Ford F150 Life Expectancy Miles – How Good Is The F-150?

Ford F150 Life Expectancy Miles – How Good Is The F-150?

Are you in the market for an F-150? You probably want to know about the Ford F150 life expectancy miles. Knowing the lifespan of each vehicle is important to have a better idea of what you are getting yourself into before getting a new car or truck.

The F-150 has been with us for almost 70 years and has created a benchmark for what should a pickup truck aim to be. The F-150 is a true legend. But does this long heritage still hold water? Well, we are about to find out.

The F-150 truck is one of the most popular trucks on the market right now and with a reason. Ford offers a lot for that price, and the F-150 is a really good buy if you are looking for a full-size pickup truck. But what about the Ford F150 life expectancy miles? Well, let’s find out.

In this article, we are going to learn everything about the F-150. We will start from the history and how this model has evolved throughout the years. Namely, our focus will primarily be on the last three generations of F-150. We are going to learn about the engines that were offered and also the transmissions that were included.

Then, we are going to talk about the reliability and the Ford F150 life expectancy miles. This is for you to know what you should expect from your Ford F-150. And lastly, we are going to discuss the new electric models and whether you should get an F-150 or not. So, let’s dive into it.

Ford F150

The F-150 was introduced back in 1948. The initial truck was offered as a two-door pickup and quickly gained large popularity and following in the United States.

This was achieved because of the versatility of this vehicle as well as its durability. The F-150 was able to withstand some rugged terrains and help farmers and workers get the job done. The F-150 quickly became one of the workhorses of the US economy.

And until this day, it’s still produced and it still is one of the most widely used trucks in the US. With 14 generations of the F-series that spanned over 70 years, the F-150 holds records when it comes to trucks. It is the most produced piece of equipment by the numbers.

For the past three years, Ford has managed to sell more than 900,000 F-Series trucks per year. Most of these would be attributed to the F-150 alone. If you divide this number by 365 days of the year you will end up with 2,486 trucks sold per day and around 100 trucks sold every hour. That’s a lot of trucks.

Even the closest competitors like the RAM only achieved to sell around 550,000 units, and Chevy, with its Silverado sold around 580,000. That is almost a 250,000-truck difference. And 250,000 isn’t a small number.

And Ford did not stop there, they bravely stepped into the electric future, and they offered the first electric F-150. But that is something that we are going to discuss at the end of the article after we cover the Ford F-150’s reliability and the Ford F150 life expectancy miles. But first, let’s discuss the last three generations of the F-150 and learn more about their characteristics and problems.

Ford F-150 12th Generation Life Expectancy Miles

The 12th generation of the F-150 was introduced for the 2009 model year and its production has spanned for 5 years until it was replaced with the 13th generation of the F-150. The F-150 was a truck that lay between the Ford Ranger and the larger Super Duty trucks which were the F-250 and F-350.

Specs And Engines

The 12th generation was considered a full-size truck. Much bigger than the Ranger. It had a wheelbase of 125 inches for the smallest single crew cab and up to 163 inches for the larger super cab. The length also varied because of this. The shortest version of the F-150 was around 213 inches, and the longest super cab was around 250 inches long. The curb weight was between 4,707 and 5,639 lb.

During its 5-year production, it was offered with both V6 and V8 engines, 7 in total. So, if you are on the market for an F-150 you have a lot of engines to pick from. The transmission in the F-150 was only automatic and there was a choice between a 5-speed and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 5-speed was used until the more modern 6-speed was introduced.

During the midlife refresh, the engines were changed, and after 2011, there was a new lineup of engines. The more modern engines have shown improved reliability and we are going to cover that next.

Reliability And Life Expectancy Miles

The reliability of the 12th generation of the F-150 was, let’s say, very good. Not excellent, but it’s among the best in its market.

1. Infotainment Issues

Some of the most frequent complaints about this generation were the issues with the MyFord Touch system. Many people didn’t like it. This was because the system was very glitchy and didn’t work well. Some customers deemed the system extremely unresponsive, and it kept freezing every time they tried to do something on it.

It’s especially worse in the cold weather. But this is understandable for infotainment systems from this generation as, in most other cars, they were not good at all. What gives the Ford F-150 life expectancy miles at around 200k was because of its failing head gaskets.

2. Head Gasket Issues

Another problem that was more serious was the passenger-side head gasket leak. The head gasket suffered a lot on some of the models. It failed more often on those trucks that were well over 160k miles on the clock. The owners reported that the gasket would simply disintegrate and cause the coolant to leak. The only solution for this problem was installing a new head gasket.

3. Engine Oil Pan Gasket Failure

There were also some oil pan gasket failures reported on the F-150. This problem appeared on trucks that were in the high 100,000s and closer to 200k miles. This is understandable for trucks at this age and miles. The oil pan gasket is also not a big deal and is a simple DIY job. That’s especially so on a huge truck that has a lot of space to work.

4. Rough Engine Idle

Rough engine idle is one of the symptoms that appears on trucks that are far beyond 100,000 miles. This is the case because the MAF sensors that are installed on these trucks typically fail when they reach this age of 100k miles on the clock.

When the MAF sensor does not work properly it doesn’t measure the amount of air that is inside of the engine. This will result in poor engine operation, and the engine will work on a rich air to fuel mixture.

Ford F150 Life Expectancy Miles

The result of this malfunctioning sensor will be increased fuel consumption and rough idle. The solution to these problems is to replace the MAF sensor which is located at the air intake. The sensor is not cheap, but this is the only way to increase the Ford F150 life expectancy miles.

5. Engine Misfires

Another problem with the F-150 from this generation is the engine misfires that occur. These engine misfires were mostly caused by bad ignition coils.

The ignition coils that drive electric current to the spark plugs are not working properly, and have to be diagnosed and replaced. The cost for replacement is around $150 for the coil and the spark plug is around $15. But when you replace spark plugs, you should replace all of the spark plugs in your car.

6. Transmission Problems

Between 2009 and 2012 there were reports on transmission issues with the F-150. Owners reported downshifting into second gear without any warning lights on the dashboard. This caused many incidents on the highway and put some people in danger. Imagine that you are driving at 90 miles per hour and suddenly your car shifts into second. It then stops your truck and overloads your engine.

Because of this problem, there was a massive recall to get these things patched. In the end, a simple flash update fixed this issue.

7. Rear Window Defroster Doesn’t Work

This problem occurred in trucks that have this small back window that slides. In some F-150s the defroster that is attached to this window would not work. This was caused by a failure in the rear window defroster contact. This problem was also patched as well.

12 Generation Ford 150 Life Expectancy Miles

The 12 generation of the F-150 has a good life expectancy of over 150,000 miles. Most problems that cost a lot of money to fix on this truck usually start to appear when the truck is far beyond this 150k mark. So, when buying a used F-150, pay attention to the mileage, and make sure that you get one that has lower miles.

Ford F-150 13th Generation Life Expectancy Miles

The 13th generation of the F-150 was introduced in 2015 and brought a lot of changes compared to the previous generation. This generation implemented a lot of technology and safety features that were not available in trucks before the F-150. Things like brake assist and blind-spot monitoring systems came as a standard in most of the lineup. These new features greatly improved the F-150 popularity among the buyers who wanted safety and comfort.

Specs And Engines

In terms of size, the new F-150 carried the same size numbers as the previous generation. But in the engine and transmission department, Ford brought a lot of changes when it comes to technology and efficiency. This helped to greatly increase the Ford F150 life expectancy miles that we are going to cover at the end.

The new Ford F-150 came in six engine variations. There was a standard V6 model that produced 290 hp, then there were two EcoBoost engines that were turbocharged and made 325 hp and 275 hp respectively. The second EcoBoost was pushed up to 450hp for the Raptor model of the F-150.

Then there was the famous 5.0 Coyote that made around 395hp and another PowerStroke V6 diesel that made a respectable 250hp and brought the diesel option into the F-150 lineup.

In the transmission department, there was a big improvement compared to previous generations. There was a basic 6-speed automatic and a 10-speed automatic for the higher trim models. The 10-speed was the way to go if you wanted smooth shifts from your F-150.

As we said, there were also a lot of new technologies that improved the safety of this model by a big margin.

Reliability And Life Expectancy Miles

In terms of reliability, this new generation does not have as many complaints as the previous generation, but there are still some things that annoyed the owners of this generation. And we are going to discuss them in this chapter.

1. MyFord Touch System Problems

Similarly, to the previous generation, this generation of Ford’s proprietary system was not that great and didn’t bring anything new to the table. There were still a lot of glitches and unresponsiveness. The system would freeze all of a sudden and don’t work. Drivers were not able to fix this problem except by restarting the whole system.

To be honest, 2015 was not that far back, and Ford did a poor job building these early systems for their trucks. As the owners complained, these systems were laggy and slow, and they often froze. So, if you want to buy a car for the infotainment system, these early versions of the Ford infotainment system are not the right ones for you.

2. Frozen Door Handles That Didn’t Allow The Owners To Enter

This may sound funny but it was true. There was a recall of trucks because their door locks simply froze and the owners couldn’t get inside of their trucks.

These problems, as we assume, appeared in subzero temperatures where the mechanism froze completely. The latch simply failed to engage with the door striker. This also caused some dangerous situations and many people who thought that their doors were closed. The door would simply open in traffic. And there were also some reports where drivers couldn’t get out of their trucks because the door froze.

This was the subject of a 1,3 million-unit recall in 2017 to get this problem patched. Most of these trucks were manufactured at the plants in Missouri, Kentucky, and Michigan assembly plants.

3. Transmission Recall

In 2017 there was also a recall of 15,000 trucks because there was a problem with the 10-speed automatic transmission. According to the owners, the truck continued to keep the transmission in the same gear regardless of the lever position. This problem has caused some gearshifts that disengage from the transmission and made the truck shifting into gear almost impossible.

4. Throttle Body Malfunction

Another problem with the F-150 was with its throttle body. The throttle body is the component that allows how much air could be sucked into the engine. The problem with the throttle body on the F-150 was the limp mode.

The truck would simply shift into a limp mode and would make the truck lose power and make it very slow. The solution for this problem reportedly was to replace the throttle body with a new one. There was some issue with the throttle body itself. So, if you have an issue like this with your throttle body you should replace it with a new one.

5. Seat Cooling Not Working

There were also owners who reported that their cooled seats were not working properly. For example, there was cool air on the bottom but not at the back support.

These cooled seat issues mostly occurred on the Platinum model. The problem was the hose that was driving cool air to the top of the seat. When this problem was fixed, owners continued to use their cooled seats.

6. Seatbelt Pre-tensioner Recall

Another recall came in September 2018 when 2 million F-150s produced between 2015 and 2018 were recalled because of the front seatbelt pre-tensioners that can generate excessive sparks and cause a big fire in the cabin if the truck was involved in a serious collision.

13 Generation Ford 150 Life Expectancy Miles

This generation of the Ford F-150 had many of the previous generation’s problems patched and solved. This is even though the 13th generation was subject to a major recall. Especially for the door handles. These issues do not put in danger the F-150’s reliability record.

The F-150 is still one of the most reliable trucks on the market right now and this generation is one of the most popular second-hand options. These trucks can be found for a really good price and you could enjoy them. The Ford F150’s life expectancy miles for this generation is more than 200,000 miles before some major problems start to appear with this truck. So, anything below 150k is a good buy in my opinion.

Ford F-150 14th Generation Life Expectancy Miles

This is the last generation of the F-150 and it’s the best generation up to date. It took everything from the previous generation and improved it by a big margin. The biggest improvement was the new fully electric model which is based on the same platform.

Specs And Engines

The new model still carries the same size and configurations as the previous model. But it’s greatly improved the technologies and made the F-150 one of the best tech-equipped pickup trucks on the market right now.

The new model that was unveiled last year includes a big screen with a smooth infotainment system. It also carries the ability to work as a power bank and gives the driver the ability to connect many different tools at the back where the bed is located. It also has a new improved styling with LED headlights and taillights.

This new generation of the F-150 still carries the same engines as the previous generation. But now it offers one hybrid version. And is expected soon to have a slight engine refresh.

Ford F150 Life Expectancy Miles

In the transmission department, there is only one transmission. And this is a 10-speed automatic that is one of the best transmissions that Ford built.

Reliability And Life Expectancy Miles

Although this model is still fresh there was one recall. This recall included a defective driveshaft. There were potential hazards that this driveshaft could separate during driving and cause a complete loss of power. Or it can allow the vehicle to move while parked and cause a potential hazard to the pedestrians. They recalled all the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 models that were produced between September 25th, 2020, and March 5th, 2021.

14th Generation Ford 150 Life Expectancy Miles

The 14th generation is still new and has to prove itself in order to give it a life expectancy grade. But from what we are observing, there are a lot of positive signs. This model should perform on the same level as the previous generation or even better and that is around 200,000 miles of good and reliable service.

Ford F150 Life Expectancy Miles

The overall mile expectancy of the F-150 is somewhere between 150,000 and 250,000. And some trucks can push even beyond that. I’m saying this because there are a lot of factors that play a big role in the longevity of the truck. These are the loads that this truck is carrying on a daily basis and the maintenance that is performed on it.

In order to get the most out of your F-150, you have to maintain it regularly and repair all the problems that will appear on time. Because the more you delay, the bigger and more expensive these problems become.

Ford F150 Life Expectancy Miles Essential Knowledge

  1. Ford F150 is a reliable, practical, and reasonably priced vehicle, and it has been produced for over 70 years.
  2. The F150 has been the best-selling vehicle in Canada for over 50 years and the best-selling pickup truck in the US since 1977.
  3. The F150 can last up to 300,000 miles or more if it undergoes regular maintenance, and there are already some 10th-generation models with 400,000 miles.
  4. The F150 is a body-on-frame construction, so as long as the frame is in decent condition, it will continue to run without problems despite rust, dirt, and dents.
  5. F150’s insurance cost is marginally cheaper than the other models in the full-sized truck segment, and it doesn’t depreciate as quickly as some other trucks and passenger cars.
  6. Regular maintenance cost for F150 increases over the years as the mileage goes up, and maintenance includes regular oil and filter changes, air and fuel filters, wheel bearings, ball joints, spark plugs, tire rotation, and expensive replacements like the timing belt/chain, serpentine belt, water pump, alternator, battery, and suspension.
  7. The F150 service and repairs are not expensive when everything is considered, and the F150 can last beyond 250,000 miles, but beyond 400,000 miles might require significant repairs.
  8. F150s from 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2019, and 2020 have the least recalls.
  9. The mileage on a truck is different from a passenger car, and F150s 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.
  10. Toyota Tundra, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Tacoma are the longest-lasting trucks in the light-duty pickup truck segment, but the F-150 is also a durable vehicle.

Ford F150 Life Expectancy Miles: In Conclusion…

Ford F150 Life Expectancy Miles

In this article, we have covered a lot when it comes to the F-150 and its durability. We wrote about the history of the F-150 and we discussed three generations of trucks.

We focused on these three generations because these trucks are most widely used today and the chance that you come across one of these F-150s is extremely big. So, it is useful for you to know what you can expect and what are the main issues with these trucks.

When getting one, make sure that it had gone through all the recalls and all the problems were sorted on time. This will guarantee your safety and the safety of your occupants.

Ford F150 Life Expectancy Miles: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you still have some lingering questions about Ford F150 life expectancy miles, our FAQs here might shed some light on them…

Ford F150 Ecoboost

The EcoBoost engines finally came into the F-150 line-up for the 13th generation of the F-150. It was first introduced back in 2015, and the first F-150s to come with EcoBoost engines had two separate trims. One with 325hp, and the other with 275hp. The special Raptor models also had EcoBoost engines but ramped up to 450hp. Since then, the F-150 line-up has always featured at least one EcoBoost motor, designed as a good compromise between performance, pulling power, and fuel efficiency. In general, these turbo 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engines are fairly reliable. Although, some of them have been known to suffer issues along the way. Specifically, they can feature carbon build-ups in the intake valves, stretched timing chains, as well as other spark plug and ignition-related troubles.

5.4 Triton

One of the most popular engines ever fitted to the F-150 series of trucks is the famed 5.4 Triton. A meaty naturally-aspirated V8, it was loved for its performance, and it was also a comparatively robust motor. Nevertheless, it did suffer some issues across its lifespan between 1997 to 2007. In particular, the spark plugs have been known to blow out of the heads for the 2-valve engines. When you do get to replace those spark plugs, they could break off, as well. The ignition system wears out pretty quickly with these 5.4 Triton engines. Beyond that, the fuel pump driver module (FDM) is well-known to wear out pretty rapidly and fail. Moreover, 5.4 Tritons have suffered timing chain failures before, alongside a leaky oil pan gasket.

Best Years For Ford F150

In general, Ford’s iconic F-150 is well-regarded as one of the most robust and reliable trucks out there. While not invulnerable to reliability issues and maintenance quirks like any other car, it’s typically more reliable than most others. Focusing on the later iterations, 2001 and 2003 were some of the most reliable years for the 10th-gen F-150. This is especially so with the 2003 cars, which were a much more refined version of this era. The 2014 model year (12th-gen) was also a pretty good year for the F-150. By now, it featured an upgraded engine and a lot of new tech, refining the F-150’s reliability even further. The same could be said for the 2018 model year, which saw Ford continually tweak the F-150. This particular year saw a huge refresh, bringing in more trims, engine choices, and lots of tech, and is an overall improvement from the others.

10 Comments


  1. Leon Goff

    Traded my f -150 3.5 off at 293000 just put a starter an water pump on it my boss bought it back from the dealership good trk

    1. Harry Gibson
      Zack Norman

      Thanks for the comment, Leon Goff!

      Pretty neat to hear how well your F-150’s been running, especially at such a relatively high mileage. Here’s hoping it’ll keep running for years and years to come!

  2. Isaac

    Your info is incorrect, currently as a while ford is ranked in 5th place for reliability, being beat out by Chevy, Toyota and Honda. Also you have lied about the sales numbers! The 900,000 sales is for “f series” not f150, in fact ford will not release sales numbers for just f150, they group it all into f series, that is f150,f250,f350,f450 and so on.
    Please get your facts strait.

    1. Harry Gibson
      Zack Norman

      Thanks for the comment, Isaac!

      Nice spotting, there! Yeah, it’s our mistake (and we’ve since updated our content to reflect that), as we’ve re-confirmed again that Ford does indeed release sales figures (quoted there as 900,000 units) as a whole for the entire F-Series lineup. Most of that is attributed to the F-150, but as you say, it also includes the other F-Series trucks, too.

  3. John Keeling

    I have a 2003 f150 with 243000 miles and it runs great, ford is top

    1. Harry Gibson
      Zack Norman

      Thanks for the comment, John Keeling!

      Glad to hear that you’ve really been enjoying cranking out all those miles. Goes to show how sturdy the F-150 has become!

  4. Matt Dill

    Hello, I have a 2012 XLT supercrew 5.0 liter 4wd with 299,000 miles. It’s been a very reliable truck indeed. It started down shifting lately and going into limp mode. I read the article, any suggestions? Thanks.

    1. Harry Gibson

      Hi Matt, hopefully, this isn’t to bad for you. I would get the codes read on the car first off and see if there is an indication of why this is happening.

  5. Mike

    Hi Thinking Of Buying a 2007 Harley Davidson With A 5.4 Litre Engine With
    200,000 Kms Runs Smooth No Blow By How Reliable Are These Engine Thanks

    1. Harry Gibson

      Hi Mike, based on the information you provided, it seems like the 2007 Harley Davidson with a 5.4-liter engine you’re considering has already covered a considerable distance of 200,000 kilometers. While mileage alone isn’t the only factor to determine an engine’s reliability, it’s generally advisable to consider other aspects as well.

      The 5.4-liter engine in the 2007 Harley Davidson is known for its durability and performance. However, it’s important to note that the longevity of any engine depends on various factors such as maintenance history, driving conditions, and how well it has been taken care of over the years.

      If the engine runs smoothly with no blow-by, it’s definitely a positive sign. It suggests that the engine has been well-maintained and taken care of properly. However, it would be prudent to have a qualified mechanic inspect the vehicle thoroughly before making a purchasing decision. They can assess the overall condition of the engine, identify any potential issues or signs of wear and tear, and provide a more accurate assessment of its reliability.

      Additionally, it’s worth considering the overall condition of the vehicle, including its maintenance records and any potential repairs or replacements that may be required in the near future. This will help you make a more informed decision on the reliability and longevity of the vehicle as a whole.

      Ultimately, it’s always recommended to gather as much information as possible and have a professional inspection done before making a purchase. This will help ensure that you’re making a well-informed decision and can potentially save you from any unexpected expenses down the road.