25 Best & Worst Ford F-150 Years (With Facts & Stats)

The Ford F-150 is Americas best selling vehicle and when you think “pickup truck” it’s probably the one that comes to mind.

Known for its wide range of trims, nicely-tailored cabin and myriad powertrains, it is arguably the best full-size pickup you can buy.

JD Power has provided the Ford F-150 with above-average ratings. In 2022, this vehicle received a consumer score of 79 out of 100, with great individual ratings for “driving experience” and “resale,” obtaining 82 and 83 (out of 100), respectively.

Keep reading to find out more about the best and worst yeats of this iconic truck...

Here’s The Short Answer To What The Best And Worst Years For The Ford F-150 Are:

The best Ford F-150 models years are 2019 – 2023, 2017, 2006 – 2009, 2003, and 1996. The worst model years of the Ford F-150 are 2018, 2010 – 2016, 2004 – 2005, and 1997 – 2002. This is based on reported problems, consumer feedback and ratings from major automotive review sites.

What Are The Best Years For The Ford F-150?

Ford has produced a lot of great F-150s in the model’s long lifespan.

Listed below are those that deserve to be viewed as the best of the best.

2022 & 2023 Ford F-150

The 2022 and 2023 Ford F-150 are great candidates if you are looking for all the latest bells and whistles. The vehicle’s updated interior and entertainment features make for a fantastic full-size pickup truck.

The 2022 Ford F-150 secured a 4.7 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Over at JD Power, it was granted a score of 79 out of 100. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.5 out of 5.0.

Car and Driver gave both of these models a 9/10 score, and the 2022 model earned the “Editors Choice” award.

Edmunds review:

“Coming from a 2014 Tacoma, this was like stepping into a Starship! This vehicle has everything you could possibly want and the quality control is unbelievable! thought the 2.7 eco-boost might be a little short winded on this vehicle but it has guts plus! Just a pleasure to drive…”

2021 Ford F-150

The 2021 Ford F-150 may not have been designed significantly differently from its predecessors but its deluxe interior, varied trims/variants, and ever-reliable engine power make this one of the greatest picks.

The 2021 Ford F-150 secured a 3.8 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Over at JD Power, it was granted a score of 79 out of 100. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.5 out of 5.0 whilst Car and Driver gave it 9/10.

Edmunds review:

“I thoroughly considered the Ram 1500 and the Ford F-150, and I finally bought the Ford. There were several reasons for my choice, but I felt the Ford was more advanced in technology than the Ram. I have been a Chrysler advocate for many years, but I thought the Ford was more advanced…”

2020 Ford F-150

The 2020 Ford F-150 offers the features that the iconic vehicle line is known for – high towing capacity, a great balance between comfort and power, and multiple engine options although it was relatively unchanged compared to previous years.

The 2020 Ford F-150 secured a 4.1 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Over at JD Power, it was granted a score of 83 out of 100. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.6 out of 5.0 and Car and Driver awarded a near-perfect 9/10.

Edmunds review:

“Drives like a sedan, with smooth 10-speed transmission. 21 avg mpg over first 1000 miles. So far an all-good experience. Platinum 4dr 3.5L ( not 5.0 ). – 1 Year later / 20,000 miles. Trouble free. Have not seen the dealer except for 2 oil changes…”

2019 Ford F-150

The 2019 Ford F-150 is a great pick for those who are not looking for the latest specifications but would still like a full-size pickup truck with great off-road capability.

The 2019 Ford F-150 secured a 3.9 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Over at JD Power, it was granted a score of 83 out of 100. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.6 out of 5.0 and Car and Driver gave it a perfect score of 10/10 as well as the editor’s choice award.

Edmunds review:

“… Other than being gigantic compared to my Toyota, I love this thing. Great daily driver for commuting to work as well as making longer trips…”

2017 Ford F-150

The 2017 Ford F-150 may be at the tail-end of some of its warranty terms, but that should not take away from its greatness in terms of on-road and off-road performance, strong powertrain choices and innovative high-tech features.

The 2017 Ford F-150 secured a 4.2 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Over at JD Power, it was granted a score of 81 out of 100. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.6 out of 5.0 whilst Car and Driver gave it a perfect 10/10 and the editors choice award.

Edmunds review:

“Update: I now have 55,000 miles on the truck and still love it. Only regular maintenance has been required with zero repairs. I have upgraded the interior to Katzkin leather and really like it…”

2009 Ford F-150

The 2009 Ford F-150 is quite dated but its smooth and quiet ride, excellent handling, and various cab and bed configurations deem this version a good model to look for in the used vehicle market. 

The 2009 Ford F-150 secured a 4.7 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Over at JD Power, it was granted a score of 84 out of 100. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.5 out of 5.0.

Edmunds review:

“I purchased my truck with everything on it from the factory. It has sat outside for the past 6.5 years, and the paint has not faded or chipped…”

2008 Ford F-150

The 2008 Ford F-150 is considered by many to be reliable, and the scores across different reputable vehicle review sites confirm this. This full-size pickup truck is extremely capable, attractive, and comfortable. 

The 2008 Ford F-150 secured a 4.7 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Over at JD Power, it was granted a score of 83 out of 100. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.6 out of 5.0.

Edmunds review:

“The 4.2L has a timing chain… this saves you big money! The bottom line is the truck is great. I have 81,000 miles and have not had any mechanical problems. My truck has the 4.2L 6cyl engine. It’s true what expert reviewers say about it not being a truck you’ll burn out in…”

2007 Ford F-150

The 2007 Ford F-150 is another strong contender that makes a great work truck or commuter vehicle.

The 2007 Ford F-150 secured a 4.5 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Over at JD Power, it was granted a score of 81 out of 100. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.6 out of 5.0.

Edmunds review:

“Love this truck, fun to drive, looks professional bidding jobs for my tree service, yet fun to drive anywhere.”

2006 Ford F-150

The 2006 Ford F-150 is known to have excellent driving mechanics, practical features, multiple cab and bed configurations, and a relatively stylish interior. 

The 2006 Ford F-150 secured a 4.4 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.6 out of 5.0.

Edmunds review:

“Nice looking truck, very reliable and strong engine. Tows my boat effortlessly. Averages about 16mpg combined driving (14/19). Very, very low maintenance costs. But, like any other vehicle…do not skimp out on routine maintenance, use synthetic oils.”

2003 Ford F-150

The 2003 Ford F-150 is not as feature-rich as most of the model years on this list, but high review ratings and several good reviews ensure that whoever owns this model year will not regret it. 

The 2003 Ford F-150 secured a 4.7 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.7 out of 5.0.

Edmunds review:

“A Beauty of a truck. Gets stares from people that drive a $60,000 car. Roomy Up front, but not for grown ups in the back. Kids will be fine though.”

1996 Ford F-150

The 1996 Ford F-150 may be the oldest on this list, but age does not take away from its greatness. Consider this option if you have a good eye for spotting quality vehicles in the used vehicle market. 

The 1996 Ford F-150 secured a 4.4 out of 5.0 on Edmunds. Kelley Blue Book gave this model a score of 4.5 out of 5.0.

Edmunds review:

“I have owned this truck since new and it is my first ford truck. I owned a GMC before this one. I use it like a truck is supposed to be used and have no complaints. It pulls with the 5.0L and auto just fine. It is the best looking truck made PERIOD. Chevy & Dodge don’t come close to the styling.”

Consumer Scores For Best Ford F-150 Years

Below is a table that presents all the consumer ratings of the best Ford F-150 model years from reputable vehicle websites:

Related: Ford F-150: 8 Common Problems (Useful Solution Guide)

What Are The Worst Years For The Ford F-150?

The Ford F-150 has also been on the receiving end of several complaints and issues due to its myriad problems or defects.

The models listed below are the versions of the vehicle that you should steer clear of.

2018 Ford F-150

The 2018 Ford F-150 had hundreds of problems. According to CarProblemZoo.com, the biggest issues revolved around the vehicle’s transmission.

The 2018 F-150 had a total of 126 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 954 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2018 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Transmission jumping gears
• Sluggish shifting
• Shifting hard
• Weak suspension
• Brake pedal soft

“Truck shifts gears and goes out of gear when driving at highway speeds. In some cases it loses power altogether when it slips out of gear. It also does this when stopped and trying to accelerate at an intersection.”

2016 Ford F-150

The 2016 Ford F-150 stood out, but in a very bad way. There were a lot of safety-related concerns for this version, but the most frequent issue was related to the service brakes. 

The 2016 F-150 had a total of 300 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 1,349 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2016 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Brake failure
• Brakes not working properly
• Grinding noise

“Brake fluid leak. Brakes quit working immediately while on the freeway causing us to zig-zag to avoid crashing with other vehicles!”

2015 Ford F-150

The 2015 Ford F-150, much like its successor, had lots of issues surrounding its service brakes – essentially they would fail whilst driving. Another prominent issue was carbon monoxide leaking into the cabin.

The 2015 F-150 had a total of 343 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 1,391 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2015 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Hard downshift
• Brake failure
• Limp mode
• Turbo lines and vacuum pump leaking coolant

“Warped exhaust manifolds due to broken bolts. Both sides. Resulting in bad emissions and the possibility of carbon monoxide entering the cabin and poisoning passengers.”

2014 Ford F-150

The 2014 Ford F-150 had some of the common concerns of both its predecessors and successors but was most affected by brake failure and the transmission suddenly downshifting.

The 2014 F-150 had a total of 160 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 1,171 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2014 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Transmission issues
• Engine loses power
• Window shattered
• Brake failure

“While traveling at 60mph the transmission downshifts to 1st gear causing the rear end to lock up and I skidded into the oncoming traffic lane. Luckily I didn’t hit anyone. Transmission also locks into 5th or 3rd gear at a stop and will not shift out. Unpredictable at best, very dangerous.”

2013 Ford F-150

The 2013 Ford F-150 had thousands of problems over at CarProblemZoo.com, with powertrain concerns in the lead – owners report the transmission suddenly downshifts when driving.

The 2013 F-150 had a total of 413 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 2,773 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2013 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Transmission issues
• Power steering failed
• Erratic shifting
• Brake failure

“Transmission suddenly downshifts to first gear without warning, and the speedometer goes to zero.”

2012 Ford F-150

The 2012 Ford F-150 had approximately an equal amount of problems between the powertrain and engine, with around 450 reports each on CarProblemZoo.com.

The 2012 F-150 had a total of 201 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 2,004 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2012 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Transmission issues
• Truck downshifts whilst driving
• Loss of power while driving – goes into limp mode
• Power steering goes out
• Rear window shattered while driving

2011 Ford F-150

The 2011 Ford F-150 had a lot of engine problems according to CarComplaints.com, but a peculiar issue that happened to plenty of owners was the rear window being shattered, owing to its lack of integrity. Cost to fix this specific issue was estimated at $600.

The 2011 F-150 had a total of 309 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 2,490 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2011 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Rear window shattered
• Downshifts into 1st whilst driving
• Electric power assist not working properly
• Steering wheel locks up

“Only 98,000 miles on this very well maintained truck. No engine issue, no issues at all, and as I accelerated to pass a slow-moving vehicle, which means my turbos kicked in, my engine blew up. There was a clunk and then nothing. There is actually a hole in my engine block. This never should have happened. This engine is not built to withstand the turbos. I am aware of this happening to 4 other people with the exact same EcoBoost motor.”

2010 Ford F-150

“Beware of the clunker,” says CarComplaints.com for this model. Aside from the peculiar windshield and window smashing issues of this iteration, the bigger and more dangerous problem is inconsistent shifting which can occur as early as 10,000 miles (on average).

The 2010 F-150 had a total of 388 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 1,008 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2010 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Rear window shattered
• Inconsistent shifting at times
• Water leaks into interior

“Same problem everyone else has. Hard shifting while hot or cold. While coasting then to the gas pedal there is a bang when it shifts into gear. Downshifting while the cruise control is on is awful. Been to the dealership twice with no help. Get worse mpg as well now.”

2005 Ford F-150

Yet another recipient of the dishonorable “clunker” badge, the 2005 F-150 has amassed several problems, most of which happened before the 100,000-mile mark, according to reports and statistics. There were a lot of problems with the power windows failing on this model.

The 2005 F-150 had a total of 663 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 1,210 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2005 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Loud ticking/knocking noise from motor
• Transmission failure
• Power window regulator failure

“While driving at night on a mountain road in a snowstorm the driver’s side window suddenly came crashing down. Scared the hell out of me as I thought someone was shooting at my truck. Almost ran off the road. I had not rolled the window up or down in a few days.”

2004 Ford F-150

“Avoid like the plague,” says CarComplaints.com. This model is one of the very rare models that has gathered more than a thousand complaints on both CarComplaints.com and CarProblemZoo.com.

Hundreds of owners complained about the windows on these models – the windows would just drop like a brick into the door due to faulty regulators.

The 2004 F-150 had a total of 1,169 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 2,129 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2004 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Window does not roll up
• Engine failure
• Engine knocking

2002 Ford F-150

The 2002 Ford F-150 was plagued by serious engine issues, with owners complaining of the truck constantly shutting down whilst driving and spark plugs exploding out the motor.

The 2002 F-150 had a total of 166 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 851 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2002 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Spark plugs blown out of motor
• Loud popping from engine
• Electronics short due to leaking window

“Driving home from the river towing my boat a spark plug blew out of the engine with no warning leaving me stranded in the middle of the desert.”

2001 Ford F-150

Much like the 2002 version, the 2001 Ford F-150 also had several issues with the engine. This was also compounded by frequent issues of vehicle speed control and electrical system components. 

The 2001 F-150 had a total of 143 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 1,290 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2001 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Transmission failure
• Engine spits out the spark plugs
• Bed and interior door rust

2000 Ford F-150

The 2000 Ford F-150 had a handful of issues, but CarProblemZoo.com reported the leading issues as the following: electrical system issues, vehicle speed control problems, engine (and engine cooling) concerns, and gasoline fuel system problems.

The 2000 F-150 had a total of 66 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 1,108 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 2000 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Engine blows spark plugs
• Won’t drive in reverse
• Leaked on electrical components creating short

1999 Ford F-150

The 1999 Ford F-150 shared most of the issues of the other model years on this list, but a unique problem that it had was heater core failure, which happened at approximately 100,000 miles for some owners. The cost to fix was identified to be $1,000 (on average). 

The 1999 F-150 had a total of 90 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 1,073 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 1999 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Spark plug blown out of head 
• Heater core failure
• Engine head gasket oil leak

1998 Ford F-150

The 1998 Ford F-150 had so many problems, but the most problematic of which was the possibility of engine fire, which happened to some owners at around the 90,000-mile mark. The cost to fix this issue was a staggering $13,000, which is almost the same price as decent used vehicles.

The 1998 F-150 had a total of 54 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 1,405 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 1998 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Engine seized
• Will not shift out of first gear 
• Engine fire

1997 Ford F-150

The 1997 Ford F-150 might not have as many complaints on CarComplaints.com, but CarProblemZoo presented over 2,700 problems reported, with the most prevalent issues being engine (and engine cooling) issues, tire problems, and structural concerns. 

The 1997 F-150 had a total of 53 complaints at CarComplaints.com and 2,784 problems at CarProblemZoo.com.

The main problems of the 1997 Ford F-150 are the following:

• Transmission failure
• Engine failure
• Spark plugs fly out of engine
• Engine and engine cooling problems
• Powertrain issues
• Service brakes problems
• Electrical system concerns
• Visibility issues

Related: How Long Do Ford F-150 Last? (Solved & Explained)

What Years Have The Most Complaints?

There are several Ford F-150 model years, both old and new, that have received numerous complaints through the years. Listed below are complaints and problems listed for each model year: 

What Problems Do Ford F-150s Have?

Based on the information we have gathered online, here are the most common issues that you may encounter with a Ford F-150:

• Shifting hard
• Downshifts whilst driving
• Loss of power while driving
• Window does not roll up

What Are The Best Alternatives To The Ford F-150?

The Ford F-150 is one of the best options in the full-size pickup truck segment, ranking second overall with a score of 8.8 out of 10, beating the likes of the GMC Sierra 1500 (8.5), Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (8.2), and the Toyota Tundra (8.2).

However, there are also a lot of great alternatives…

Source: cars.usnews.com

Related: 21 Best & Worst Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Years (Explained

References

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/ford/f-150

https://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/F-150/

https://www.carproblemzoo.com/ford/f-150/

https://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/

https://www.kbb.com/ford/f150/

https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2021/ford/f-150