Ford F-150 Used Buying Guide: Known Issues

• Although the F-150 has its share of known issues, each issue is limited to certain model years.
• Common complaints about Ford’s bestselling trucks include everything from a faulty air conditioning part to a shaky EcoBoost engine.
• Check your used F-150 to make sure it doesn’t require any outstanding recall repairs!
• Visit Brighton Ford to test-drive only the highest-quality used trucks.

Although the F-150 certainly has a few known issues, most don’t apply to every single model year. After all, Ford has continued to improve its bestselling light-duty truck! To help you spot each problem, we’ve included the relevant F-150 model years.

3.5L EcoBoost Shakes or Misfires

Equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, the 2011-2013 Ford F-150 had trouble with their charge air cooler (CAC) system. The CAC cools the air coming from the turbocharger before sending it along to the engine. But these systems were collecting a little too much condensation and sending that to the engine as well. If moisture enters your F-150’s EcoBoost engine, it’ll let you know by shaking, shuddering, misfiring, or going into “limp home” mode. To fix the problem, your friendly local Ford dealer can install a new bottom air deflector on your CAC that’s designed to reduce moisture accumulation.

Failed Heat Door Actuator

As an F-150 racks up the miles, it’s not unusual for its HVAC blend door actuator to bite the dust. The door alternates between the hot and cold air intakes, helping you create your desired cabin temperature. If the door stops working, it may become stuck on either hot or cold air (or something in-between), no matter what the truck’s air conditioning controls are requesting. This has been a common problem for F-150 trucks from the 90s all the way through the 2017 model year. It may become an issue for later model years as they age — only time will tell.

Rodents Love the F-150’s Soy-Based Wire Coating

Officially, the case of the soy-based wire coating has yet to be solved. Some say that a soy-based wire coating — popular among automakers like Honda, Toyota, and Ford for being both cost-effective and environmentally friendly — attracts rats. Others say that rats have always loved vehicle wiring, and the problem has simply become more prevalent because modern trucks have more wires than ever before. If local rodents have easy access to your 13th-generation F-150 (2015-2020), consider upgrading your car insurance to cover a potential attack. (This issue isn’t covered by warranty.)

Flawed Single-Seal-Cup Brake Master Cylinder

For the 2013 model year, Ford started using a new brake master cylinder with a single-cup seal. It wasn’t a good fit, to say the least. Under pressure (in other words, whenever you hit the brakes), the part is known to roll in place and leak brake fluid. Ford knew about the problem — they even issued a recall for some 2013-2014 trucks — but continued using the faulty Hitachi step-bore brake master cylinder through the 2018 model year. If you’re thinking about a used F-150 from this era, consider purchasing an extended warranty.

Checking for recall repairs is an important part of the used buying experience. Visit the NHTSA website to look up your vehicle by VIN number. It’ll tell you if your truck has any outstanding recall repairs. Since so many safety issues are covered by complimentary recall services, this is a great way to verify that the previous owner was taking good care of their F-150.