Ford F150 has been the workhorse of the American roads since 1948 and as odd as it may sound, you can still see some of the earliest models on the roads today. The success of these full-size pickup trucks has been built on reliability, practicality, and a reasonable price.
F150 has been the best-selling pickup truck in the US since 1977 and it’s been the best-selling vehicle in Canada for over 50 years. The F-Series has been produced in close to 40 million units, making it one of the highest-selling vehicles worldwide.
But how many miles can you expect from these pickup trucks?
Ford F150 can last for 300,000+ miles. The simplicity of the engine combined with the abundance of parts makes the repairs a manageable expense and can keep the F150 on the road for up to 20 years.
The F-Series trucks have a rich history that starts with the first generation of 1948. One of the reasons for the success of the F150 is the continuous updates – in its 73 years of existence, the truck has seen 14 generations, just over 5 years per generation.
It is unusual for a pickup truck to become a classic, yet the earlier F150s have become desirable oldtimers, while the ’60s to ’90s era trucks form the foundation of the OBS (old body style) subculture. You’ll often see these trucks with a fresh coat of paint, sticking wheels, and either in a raised or lowered stance.
Even though there are some generations with questionable design choices, the F150 has been a reliable vehicle throughout the decades. Since 1997, Ford has been selling between 500,000 to 1,000,000 units in North America, consistently beating the competition.
It’s difficult to establish a mileage limit for any vehicle, but it’s especially difficult for the Ford F150 as it’s been continuously produced for over 70 years. A study by iSeeCars claims that 1.9% of all Ford F150s have more than 200,000 miles on the clock.
This figure may seem very small, but let’s put it into perspective. Their research also shows that only 0.7% of all passenger cars reach 200,000 miles. Toyota, the brand with the longest-lasting vehicles averages 1.8% across their fleet. This means that the Ford F150 is actually a very durable vehicle.
Another way to get an estimate on the mileage expectancy of any vehicle is to check the forums. Researching the topic has led me to the conclusion that most F150s can do 200,000 miles with ease, and that there’s already a number of tenth generation models (1997-2004) with 400,000 miles.
The F150 is not rust-proof and will show signs of corrosion on the wheel well, inner door lip, tailgate, cab corners, and of course the frame and suspension.
Passenger cars have a unibody design, where the body and frame are merged into one. If the body rusts, not only does it look bad, it affects the structural safety of the vehicle.
The same doesn’t apply to the F150 with its body-on-frame construction. As long as the frame is in decent condition, the truck will drive on without problems. There’s also a matter of application – F150 is a work truck and some rust, dirt, and dents in the body won’t matter as much as on a sports car.
If you’re buying a used truck, it’s important to inspect the condition of the body and frame. Bring a spare set of clothes and a flashlight, as you’ll have to go beneath the truck and look for structural damage to the bed frame and supports.
Trucks in the areas with heavy snow and salted roads will rust more quickly, and they can rarely last for more than 20 years.
The F150 truck is a good investment as it doesn’t depreciate as quickly as some of the other trucks and especially passenger cars.
The 2021 model has an average price of $43,450 and is projected to lose 39% of its value in the first 5 years, and 65% after 10 years. As we have the market values of the existing models, these figures are much more accurate.
| Model Year | New Price | Current Price | Percentage Value |
| 2021 | $43,450 | $43,450 | 100% |
| 2020 | $43,432 | $38,209 | 87.02% |
| 2019 | $43,397 | $34,782 | 78,98% |
| 2018 | $43,327 | $33,819 | 76.36% |
| 2017 | $43,348 | $31,771 | 71.48% |
| 2016 | $41,003 | $26,065 | 61.17% |
| 2015 | $40,917 | $25,199 | 58.2% |
| 2014 | $38,006 | $19,887 | 48.26% |
| 2013 | $37,017 | $18,015 | 44.09% |
| 2012 | $37,958 | $15,766 | 36.49% |
| 2011 | $35,652 | $14,222 | 34.44% |
| 2010 | $32,892 | $13,155 | 33.36% |
| 2009 | $31,444 | $11,015 | 27% |
Currently, the best F150 model years to buy are between 2020 and 2016 as they offer the best compromise between mileage, age, and price. The F150 has a relatively even price drop curve, so apart from the newer years, you’ll make a good investment regardless of the model year and the amount of time you keep it.
Insurance is not a small expense by any measurement, and it greatly exceeds the regular maintenance cost. On average, Ford F150 costs $1,500 pounds to insure, or $125 a month. Compared to other models in the full-sized truck segment, the insurance for the F150 is marginally cheaper.
The following table represents estimates of insurance costs based on the F150 model year and drivers’ age. The estimate assumes a clean driving record with no at-fault accidents and a $500 deductible.
| Model Year | Driver Age 20 | Driver Age 30 | Driver Age 40 | Driver Age 50 | Driver Age 60 |
| 2021 | $2,968 | $1,564 | $1,488 | $1,360 | $1,334 |
| 2020 | $2,904 | $1,528 | $1,452 | $1,326 | $1,304 |
| 2019 | $2,776 | $1,460 | $1,392 | $1,270 | $1,250 |
| 2018 | $2,704 | $1,420 | $1,354 | $1,238 | $1,212 |
| 2017 | $2,622 | $1,376 | $1,314 | $1,196 | $1,176 |
| 2016 | $2,598 | $1,354 | $1,296 | $1,182 | $1,160 |
| 2015 | $2,648 | $1,374 | $1,316 | $1,204 | $1,182 |
| 2014 | $2,398 | $1,244 | $1,196 | $1,094 | $1,074 |
| 2013 | $2,288 | $1,190 | $1,146 | $1,050 | $1,030 |
The maintenance costs naturally increase over the years as the mileage goes up. We have to keep in mind that F150 crosses a lot more miles than a passenger car, and it’s not unusual to see a truck with 200,000+ miles in under 10 years.
The following table is based on a variety of data, with the annual maintenance cost based on the official Ford’s maintenance schedule. The major repairs chance refers to repairs that cost more than $500 in parts and labor.
| Vehicle Age | Chance of Major Issues | Annual Maintenance Cost |
| 1 | 3.1% | $350 |
| 2 | 5.2% | $410 |
| 3 | 5.9% | $510 |
| 4 | 10.4% | $660 |
| 5 | 14.9% | $780 |
| 6 | 16.7% | $980 |
| 7 | 18% | $1,390 |
| 8 | 23.3% | $1,550 |
| 9 | 25.8% | $1,700 |
| 10 | 30.6% | $1,916 |
The table shows some fairly high figures, but if you’ve ever owned a vehicle for more than 10 or more years, you know that these figures are not realistic, at least not on an annual level.
Regular oil and filters change is the most important part of any vehicle’s maintenance. For the F150, it costs $80 in parts and $40 – $50 in labor. With the service interval at every 5,000 miles, you’ll need a few oil changes each year.
The rest of the components you’ll change as they go – air and fuel filter, wheel bearings and ball joints, spark plugs, and tire rotation. The more expensive replacements are the timing belt/chain, serpentine belt, water pump, alternator, battery, and suspension.
The F150 service and repairs are not expensive when everything is considered. The battery, serpentine belt, wheel bearings, and water pump are the parts you’ll have to change once or a few times before 200,000 miles, and they’re all fairly cheap.
The timing chain replacement is a major task and will cost at least $1,000 but given how durable they are, you might not even have to change it during your ownership of the vehicle. The transmission rebuild or swap is worth considering, but the engine rebuild is a deal-breaker. However, even that can be circumvented by buying an engine from a donor truck.
| Serviced Part | Parts Cost | Labor Cost | Total Cost |
| Car Battery | $150 – $200 | $20 – $50 | $170 – $250 |
| Alternator | $150 – $450 | $70 – $90 | $220 – $540 |
| Timing Belt | $50 – $100 | $350 – $850 | $400 – $900 |
| Timing Chain | $100 – $250 | $900 – $1,250 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| Seprentine Belt | $30 – $100 | $30 – $60 | $60 – $160 |
| Water Pump | $80 – $150 | $130 – $170 | $210 – $320 |
| Wheel Bearing | $100 – $160 | $70- $100 | $170 – $260 |
| Valve Cover Gasket | $30 – $60 | $180 – $230 | $210 – $290 |
| Transmission Rebuild | N/A | $800 – $2,800 | $800 – $2,800 |
| Engine Rebuild | N/A | $5,000 – $10,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 |
Recalls provide a certain insight into the build quality of a vehicle, and checking if the recall service has been performed on a used vehicle is important. That being said, you can’t really judge a vehicle on recalls alone.
Modern vehicles are much more complex than those built just ten or twenty years ago. The active and passive safety systems, driver assistance features, infotainment, and improvements to the powertrain increase the chance of a factory fault.
In the recent F150 history, the tenth and eleventh generations between the years 1997 and 2006 are by far the most troubling, with 10 consecutive years with recalls in the double-digits. The 1997 model had an alarming 26 recalls in total.
The thirteenth generation has also been troubled with a lot of recalls 10-12 annually until they were fixed with the 2019 and 2020 models.
Going by recalls alone then these are the best F150 years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2019, and 2020.
The model year 1997 is by far the most flawed, with a total of 26 recalls. Of the more recent models, 2015 should have the most issues as it’s the first model year of the thirteenth generation.
The first 100 thousand miles are nothing for the F150, and it can easily double, if not triple the mileage. These trucks are used for work and family transport and cross more miles annually than standard passenger cars.
Ford’s diesel engines can do an estimated 400,000 – 500,000 miles before an overhaul is needed. The petrol engines are less durable by design and can do about 200,000 miles.
Considering that these vehicles are capable of crossing 250,000 – 350,000 miles, I would put anything beyond 150,000 miles as high mileage, as beyond that point, you can expect component failure.
In the light-duty pickup truck segment, Toyota Tundra, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Tacoma are the longest-lasting trucks, but F-150 does not fall behind.
The body-on-frame construction is considered more durable than the unibody construction. As long as the truck is not driven in the salt belt, it can last for at least 15 years.
The engines fitted in the 2004 and 2005 F150 trucks are considered the worst as they were prone to failure after only 75,000 miles.
The most common issues with Ford F-150 are spark plugs breaking, engine noises, and stalling, as well as poor fuel economy.
There’s a big difference between a passenger car and a truck, both in terms of application and design. Trucks can easily double the mileage of an average passenger car, which is why 100,000 miles on the clock isn’t even considered high mileage.
People who buy trucks usually buy them for work and do not care about the lack of high-tech features. In fact, basic trims are sometimes preferred, as it reduces the cost of maintenance.
Not necessarily, especially not if it has a diesel engine. This mileage is considered half of what a petrol engine should do, and less than a third of a diesel engine’s lifespan.
The differences in durability between Ford and Chevy trucks are marginal, but the Chevy is considered slightly better.
Toyota Land Cruiser is undeniably the longest-lasting vehicle, with 16.3% of all models reaching more than 200,000 miles based on the iSeeCars study. In comparison, Toyota Prius has a 2% rating, and the Ford F150 has a 2.1% rating.
The 4.6L V8 is considered to be the most reliable F150 engine, produced and upgraded from 1996 to 2010.
The Ford F150 is a very reliable and durable truck that won’t disappoint even when the odometer hits 200,000 miles. Regular service is key, and if performed on time, you can add another 100 to 200 thousand miles by replacing certain parts. You couldn’t ask for much more in a truck.
Check out more related topics from VehicleFreak below:
Ford F-150 Model Years To Avoid – Best And Worst Years
F150 XL vs XLT: What’s The Difference?
P0305 Ford F150: Cylinder 5 Misfire Detected
