It was a busy winter for the F-150. A road trip, several service visits, and over 3,800 miles of driving through a mostly wet, sometimes cold winter in the Mid-Atlantic. There was towing, hauling, commuting, and road-tripping. You’ll notice that the dates on this post’s title are 5 months instead of 3. There’s a reason for that – continue reading to find out why.
Stats:
Time Period: 12/21/2018 – 3/20/2019
Miles Driven: 3,880 / 34,746 (this update / total) (2,698 in previous update)
Average MPG: 16.5 mpg (reported by on-board computer)
Time Period: 3/21/2019 – 5/4/2019
Miles Driven: 1,352 / 36,098 (this update / total) (3,500 in previous update)
Average MPG: 17.4 mpg (reported by on-board computer)
Costs:
Maintenance Costs: $18.97
Repairs: $0.00
Total Cost (non-fuel): $18.97
Services Performed:
- 1/9/2019 – Fixed vibrations which caused headaches. Included rebalancing tires, replacing IWEs, vacuum check valve, checking vacuum system.
- 2/4/2019 – Vibration Analysis performed – no issues found. Truck continues vibrations. Performed TSB/Recall 18N03 – Freezing Door Latches.
- Replaced both key fob batteries. Yes, the F-150 key fob has 2 batteries, and they’re expensive! The process didn’t look easy, but at least the guy at the Parts counter was happy to replace them for me.
Summary:
The work done to rebuild the front differential fixed some of the vibrations I was experiencing, but then other things went bad. Ford uses a vacuum-operated system to engage and disengage the front wheel 4×4 hubs. This involves Integrated Wheel End (IWE) bearings/hubs. They are a common complaint of the F-150, and my truck was no better. They were replaced, and about 2 months later started making a grinding noise again. The other tick-tick noise in the front end (suspected front passenger brake) came back, too. The dealer was willing to order more parts, but I was unsure if this would permanently fix the issue. On the F-150 Forums, there are a number of owners who have repeated failures of this part, whether it be due to the actual IWEs, the vacuum lines, solenoid, or check valve. Ford does not seem to have a permanent fix for this issue, and the aftermarket sells IWEs that do not involve the problematic vacuum system – the IWEs are permanently engaged. This leads to lower fuel economy but no more issues. Along with this, in 4A while driving in the snow, the front end vibrated enough to be bothersome and I was worried that the front end wanted to implode.
Meanwhile, the truck piled on the miles, the rest of its drivetrain and features functioning properly. Commuting, driving in snow, and even a bit of towing when I bought my United Trailers XLMTV 7×14 enclosed trailer. I have to say, the F-150 handled the trailer like it wasn’t even back there, even in snow and wind on the highway. There was a touch of trailer sway, but the truck handled it beautifully and the 3.5-liter EcoBoost acted as if the trailer wasn’t even connected. To say I was impressed with the truck’s towing ability would be an understatement. Adaptive Cruise Control even functions when a trailer is attached, which takes some of the stress off of driving. Since I don’t tow much, this was a big help, freeing up my concentration for keeping the truck and wide trailer centered in my lane. The integrated trailer brake controller came in handy, applying the trailer’s own brakes, saving the truck’s brakes the extra strain.
The seemingly monthly visits to the dealer got too tiresome, however, and the local RAM dealer offered an attractive price on a new RAM 1500 Limited, so keep tuned to Road Reality for a review of the new truck I bought! Yes, this decades-long Ford owner has gone to RAM. While I could have stayed in the Ford family, the F-150 hasn’t been changed in any meaningful way save for a 2018 refresh, and the issues – namely the sub-par ventilated seats, freezing door latches, and 4wd components – haven’t been fixed. Meanwhile, the competition has stepped up their game in all regards – inside, outside, under the hood, amenities. Both GM and RAM released new trucks for the 2019 model year, but it was RAM who put out the more compelling truck for me. I’ll miss the beauty of the F-150 and its excellent capability, but certainly not the recurring issues that plagued it during my ownership. Let’s hope the RAM fairs better!
In the mean time, here’s a breakdown of what it cost to run my 2015 F-150 for 3 1/2 years and 36,000 miles:
Service Costs: $0.00
Maintenance Costs: $18.97
Repairs: $709.82
Add-Ons: $1,287.60
Total: $2,016.39
Fuel Costs: $6,324.86
Dated Notes:
- none
General Observations:
- none
by John Suit