At this point in the full-size, half-ton, pickup truck game, the Ford F-150 is the most recognizable and most-sold pickup truck in the United States. According to GoodCar BadCar, the F-150 has sold over 750,000 units in 2023. The most units it’s ever sold was in 2018, with over 909,000 units. It beats out every single pick-up truck every year, no matter if its full size, mid-size or compact. So what makes the F-150 so special?
Objectively, they’re just good trucks. Even the Lightning is outselling other EV trucks. They’re easy to use, they have a towing capacity of 12,700 pounds for the 2021 model year, and they’re ultra-capable on and off-road. Especially with the F-150 Raptor. F-150s are also known for their reliability. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most reliable and cheapest to fix F-150s, so you can make an informed decision if you plan on buying a used model.
2013 Ford F-150: $870
Model Year Details
| KBB Fair Market Value | $13,000 |
| J.D. Power Reliability Score | 82 |
| Highest Mileage Recorded | 384,000 |
The 2013 Ford F-150 was the second to last year of the 12th generation F-150s. There were a couple of powertrains to choose from and, for the first time ever, in an F-150, a twin-turbocharged non-diesel V6 engine. This was also the generation that introduced us to the SVT Raptor series, featuring all things off-road capable.
This model year makes the list because the KBB fair market value for one of these F-150s is $13,000, and it has a great reliability score of 82 out of 100 on J.D. Power. It might be the most expensive to maintain on our list, but it’s a good choice if you need cheap, reliable transportation that doubles as a can-do pickup truck.
2014 Ford F-150: $793
Model Year Details
| KBB Fair Market Value | $12,500 |
| J.D. Power Reliability Score | 84 |
| Highest Mileage Recorded | 326,800 |
Pictured above is the STX Supercrew. It had fog lamps, bigger wheels, a dark gray slotted grille, and side step bars. This generation’s F-150 came in a regular cab, a Supercab, or a Supercrew cab. The bed length on the Supercab extended to a whopping 8 feet in length, easily allowing you to put an innumerable amount of 2x4s in the bed.
Speaking of the bed, these F-150s have a maximum payload capacity of 3,100 pounds, which is an impressive number for any half-ton pickup. It’s made our list because it has the second-highest J.D. Power reliability score and a decent annual maintenance cost of just under $800. With a KBB Fair market value of $12,500 for an XLT, that’s a lot of truck for not a lot of money.
2019 Ford F-150: $788
Model Year Details
| KBB Fair Market Value | $24,294 |
| J.D. Power Reliability Score | 81 |
| Highest Mileage Recorded | 250,496 |
The 2019 Ford F-150 came out a year after the mid-generational refresh and a year before the full redesign of the current generation F-150. This F-150 comes in six different trim levels (not counting the Raptor) and is still America’s number-one-selling truck based on the fact that it comes in either a regular, extended, or crew cab with either a 5.5- or a 6.5-foot bed.
You can tell these things have been pushed to the limit because somebody has already put 250,000 miles plus on the 2019 model year. It has a good reliability rating of 81 and comes with driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control and a blind-spot monitoring system, all for a KBB market value of around $24,000.
2016 Ford F-150: $788
Model Year Details
| KBB Fair Market Value | $18,966 |
| J.D. Power Reliability Score | 82 |
| Highest Mileage Recorded | 365,045 |
The thirteenth generation F-150 had a three-slotted bar grille design, LED daytime running lights, and a more comprehensive interior than the outgoing generation, with a partially digital gauge cluster, a premium navigation system, and heated and ventilated front seats.
Not only were they more stylish and comfortable, but the F-150s of this generation were really capable too. The Raptor broke away from the SVT moniker and could barrel through any sand dune or wade through deep water. Customers knew it too, as the 2016 F-150 sold 850,000 plus units. It has a reliability score of 82 out of 100 and has an annual maintenance cost of $788.
2008 Ford F-150: $760
Model Year Details
| KBB Fair Market Value | $7,289 |
| J.D. Power Reliability Score | 83 |
| Highest Mileage Recorded | 305,000 |
The 2008 Ford F-150 is the last model year for the eleventh generation. It came with either a 4.6-liter or a 5.4-liter V8. The 4.6-liter V8 produced 248 horsepower while the 5.4-liter made a maximum output of 300 horsepower. Currently, these F-150s are dirt cheap with a KBB market value of $7,289.
They’re also incredibly reliable, with a J.D. Power reliability rating of 83 out of 100. That, coupled with the middle-of-the-road $760 annual maintenance costs, makes this a surefire bet. They’re not the most technologically advanced or the newest trucks, but the F-150 Harley-Davidson edition was an optional version, or if you wanted a luxurious F-150, you could opt for the Lincoln Mark LT.
2010 Ford F-150: $749
Model Year Details
| KBB Fair Market Value | $8,775 |
| J.D. Power Reliability Score | 83 |
| Highest Mileage Recorded | 352,393 |
The 2010 Ford F-150 is the second year of the twelfth-generation F-150. If you’re a fan of Ford, you’ll notice that the headlamps looked almost identical to the Ford Edge at the time. It was no longer offered with a manual transmission but was offered with the 5.0-liter Coyote engine.
This model year is extremely cheap to purchase used and is reasonable in terms of annual upkeep costs at $749 on average. J.D. Power also gave it one of the highest reliability ratings for an F-150, with 83 out of 100. Not to mention, somebody on Cars.com is selling one with close to 353,000 miles, which should tell you how long this generation can last with proper maintenance.
2015 Ford F-150: $701
Model Year Details
| KBB Fair Market Value | $17,068 |
| J.D. Power Reliability Score | 86 |
| Highest Mileage Recorded | 312,967 |
The 2015 model year for the Ford F-150 has the highest reliability score of any modern F-150, ever, according to J.D. Power’s reliability rating. With a score of 86 out of 100, that is nothing to shake a stick at. Neither is the annual maintenance cost of around $701.
These numbers are surprising as this was the very first year of the thirteenth generation, and usually, it takes a year or so to work out technical issues that a new generation may present. This F-150 presented the smaller, but still capable, EcoBoost 2.7-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder. It could still tow with the best of them with a tow rating of 8,500 pounds thanks to its solid frame and robust transmission.
2007 Ford F-150: $648
Model Year Details
| KBB Fair Market Value | $7,027 |
| J.D. Power Reliability Score | 81 |
| Highest Mileage Recorded | 269,000 |
The 2007 Ford F-150 was the second to last year for the eleventh generation. Not only is it cheaper to maintain, with an annual cost of $648, but it’s also cheaper to buy too, with the lowest Kelley Blue Book value on our list at $7,027.
You won’t find a ton of technology or luxury features, but what it lacks in features, it makes up for in brute power thanks to the 5.4-liter V8 and its 9,500-lb maximum towing capacity. The J.D. Power reliability score is nothing to balk at either, with 81 out of 100. It did, unfortunately, not have the best fuel economy, for the time, with a combined EPA rating of 16 MPG.
2017 Ford F-150: $647
Model Year Details
| KBB Fair Market Value | $20,750 |
| J.D. Power Reliability Score | 84 |
| Highest Mileage Recorded | 276,796 |
This is the year that Ford introduced the 10-speed automatic transmission with the EcoBoost powertrain, which boasts 25 MPG on the highway and 18 MPG in the city with the rear-wheel drive drivetrain.
Alongside the EcoBoost engine was a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 plus a 5.0-liter V8. It also has the second to the highest J.D. Power reliability rating with 84 out of 100. It may cost you a bit more to purchase one, but it has the second cheapest annual maintenance cost, at $647.
2018 Ford F-150: $398
Model Year Details
| KBB Fair Market Value | $22,135 |
| J.D. Power Reliability Score | 80 |
| Highest Mileage Recorded | 271,127 |
Topping our list is the mid-gen refreshed 2018 Ford F-150. The quintessential tri-bar grille design was dropped to two bars, or you could opt for the mesh grille. The 2018 model year F-150 also won IIHS’ Top Safety Pick award for a full-size pickup truck and benefits from features like emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keep assist.
Not only can you pick an XLT up for $22,135, but it will only cost you $398 annually to maintain. This generation has a maximum towing capacity of 8,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 3,270 pounds.
