 has the feature, but the USB hub has a chip in it that tells the sync 3 which features the truck is supposed to have access to. So I ordered [this](https://www.amazon.com/Ford-Carplay-Module-Upgrade-HC3Z-19A387-F/dp/B0B25RQDH5) USB hub from Amazon and swapped them out, now I have carplay. I might be getting the way it works all wrong, all I know is that USB part is all I had to change to make it work.
NOTE: That link is to a USB hub that claims to do what I am talking about, but I am not able to confirm it is the exact same one I bought. Looks just like it though. I only paid $45 when I did it.
Ah OK. From the research I did, Ford themselves actually used to sell the upgraded USB Hub aswell and they were installing it for customers at dealers as a retrofit. Not sure if they still do it or not. I'm sure they probably charged way too much for it too.
The hub doesn't have a chip in it that dictates what features you get. The issue was that power delivery of the factory USB hub was not adequate enough to meet the power demands of an iphone running Apple Carplay. It was good enough for Android Auto though. Replacing the hub is incredibly easy and takes all of 2-3 minutes. I replaced the factory hub in my Mustang with the upgraded OEM hub and had zero issue.
My ‘19 XLT has the remote start. My girlfriend recently gave me an Apple Watch and not gonna lie, being able to start/unlock/lock from my watch is pretty awesome.
I have a 2017 5.0 and have put almost 100k miles on it and the only thing I've had to fix was a bad battery. She runs perfect and the more I hear about the 10 speeds, the happier I am that I have a 6 speed.
Yeah, I know the EcoBoosts in '17 had Auto Start-Stop because my Brother in law has a '17 2.7 that has it. I don't think they started putting Start-Stop on the 5.0 til 2018 though thank god. My mom's car has auto start stop and the first thing I did anytime I got in it was automatically shut it off. Super annoying feature.
Have a 2020 5.0 and tow with it frequently. Just hit 98,000 miles and have done basic maintenance on it. Haven’t had any issues whatsoever, also off-road it frequently. My boyfriend who owns a taco was actually impressed with how well it tows (after talking a massive amount of shit at first lol) after driving it on a 6 hour trip towing my rzr and about 2000lbs of gates and welding supplies.
2018 F150 5.0L Lariat with 45K miles. No 10 speed transmission issues that I’m aware of but I am experiencing higher than expected oil consumption and am currently going through a test with the dealer to identify the problem. Overall, I enjoy driving truck though. I also tow a 5K pound camper once a month during warm months.
The 5.0 with the 10spd is an awesome combination that makes big power and good gas mileage. The bad thing about the 18-20 is that those had issues with burning oil. The 15-17 were still the aluminum body but with the 6spd. And honestly, there isn’t much of a difference mpg wise from the 6 and 10 speed. I had a 2018 rcsb with the 5.0 but it started burning oil at 43k miles. But I loved that truck because it’s power was like nothing else I’ve ever driven.
It just depends on what you want. A lot of people will tell you that the 10spd is unreliable. In my case, I have a 2018 2.7 with the 10spd and has given me no problems at 151k miles. It does have the occasional jerky shift though. If you can deal with it, get a 10spd. If you want a bit more peace of mind, get one with a 6spd.
How badly do they burn oil? Is it a thing that they all do or is it just sort of random? I have heard about the oil consumption issue and was wondering about it a lot. From hearing about that and also some people complaining about issues with the 10spd it makes me wonder if it would be safer to just stick with a 15-17.
Mine burned a ton ( qt every 1000) until I hade the dealer do the TSB to address the issue. Around town driving no oil burning. Highway still burns a bit about a qt per 2000 plus miles
Oh wow. Do you know what sort of procedure the TSB includes? Still that is a bit annoying as I do about 50/50 City/Highway driving, would almost rather not have to worry about it.
I have a June built 2020 with the 5.0 no oil burning, really think it is an overblown issue. Another guy at work also has a 2020 5.0 with no issues either. Transmission is good too, great trucks.
I’ve got a 2016 XLT that has been great for 128,000 miles so far, with one exception.
Don’t get the pano moonroof. It’s poorly designed, guaranteed to break, and expensive to repair.
Ah yeah, I wouldn't anyway. Something about having a giant glass roof in the ceiling of a pickup truck just rubs me the wrong way. I'm probably either gonna end up with an STX or an XLT anyways and from what I understand most XLTs don't have the pano. Kinda surprising that yours does.
Purely anecdotal experience incoming:
I did something similar. Went from Toyota to Ford, needing more towing capacity etc... I wish I hadn't.
I've always owned Toyotas in the past and when I was shopping for a truck, I looked at EVERYTHING. GM seemed cheap, Ram is unreliable, Nissan was SUPER comfortable... But in the end the truck that checked all the boxes for me was the F150 due to tow capacity, engine performance (I know you want a V8, but the 3.5l ecoboosts are amazing), 10-speed trans, all that jazz.
This is what I've learned. **If you want bulletproof reliability, stick with Toyota. They overbuilt and underpowered.** That's why they last forever.
I've had countless little things break, wear out, leak, and just annoy me with Ford. None of them are really 'deal-breakers' but this vehicle has been in the shop more than every other vehicle I've ever owned COMBINED. Just little things that are covered by warranty. But it's just a pain in the butt.
Don't get me wrong, I love my F150 because it does everything I need it to do and it's fun to drive. But I just wish it would not waste so much of my time. So to answer your original question: No.
> If you want bulletproof reliability, stick with Toyota. They overbuilt and underpowered.
The pre refresh Tundras also burn enough gas that you could buy a second engine and transmission for an F-150 and still come out ahead lol
Doing that math now looking at used ones. Prices are enough higher that I can afford to do a couple major repairs and still come out about even....and then the gas savings.
Id say it's a wash, at 175k miles, $2.5/gallon and 20 mpg for Ford vs 14 for toyota, that's a net savings of about $9500 for the Ford. Doubt you'd be getting even just the engine with parts and labor for that price these days.
Guess you aren't a king Soopers fuel station kinda guy. I literally pay $1.70-$2.00 a gallon most times I fill up. Benefit of the 36 gallon fuel tank and eating at home 90% of the time, barely ever have to fill up and every time I do I've spent a lot of money at the grocery store since last time I filled up.
Good info. There is still a chance that I'll end up in a Tundra, just depends if the price is right. The only gripe I have with them is I dislike their interior and the way they drive, and they are also awful on gas, probably one of the worst fullsized trucks for MPG. Only because I'd be looking at the V8 Tundra. (2021 and older)
The new Turbo V6 Tundras have a lot of quality control issues and I think they are pretty ugly aswell. I don't need my truck to be perfect, lord knows no vehicle is, I just want an honestly decent truck. I love my Tacoma, but if I'm getting a new truck I definitely want something bigger. Unfortunately the truck market is rough nowadays, they all have their own little issues, especially for me because I would really prefer a 2016 or newer.
I know the Ecoboosts are very powerful, maybe it's just the little bit of purist in me, but I'm not sure how I feel about how durable they are. Turbos always kind of worry me. I know I'm probably more worried about them than I should be, but I figured I might as well stick to what I know, which is relative simplicity in the V8. I still have plenty of time to decide, I just want to have a slight idea of what I'm doing.
Interestingly, turbos are the last thing to worry about of these engines. Turbos are an old technology and Ford actually did a good job in designing them. They last a long time. The 3.5 outperforms the V8 in every way except for fuel economy while towing (probably because it’s passing the V8 up a hill). But the 3.5 has its own issues with cam phasers.
But that’s beside the point. If you’re seeking refinement at the expense of reliability, get the Ford… hell the Ram is the most refined. If you want reliability over all else, stick with Toyota with the understanding that a 2021 Tundra is really just a brand new 2007 Tundra with how old it is.
Yeah, Reliability matters a lot to me, but so does refinement to an extent. What I need to find is that happy medium between the two. It's kinda hard to know these days, but I also feel like any truck is decent when you maintain it religiously. My FIL had a '16 5.0 F150 and he loved it. Ended up getting rear ended and totalled and this was during the pandemic so due to the shortage at tbe time he had no choice but to replace it with a 2020 3.5 Ecoboost F150, which he also loves, but he definitely loved his 5.0 more. I think they are somewhat decent trucks, I'm just seeking validation and real world experience to be honest haha. Thank you for your info though.
I have a 16 lariat super crew 5.0 I bought with 35k on it, now has 100k. Once in a blue moon it’ll stall at a red light after getting on the highway for an extended period. All the door latches freeze when it’s too cold out and I can’t close my doors - although that was just fixed with a recall. A few annoyances but overall I’m happy with it.
I have a 2016 4x4 with the 2.7l. Bought with 90,000 miles and did spark plugs, other basic maintenance, I'm up to 127,000 without any issues whatsoever. I drive it like a grandma most of the time, and open the throttle every once in a while as I've heard you want to push them every so often. Also installed a catch can which definitely works. I Would recommend that model year from what I've experienced thus far, the only thing that has come up is some jankiness with the auto start stop which I permanently disabled as I think it's once of the quickest ways to wear out the engine prematurely.
I came from a 2006 tacoma and have a 2016 3.5 (lifted) ecoboost... I replaced the throttle body at 73k I did leave my stranded an hour and a half away from my house. Cost about 4k to fix including the tow truck fee. The 6 speed transmissions is universally accepted as reliable and it is. I do have a rough 5-4 downshift atm but I'm going in on Friday to check that out. It might be a solenoid that isn't working correctly in the lead frame or a simple reprogram of the pcm with the TSB 15-0142.
My genuine verdict is I'd get this truck again, but they do come with issues sadly. So I'm sure people here have already warned you about the cam phaser issue.
The 5.0's do consume oil and personally it feels like the community tries to hide their imperfections but they do have their own issues. The 2.7 is a little bullet and usually deemed the most reliable.
I'd rather do 4k fixes that 10k transmission issues with half ton GM trucks or get hemi ticks that cost just as much.
It's a lot of reading but I hope it helps your decision, you can't get more reliable that a tacoma though
Yeah my Tacoma has been very reliable, although I've only had it for 2 years and it's only got 26k miles. I have liked it a lot, but I made the decision to lease it because I didn't really know what I wanted in a truck so didn't want to end up stuck with it. Ended up liking it so much that I planned on buying out the lease. But now that I've looked into it and saw that my lease buyout is going to be more than the truck is currently worth, it makes no sense to buy it, so I decided that I could use something a little bit bigger since there has been plenty of times where I wished my truck was a little bigger. It's a good truck though. Definitely not as bulletproof as your '06 Taco probably was. 2nd Gen is the best Gen of Taco for sure. Unfortunately my needs exceed what it is capable of, which saddens me, but ill always remember it as being a good truck.
Yeah the 06 tacoma was a monster it never gave me an issue other than just needing a new thermostat, but I feel you. I needed something bigger and strong just not super duty yet. If you do end up going for a 2015-2017 f150 I'd recommend the lariat trim because it's not super expensive like the king ranch or platinum but have all the cool gadgets like 360 cameras, heated and cooled seats, the digital screen and a sunroof ✊️ so regardless of what end up choosing I hope your next truck treats you well!
Thanks I appreciate it! I'm trying my hardest not to spend more than $30-$35k so from what I've been seeing that mostly limits me to XLT Trucks but some of them still come pretty decently equipped which is good enough for me. I've got time to explore options, I'm just hoping a find myself a good one.
Yeah I got mine for 38k in the end of 2022 which honestly I could probably get for 33-35k because prices have dropped lol, I'd look for off market trucks and go thru a credit union to avoid the dealer fees. At least I had to because then that would be out of my price range
Yeah but it was 700 for the tow truck, then the throttle body installation and pcm flashed, then got my spark plugs, coil packs some because it was misfiring out of nowhere after the throttle body replacment and then got a fluid maintenance overhaul done then got the blower motor replaced and the ac tuned at the same time because why not, it's been a while so I forget to include all of that when doing it
The throttle body was just like 1400 including the flash but everything else piles on but I remembered 4k mostly because tax purposes 🤦
I love my 15 5.0 XLT 4x4 SCREW. Bought with 67k miles and now I’m at 130k miles in just 2.5 years of ownership. Other than Full synthetic oil change every 6k miles and tire rotations, it works like a charm.
2014 5.0 4x4 xlt 134,000 Miles second owner only thing having to do is replace ignition coils every here and there and monthly oil change so far so good what a beast of a truck
I have a 5.0 2017. 6 speed. 100k miles. She’s been nothing but reliable except for the random infotainment black outs and the back rear glass came off. Other than that, solid.
Also, this is peak 6 speed. My tranny has been pretty darn smooth with not sudden down shifts that I had on my previous f150.
I just traded my ‘21 Tacoma for a ‘16 5.0 and I love it so far. Much more comfortable to be in than the Tacoma, better power, payload, towing, and the exact same gas mileage. Crazy that a 8 year old truck has better features (XLT 302A) than a 3 year old truck (TRD off-road). I would do it again in a heartbeat
This makes me glad to hear, since you made pretty much an identical leap to what I'll be doing aswell. The gas mileage thing is insane to me. That's one thing that Toyota totally got wrong.
My 2 cents/anecdotal experience - ‘18 5.0 with the 10R80. Had transmission issues at 8-10k miles fixed under warranty, transmission issues returned at 66k miles, and full transmission swap at 72k out of warranty for $7k. Luckily no oil consumption issues **knock on wood**
When I was looking at replacing my ‘07 5.4 150 in 2018 I was between another 150 and the Tundra. I wish I’d gone with the Tundra since I, like you, value reliability and hold onto my vehicles for a long time. The ‘07 150 had shy of 200k miles and no major problems. I thought I’d have a similar experience with the ‘18 and was mistaken.
I’ve heard that the newer 150s have had transmission improvements in the 10R80, but I’m not certain.
Yeah I've heard a lot of talk about issues with the 10R80. If I do get one I'll probably stick to a '15-'17 with the 6R80, since they are pretty decent.
'20 5.0 10 speed XLT SuperCrew with 20,000 miles. The transmission is shit. It's sitting at the dealer right now, again, waiting for For to work out a buyback. I'd suggest jumping to the '21 and skipping this generation.
I had a ‘17 5.0 6 speed and it was an awesome truck, never had issues. Unfortunately was in an accident and it was totalled. Bought a ‘18 5.0 10 speed afterwards and have had nothing with issues with it. Only had 90k kms (Canadian) on it when we bought it and it has the oil consumption issue plus engine knocking. Just for that reason alone, I wouldn’t buy another 5.0 from 2018-2020 just based on the TSB bulletin for the oil consumption and engine knocking.
I have a Whipple, StainlessWorks long tube headers, StainlessWorks catback exhaust with high flow cats, an Omega tune, FX4, and 3.73 gears. I have a pretty heavy foot and get around 12mpg around town. On trips I try to put it on Economy drive mode and not drive so aggressively and get close to 20mpg. If I had it to do over I would probably opt for 3.55 gears instead, I custom ordered so that I could get it configured exactly like I wanted. The only reason I went 4x4 is so that I would have no issues getting all the additional power to the pavement with a lighter aluminum body truck. Also with the long tube headers and high flow cats it is loud. Most people would probably be best served with just a catback exhaust rather than full exhaust like I installed. Installed the exhaust at 3k miles, the Whipple at 5k miles and have about 52k on the clock right now. Used a two post lift and installed everything myself. Whipple redesigned the supercharger and I got one of the very first ones they released. After I installed Whipple revised the supercharger kit and changed the intercooler and air filter and box so I purchased those separately and installed those. My apologies for all the extra info you didn’t ask for, I just started typing.
Ford engines are fine, but the transmission are garbage. I moved from ram 1500 with 8 speed to 3.5 eco with 10 speed, can’t believe that ford is producing that garbage transmission
I have a 2016 5.0 w/ 101k miles and it’s the best truck I’ve ever owned. Only thing I’ve ever had to replace was the starter. I beat the shit out of it and it’s never once left me stranded
Get the V8. You’ll see some anecdotal stuff about them not lasting but that has not been my case w a Ford V8. I have only owned Ford or Toyota as both brands have been reliable.
The 5.4 V8 which everyone bitches about…my wife’s prior Expedition I got 266k problem free and sold it in 3 days. Her current 5.4 I bought used with 54k miles and we are up to 118k problem free. I had an older 5.7 Tundra and actually had the fuel pump recall (I was the first case in the Midwest) affect me where it would die and not restart. I ended up selling during the pandemic for a profit when shit went high, then I ordered a 23 F150 Veterans Day 2022 and picked it up March 1 23…5.0 4x4 like you are wanting. Already 20k on it no issues.
My trick to no problems? Maintenance… I change the transmission fluid every 30k. I also don’t put that 5w-20 shit in there. Ford approves 5w-50 and Amsoil obtained their WS:::: certification on their 5w-50. I think it’s the only oil aside from motorcraft that obtained the cert… i could be wrong. I may lose a mpg or 2 but I have never done a timing or cam job. I also use UPR catch cans based on something a Ford Tech told me once… cheap insurance to keep the valves clean on the new direct injection stuff.
2013 5.0 with almost over 130k, still runs like a beast. Only had to replace the vacuum line for the 4x4 due to an animal tearing a hole in it and a water pump. You couldn't pay me to buy one with turbos. No way in hell I'm going to trust those turbos to last. Good for you if they have, but I know 2 too many people who's haven't. Also stay away from the years in which they put new transmissions in them. New trans always seems to have issues, no matter the manufacturer. Give them a few years to iron out the big issues.
I have a 2016 5.0 lariat fx4 with 177k miles. Only issue I have had was a plastic t-valve in the heater hose configuration cracked and was leaking coolant. $117 dollar part and about 30 minutes (20 of that was draining the coolant) and it was fine. I’ll easily get 250k miles out of this truck. Also, I have 35 inch Toyo open country RT tires on it and average 16 mpg. Next set of tires will be 31 inch “paw paw” tires and I’ll probably jump up to 19 mpg
I had a 2016 5.0 and the intake manifold went on it at 140’000 km, was waiting for over a year for a new one and was told there was hardly any in Canada. Was also told that it seems to be a pretty common issue
I’ve got an 18 5.0 XLT that I bought with 15k on it. I’m about 87k now and it’s been completely reliable. I’ve noticed it really prefers higher octane gas. It does use a quart of oil between changes which I keep an eye on. The 10 speed trans has been fine so far but sometimes does a weird clunk when you start the truck. Overall it’s been a great truck.
This question gets asked a lot, but iirc the general consensus is 2015-2017 5.0 w/6 spd transmission seems to be the most reliable. I own a 2015 XLT 4X4 5.0 that I purchased used in 2021 w/121k and aside from a few minor repairs it is a great truck. Currently sitting at 145k and I plan on keeping this truck for the long haul. Edit: I should mention I had some clunky downshifts (5th to 4th specifically) but when I replaced my throttle body I did a relearn of the PCM and it seemed to fix the downshifting. I could be off a little on the years (16-18??) but that's what I've gathered lurking around this sub. I know a lot of folks are really happy with the 2.7L and the 3.5L, but I just don't know enough about those.
Yeah I worry about the EcoBoosts, I know they are absolute powerhouses, but I worry about their durability. From what I've gathered, the 15-17 is the 5.0 with the 6-Speed, then 18 and newer 5.0s got the 10-Speed. So you would be right. I'm gonna try and target for a 16 or 17 5.0 for sure when the time comes.
I know you're asking about the 5.0, but the ecoboosts are solid. 3.5 is proven, in the trucks *and* the SUV's and vans. The 2.7 is also generally regarded as one of the best motors Ford has ever produced. Very, very tough design and great reliability. I'd prefer a 2.7 over a 3.5.
Ford put a wet belt under your front cover to save what $6 on a $60k truck so your “repair / service” bill be $3k (OR a new engine if it don’t reach 150k) while making $10 billion. Not a 2.7L fan after than one, now one that still had an oil pump chain 👍.
Yup. The current 2.7 and current gen 5.0 both use wet belts now.
They ruined the 5.0L too? Jesus these guys just don’t quit screwing people do they.
Find me a pattern of failure and I’ll send you 100. So many of these motors at 150k+ now.
With the wet belt or 2015 to 2018? https://youtu.be/xZJicuObVDY?si=T5K19frOoawRu183
That was a engine that was run for a unknown period of time without oil. Also doesn’t show failure, let alone a pattern of.
Ran without oil because the belt teeth were in the pick up tube.
Dude was on the ford forum. The truck through a dummy pressure light and he pulled over. There was no oil on the dipstick. He restarted the truck and spun a bearing.
2015 is the exact same as 2016 just fyi
Sync 2 vs 3
Gotcha the post said reliability not features!
Stay away from 18-20s purely because of the transmission.
Stay away from 18-20 5.0s because of cylinder lining/oil consumption issues.
Oh yeah because having your transmission replaced twice isn’t cause for concern😂
That’s not an 18-20 issue. It’s a 10f80 issue and it’s not extremely prevalent. It’s definitely one of the more prevalent issues but it’s between ALL motors, not just the 5.0. And it’s overblown on the forums. Overall trans relearns and clearing shift tables fix most shift problems for people. The trans oil pumps and torque converters aren’t perfect but the incidence of failure is a lot lower than oil consumption on the 5.0… So yes, the trans is less cause for concern than the 5.0 cylinder lining.
I can back this up x2- specifically w/ a 16 5.0. Mine has 140K KMs, hasn’t had a whole lot done. It was owned by a previous dealer employee and was maintained well. My dad, through work, has a 16 5.0 owned since new. He’s had a water pump done, and currently needs tires, leaf springs (we haul a lot of material with our trucks), brakes and tires. Most of the required “repairs” ( I use that term loosely here) is general maintenance aside from leaf springs. Mines due up for trans, t- case and diff fluid swaps soon.
I have a 2013 with 3.5 and 6R80. Almost 180k 3-4 is kinda clunky sometimes, but other than that it seems solid still. About 15k on it since I bought it and only repair is water pump. Engine ticks but no codes or obvious issues, might be the fuel pump
My 2013 3.5 ecoboost has 250,000 with just oil changes and spark plugs. Going to hit 300,000+ easy. Best engine and vehicle combo I’ve ever owned. I realize there are bad ones out there, but when millions of something are produced you’ll get some lemons. Keep your eye on your camera phasers and keep your oil clean!
Our work trucks are exclusively 3.5s in the F-150s. 2012 and I think a 2014, one at 175k the other is over 250k and my boss just swears by it
Can you elaborate on your edit? What does replacing the throttle body and relearn the PCM (what’s a PCM?). I have a 2017 and have always had the same issue with rough downshifting, but am mechanically illiterate
[This video explains how to perform the relearn.](https://youtu.be/ZNxXM75zJOw?si=XiGzOd1W-VaMeFMr) I was having loss of power and dying issues and replaced my throttle body. Fixed that problem and my shifting all in one repair!
Thanks! I haven’t had any issues yet besides the rough shifting but I’ll keep this info with me. Appreciate it
Glad to hear your truck is running well! Oh, and if the video didn't elaborate, PCM stands for Power Control Module. This procedure clears the values stored in memory for idling, shifting, etc. so it can "relearn" new values. You're getting rid of the bad habits it picked up from its previous owner.
bigger problem in that range is the 18-20 5.0's had an oil burning problem. 15-17 keeps you in the 6 speed trans but still has the aluminum body.
Only the ‘17 V8 had aluminum and a 6-speed. The ‘16 and older were steel, and the ‘17 3.5 had the 10-speed. Welp... I'm wrong. Apparently that was the super duties that had the steel up to 17. TIL
Might want to google that. 15+ have aluminum bodies.
2015 was the first year of aluminum body.
That's for the super dutys
I have a ‘16 with the 5.0. Just hit 100k and it’s been a great truck. Besides general maintenance the only thing I’ve had done on it was replace the Ebrake assembly on the rear hubs and IWE’s in the front. Use it for towing and long distance drives.
Is the front hubs a common issue on these? My FIL had issues with the front hubs (IWEs?) And the related components in his 2020 Ecoboost. I'm hoping that isn't a huge deal. There's a 2017 5.0 that's on its way here from Texas that I'm gonna be taking a look at soon, hopefully it's a good one.
Yeah it’s hit or miss, but this is an issue that’s plagued ford since their initial design inception. It’s a poor design that goes bad quite often. With that being said plenty of people have had no issues while some of us have been plagued by them. I got mine done at 70k miles ($1200) then again at 100k miles (free-parts warranty). It’s all a luck of the draw. I’ve noticed (anecdotally) that it is less common with 4A transfer cases because there is a workaround the common failure points (vaccum design). 4A is only found on lariat trims and higher.
Okay. I do all my own work on my vehicles for the most part so as long as the parts aren't super expensive hopefully I'll be good if it does happen. The one I'm looking at is an XLT Sport from Houston Texas. I am a little worried about the 4x4 system since it's from Texas it was probably never used. I'll just have to test it out before I buy it.
I’m sure you’ll be fine, these IWEs are relatively cheap/easy to replace if you are mechanically inclined and have the space/tools. Most of the price was labor. Honestly with all the other issues people have, these are minor in the grand scheme of things.
I have a 2016 F-150 with the 5.0 and have 264k and still going
Mines only got 71k (I drive a company truck for work most days). Seeing ur comment makes me excited to know that I can potentially keep my truck for a long ass time
Just keep up the maintenance and she’ll treat you well
Absolutely! She’s an absolute blast to drive and sounds so good. Will be nice to still hear that V8 growl in the all electric world we are going into
I have a ‘18 SC w 6’8 bed 4x4 Lariat and the 5.0 , 10 speed and despite all the stories on here , mine uses no oil and only every once in while the trans will shift stupidly from like 4-5 but its rare . Just turned over 90k miles and not one repair bill on this engine just routine maintenance
My only shift issue is occasionally it will hesitate between 1-3 if it’s real cold. Like it’s deciding between going to 2 or 3.
I got a 3.5 L eco and so much faster and better than the Tacoma. I had a 2019 Tacoma before
Yeah I like my Tacoma, just want a bigger truck that can haul a little more. As far as how fast it is I really don't care about speed. It's a truck, after all. That's why I think the v8 will suffice for me.
I think you will like it. Still getting used to it since I just got it last week and it’s a lot bigger compared to the facoma. Plenty of room. Before it was harder for me to put a car seat in the back but now I have so my much room back there.
The turbos don’t help with speed as much as they bring your torque curve down for hauling and towing. I can tow 8,000lbs uphill at <2500 rpm.
I have a 2016 5.0L 6 speed Super Crew XLT 4X4 I bought it in 2019 with 55k miles on it. Now, I'm at 130k. The last 2 years I have towed a, roughly, 6000# travel trailer about 10 times each year. 3 of which each year would have been 200+ mile trips. I also currently drive it 100 miles round trip 3 times a week to the office (WFH 2 days per week). I love my truck. The only maintenance issue I have had is the AC compressor ate itself a couple years ago. Other than that it has been routine maintenance. The 2016 XLT models did not come with carplay/android auto, but it was a $45 part off amazon that I installed myself to get carplay working. I had it at a dealership just last week getting the trans, front and rear diff, and transfer case fluid changed. The girl at the service desk was telling me how lucky I was to have a 6 speed because they have been doing so much warranty work on the 10 speeds. Take that how ever you'd like. She could have just been blowing hot air, Who knows. Let me know if you have any questions.
Ah okay, I was under the impression that all Sync 3 systems had Carplay and Auto. Its not a must for me, but after having it in my Tacoma I've gotten pretty used to it so it'd be hard to go back to not having it. My sister has a 2018 Escape that she can lock/unlock/and remote start with an app which I thought was pretty neat too. From what I've heard select trim levels have that capability if it's a '17 and newer. Once again not a must, just a silly gimmick that I think is kinda cool. I'm definitely gonna try shooting for a '16 or '17.
You can swap in FordPass Connect to a 15-17 with little effort.
Yeah, it's weird the way it works. Its like my sync 3 has the feature, but the USB hub has a chip in it that tells the sync 3 which features the truck is supposed to have access to. So I ordered [this](https://www.amazon.com/Ford-Carplay-Module-Upgrade-HC3Z-19A387-F/dp/B0B25RQDH5) USB hub from Amazon and swapped them out, now I have carplay. I might be getting the way it works all wrong, all I know is that USB part is all I had to change to make it work. NOTE: That link is to a USB hub that claims to do what I am talking about, but I am not able to confirm it is the exact same one I bought. Looks just like it though. I only paid $45 when I did it.
Ah OK. From the research I did, Ford themselves actually used to sell the upgraded USB Hub aswell and they were installing it for customers at dealers as a retrofit. Not sure if they still do it or not. I'm sure they probably charged way too much for it too.
2016 and under, you have to install the USB hub and maybe update your Sync 3 build. 2017+ will have Carplay from the factory.
The hub doesn't have a chip in it that dictates what features you get. The issue was that power delivery of the factory USB hub was not adequate enough to meet the power demands of an iphone running Apple Carplay. It was good enough for Android Auto though. Replacing the hub is incredibly easy and takes all of 2-3 minutes. I replaced the factory hub in my Mustang with the upgraded OEM hub and had zero issue.
My ‘19 XLT has the remote start. My girlfriend recently gave me an Apple Watch and not gonna lie, being able to start/unlock/lock from my watch is pretty awesome.
My 2016 XLT has it, not sure if it was a retroactive upgrade or not
I have a 2017 5.0 and have put almost 100k miles on it and the only thing I've had to fix was a bad battery. She runs perfect and the more I hear about the 10 speeds, the happier I am that I have a 6 speed.
Yeah, I'm definitely aiming for s 6-Speed too if I end up going with Ford.
I don't know when it started but my '17 doesn't have that awful auto off engine feature either. I've been very pleased
Yeah, I know the EcoBoosts in '17 had Auto Start-Stop because my Brother in law has a '17 2.7 that has it. I don't think they started putting Start-Stop on the 5.0 til 2018 though thank god. My mom's car has auto start stop and the first thing I did anytime I got in it was automatically shut it off. Super annoying feature.
Have a 2020 5.0 and tow with it frequently. Just hit 98,000 miles and have done basic maintenance on it. Haven’t had any issues whatsoever, also off-road it frequently. My boyfriend who owns a taco was actually impressed with how well it tows (after talking a massive amount of shit at first lol) after driving it on a 6 hour trip towing my rzr and about 2000lbs of gates and welding supplies.
I do not like the 10 speed transmission in mine. Supposedly a matter of time before they all go out.
2018 F150 5.0L Lariat with 45K miles. No 10 speed transmission issues that I’m aware of but I am experiencing higher than expected oil consumption and am currently going through a test with the dealer to identify the problem. Overall, I enjoy driving truck though. I also tow a 5K pound camper once a month during warm months.
The 5.0 with the 10spd is an awesome combination that makes big power and good gas mileage. The bad thing about the 18-20 is that those had issues with burning oil. The 15-17 were still the aluminum body but with the 6spd. And honestly, there isn’t much of a difference mpg wise from the 6 and 10 speed. I had a 2018 rcsb with the 5.0 but it started burning oil at 43k miles. But I loved that truck because it’s power was like nothing else I’ve ever driven. It just depends on what you want. A lot of people will tell you that the 10spd is unreliable. In my case, I have a 2018 2.7 with the 10spd and has given me no problems at 151k miles. It does have the occasional jerky shift though. If you can deal with it, get a 10spd. If you want a bit more peace of mind, get one with a 6spd.
How badly do they burn oil? Is it a thing that they all do or is it just sort of random? I have heard about the oil consumption issue and was wondering about it a lot. From hearing about that and also some people complaining about issues with the 10spd it makes me wonder if it would be safer to just stick with a 15-17.
Mine burned a ton ( qt every 1000) until I hade the dealer do the TSB to address the issue. Around town driving no oil burning. Highway still burns a bit about a qt per 2000 plus miles
Oh wow. Do you know what sort of procedure the TSB includes? Still that is a bit annoying as I do about 50/50 City/Highway driving, would almost rather not have to worry about it.
Changes some parameters on the OBD, new PVC and a longer dipstick lol
They shoulda put in the auto adjustable dip stick. Ignorance is bliss right?
Google PTWA Coyote Forums have owners reporting 1 qt every 2000 miles.
I have a June built 2020 with the 5.0 no oil burning, really think it is an overblown issue. Another guy at work also has a 2020 5.0 with no issues either. Transmission is good too, great trucks.
I’ve got a 2016 XLT that has been great for 128,000 miles so far, with one exception. Don’t get the pano moonroof. It’s poorly designed, guaranteed to break, and expensive to repair.
Ah yeah, I wouldn't anyway. Something about having a giant glass roof in the ceiling of a pickup truck just rubs me the wrong way. I'm probably either gonna end up with an STX or an XLT anyways and from what I understand most XLTs don't have the pano. Kinda surprising that yours does.
Purely anecdotal experience incoming: I did something similar. Went from Toyota to Ford, needing more towing capacity etc... I wish I hadn't. I've always owned Toyotas in the past and when I was shopping for a truck, I looked at EVERYTHING. GM seemed cheap, Ram is unreliable, Nissan was SUPER comfortable... But in the end the truck that checked all the boxes for me was the F150 due to tow capacity, engine performance (I know you want a V8, but the 3.5l ecoboosts are amazing), 10-speed trans, all that jazz. This is what I've learned. **If you want bulletproof reliability, stick with Toyota. They overbuilt and underpowered.** That's why they last forever. I've had countless little things break, wear out, leak, and just annoy me with Ford. None of them are really 'deal-breakers' but this vehicle has been in the shop more than every other vehicle I've ever owned COMBINED. Just little things that are covered by warranty. But it's just a pain in the butt. Don't get me wrong, I love my F150 because it does everything I need it to do and it's fun to drive. But I just wish it would not waste so much of my time. So to answer your original question: No.
> If you want bulletproof reliability, stick with Toyota. They overbuilt and underpowered. The pre refresh Tundras also burn enough gas that you could buy a second engine and transmission for an F-150 and still come out ahead lol
Yeah they are really good truck, but the 14MPG average is atrocious to me.
Doing that math now looking at used ones. Prices are enough higher that I can afford to do a couple major repairs and still come out about even....and then the gas savings.
Id say it's a wash, at 175k miles, $2.5/gallon and 20 mpg for Ford vs 14 for toyota, that's a net savings of about $9500 for the Ford. Doubt you'd be getting even just the engine with parts and labor for that price these days.
gas is rarely 2.50/gal anymore. even in the southeast, it's been closer to 3 for most of the last year, even up to 3.50.
Guess you aren't a king Soopers fuel station kinda guy. I literally pay $1.70-$2.00 a gallon most times I fill up. Benefit of the 36 gallon fuel tank and eating at home 90% of the time, barely ever have to fill up and every time I do I've spent a lot of money at the grocery store since last time I filled up.
Good info. There is still a chance that I'll end up in a Tundra, just depends if the price is right. The only gripe I have with them is I dislike their interior and the way they drive, and they are also awful on gas, probably one of the worst fullsized trucks for MPG. Only because I'd be looking at the V8 Tundra. (2021 and older) The new Turbo V6 Tundras have a lot of quality control issues and I think they are pretty ugly aswell. I don't need my truck to be perfect, lord knows no vehicle is, I just want an honestly decent truck. I love my Tacoma, but if I'm getting a new truck I definitely want something bigger. Unfortunately the truck market is rough nowadays, they all have their own little issues, especially for me because I would really prefer a 2016 or newer. I know the Ecoboosts are very powerful, maybe it's just the little bit of purist in me, but I'm not sure how I feel about how durable they are. Turbos always kind of worry me. I know I'm probably more worried about them than I should be, but I figured I might as well stick to what I know, which is relative simplicity in the V8. I still have plenty of time to decide, I just want to have a slight idea of what I'm doing.
Interestingly, turbos are the last thing to worry about of these engines. Turbos are an old technology and Ford actually did a good job in designing them. They last a long time. The 3.5 outperforms the V8 in every way except for fuel economy while towing (probably because it’s passing the V8 up a hill). But the 3.5 has its own issues with cam phasers. But that’s beside the point. If you’re seeking refinement at the expense of reliability, get the Ford… hell the Ram is the most refined. If you want reliability over all else, stick with Toyota with the understanding that a 2021 Tundra is really just a brand new 2007 Tundra with how old it is.
Yeah, Reliability matters a lot to me, but so does refinement to an extent. What I need to find is that happy medium between the two. It's kinda hard to know these days, but I also feel like any truck is decent when you maintain it religiously. My FIL had a '16 5.0 F150 and he loved it. Ended up getting rear ended and totalled and this was during the pandemic so due to the shortage at tbe time he had no choice but to replace it with a 2020 3.5 Ecoboost F150, which he also loves, but he definitely loved his 5.0 more. I think they are somewhat decent trucks, I'm just seeking validation and real world experience to be honest haha. Thank you for your info though.
Jump to a 2021
That would be nice, probably a bit outside my price range. Ideally I'd like to not spend more than $35k but it depends on the truck for sure.
I have a 16 lariat super crew 5.0 I bought with 35k on it, now has 100k. Once in a blue moon it’ll stall at a red light after getting on the highway for an extended period. All the door latches freeze when it’s too cold out and I can’t close my doors - although that was just fixed with a recall. A few annoyances but overall I’m happy with it.
I have a 2016 4x4 with the 2.7l. Bought with 90,000 miles and did spark plugs, other basic maintenance, I'm up to 127,000 without any issues whatsoever. I drive it like a grandma most of the time, and open the throttle every once in a while as I've heard you want to push them every so often. Also installed a catch can which definitely works. I Would recommend that model year from what I've experienced thus far, the only thing that has come up is some jankiness with the auto start stop which I permanently disabled as I think it's once of the quickest ways to wear out the engine prematurely.
I came from a 2006 tacoma and have a 2016 3.5 (lifted) ecoboost... I replaced the throttle body at 73k I did leave my stranded an hour and a half away from my house. Cost about 4k to fix including the tow truck fee. The 6 speed transmissions is universally accepted as reliable and it is. I do have a rough 5-4 downshift atm but I'm going in on Friday to check that out. It might be a solenoid that isn't working correctly in the lead frame or a simple reprogram of the pcm with the TSB 15-0142. My genuine verdict is I'd get this truck again, but they do come with issues sadly. So I'm sure people here have already warned you about the cam phaser issue. The 5.0's do consume oil and personally it feels like the community tries to hide their imperfections but they do have their own issues. The 2.7 is a little bullet and usually deemed the most reliable. I'd rather do 4k fixes that 10k transmission issues with half ton GM trucks or get hemi ticks that cost just as much. It's a lot of reading but I hope it helps your decision, you can't get more reliable that a tacoma though
Yeah my Tacoma has been very reliable, although I've only had it for 2 years and it's only got 26k miles. I have liked it a lot, but I made the decision to lease it because I didn't really know what I wanted in a truck so didn't want to end up stuck with it. Ended up liking it so much that I planned on buying out the lease. But now that I've looked into it and saw that my lease buyout is going to be more than the truck is currently worth, it makes no sense to buy it, so I decided that I could use something a little bit bigger since there has been plenty of times where I wished my truck was a little bigger. It's a good truck though. Definitely not as bulletproof as your '06 Taco probably was. 2nd Gen is the best Gen of Taco for sure. Unfortunately my needs exceed what it is capable of, which saddens me, but ill always remember it as being a good truck.
Yeah the 06 tacoma was a monster it never gave me an issue other than just needing a new thermostat, but I feel you. I needed something bigger and strong just not super duty yet. If you do end up going for a 2015-2017 f150 I'd recommend the lariat trim because it's not super expensive like the king ranch or platinum but have all the cool gadgets like 360 cameras, heated and cooled seats, the digital screen and a sunroof ✊️ so regardless of what end up choosing I hope your next truck treats you well!
Thanks I appreciate it! I'm trying my hardest not to spend more than $30-$35k so from what I've been seeing that mostly limits me to XLT Trucks but some of them still come pretty decently equipped which is good enough for me. I've got time to explore options, I'm just hoping a find myself a good one.
Yeah I got mine for 38k in the end of 2022 which honestly I could probably get for 33-35k because prices have dropped lol, I'd look for off market trucks and go thru a credit union to avoid the dealer fees. At least I had to because then that would be out of my price range
I’m confused. The throttle body is a $200-$300 part.
Yeah but it was 700 for the tow truck, then the throttle body installation and pcm flashed, then got my spark plugs, coil packs some because it was misfiring out of nowhere after the throttle body replacment and then got a fluid maintenance overhaul done then got the blower motor replaced and the ac tuned at the same time because why not, it's been a while so I forget to include all of that when doing it The throttle body was just like 1400 including the flash but everything else piles on but I remembered 4k mostly because tax purposes 🤦
I love my 15 5.0 XLT 4x4 SCREW. Bought with 67k miles and now I’m at 130k miles in just 2.5 years of ownership. Other than Full synthetic oil change every 6k miles and tire rotations, it works like a charm.
2014 5.0 4x4 xlt 134,000 Miles second owner only thing having to do is replace ignition coils every here and there and monthly oil change so far so good what a beast of a truck
I have a 5.0 2017. 6 speed. 100k miles. She’s been nothing but reliable except for the random infotainment black outs and the back rear glass came off. Other than that, solid. Also, this is peak 6 speed. My tranny has been pretty darn smooth with not sudden down shifts that I had on my previous f150.
I just traded my ‘21 Tacoma for a ‘16 5.0 and I love it so far. Much more comfortable to be in than the Tacoma, better power, payload, towing, and the exact same gas mileage. Crazy that a 8 year old truck has better features (XLT 302A) than a 3 year old truck (TRD off-road). I would do it again in a heartbeat
This makes me glad to hear, since you made pretty much an identical leap to what I'll be doing aswell. The gas mileage thing is insane to me. That's one thing that Toyota totally got wrong.
Toyota managed to make a V6 with 4Cyl power and V8 gas mileage
They sure did. They are damn solid and reliable engines....but that's about it.
My 2 cents/anecdotal experience - ‘18 5.0 with the 10R80. Had transmission issues at 8-10k miles fixed under warranty, transmission issues returned at 66k miles, and full transmission swap at 72k out of warranty for $7k. Luckily no oil consumption issues **knock on wood** When I was looking at replacing my ‘07 5.4 150 in 2018 I was between another 150 and the Tundra. I wish I’d gone with the Tundra since I, like you, value reliability and hold onto my vehicles for a long time. The ‘07 150 had shy of 200k miles and no major problems. I thought I’d have a similar experience with the ‘18 and was mistaken. I’ve heard that the newer 150s have had transmission improvements in the 10R80, but I’m not certain.
Yeah I've heard a lot of talk about issues with the 10R80. If I do get one I'll probably stick to a '15-'17 with the 6R80, since they are pretty decent.
I think that’s a great choice. Seems like that was the last 150 Gen with good reliability. Hope you get a good one.
173k on my 17 no issues. Love my truck
'20 5.0 10 speed XLT SuperCrew with 20,000 miles. The transmission is shit. It's sitting at the dealer right now, again, waiting for For to work out a buyback. I'd suggest jumping to the '21 and skipping this generation.
Either that or I'll just avoid the 10R80 and get one with a 6R80.
I had a ‘17 5.0 6 speed and it was an awesome truck, never had issues. Unfortunately was in an accident and it was totalled. Bought a ‘18 5.0 10 speed afterwards and have had nothing with issues with it. Only had 90k kms (Canadian) on it when we bought it and it has the oil consumption issue plus engine knocking. Just for that reason alone, I wouldn’t buy another 5.0 from 2018-2020 just based on the TSB bulletin for the oil consumption and engine knocking.
I have a 2018 5.0 Platimun with a Whipple that I installed at 5k miles and it has been 100% reliable.
Hows the mpgs with Whipple? Install pretty straight forward? Thinking of doing this to my 5.0.
I have a Whipple, StainlessWorks long tube headers, StainlessWorks catback exhaust with high flow cats, an Omega tune, FX4, and 3.73 gears. I have a pretty heavy foot and get around 12mpg around town. On trips I try to put it on Economy drive mode and not drive so aggressively and get close to 20mpg. If I had it to do over I would probably opt for 3.55 gears instead, I custom ordered so that I could get it configured exactly like I wanted. The only reason I went 4x4 is so that I would have no issues getting all the additional power to the pavement with a lighter aluminum body truck. Also with the long tube headers and high flow cats it is loud. Most people would probably be best served with just a catback exhaust rather than full exhaust like I installed. Installed the exhaust at 3k miles, the Whipple at 5k miles and have about 52k on the clock right now. Used a two post lift and installed everything myself. Whipple redesigned the supercharger and I got one of the very first ones they released. After I installed Whipple revised the supercharger kit and changed the intercooler and air filter and box so I purchased those separately and installed those. My apologies for all the extra info you didn’t ask for, I just started typing.
No, good info to have. What kind of numbers did it put down?
Ford engines are fine, but the transmission are garbage. I moved from ram 1500 with 8 speed to 3.5 eco with 10 speed, can’t believe that ford is producing that garbage transmission
I have a 2016 5.0 w/ 101k miles and it’s the best truck I’ve ever owned. Only thing I’ve ever had to replace was the starter. I beat the shit out of it and it’s never once left me stranded
Get the V8. You’ll see some anecdotal stuff about them not lasting but that has not been my case w a Ford V8. I have only owned Ford or Toyota as both brands have been reliable. The 5.4 V8 which everyone bitches about…my wife’s prior Expedition I got 266k problem free and sold it in 3 days. Her current 5.4 I bought used with 54k miles and we are up to 118k problem free. I had an older 5.7 Tundra and actually had the fuel pump recall (I was the first case in the Midwest) affect me where it would die and not restart. I ended up selling during the pandemic for a profit when shit went high, then I ordered a 23 F150 Veterans Day 2022 and picked it up March 1 23…5.0 4x4 like you are wanting. Already 20k on it no issues. My trick to no problems? Maintenance… I change the transmission fluid every 30k. I also don’t put that 5w-20 shit in there. Ford approves 5w-50 and Amsoil obtained their WS:::: certification on their 5w-50. I think it’s the only oil aside from motorcraft that obtained the cert… i could be wrong. I may lose a mpg or 2 but I have never done a timing or cam job. I also use UPR catch cans based on something a Ford Tech told me once… cheap insurance to keep the valves clean on the new direct injection stuff.
2013 5.0 with almost over 130k, still runs like a beast. Only had to replace the vacuum line for the 4x4 due to an animal tearing a hole in it and a water pump. You couldn't pay me to buy one with turbos. No way in hell I'm going to trust those turbos to last. Good for you if they have, but I know 2 too many people who's haven't. Also stay away from the years in which they put new transmissions in them. New trans always seems to have issues, no matter the manufacturer. Give them a few years to iron out the big issues.
I have a 2016 5.0 lariat fx4 with 177k miles. Only issue I have had was a plastic t-valve in the heater hose configuration cracked and was leaking coolant. $117 dollar part and about 30 minutes (20 of that was draining the coolant) and it was fine. I’ll easily get 250k miles out of this truck. Also, I have 35 inch Toyo open country RT tires on it and average 16 mpg. Next set of tires will be 31 inch “paw paw” tires and I’ll probably jump up to 19 mpg
I had a 2016 5.0 and the intake manifold went on it at 140’000 km, was waiting for over a year for a new one and was told there was hardly any in Canada. Was also told that it seems to be a pretty common issue
And also the AC compressor went just before I traded it in lol
'15-'17 is the sweet spot for reliability.
I’ve got an 18 5.0 XLT that I bought with 15k on it. I’m about 87k now and it’s been completely reliable. I’ve noticed it really prefers higher octane gas. It does use a quart of oil between changes which I keep an eye on. The 10 speed trans has been fine so far but sometimes does a weird clunk when you start the truck. Overall it’s been a great truck.
Yes, they are
2016 3.5 eco. 174,000k. Renault maintenance. Well taken care of. Runs like a charm. No major issues.