I wanted more up-to-date car reliability information that included actual repair rates. So in late 2005 I started getting people together to make this possible. TrueDelta now updates actual repair frequencies, not just dots, four times a year, to track cars and trucks closely as they age.

We've had very good participation by F-150 owners, with nearly 500 signed up. Most of these are for the 2004+ trucks, though. More participants needed to fully cover the 1997-2003 trucks.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, participants receive full access to all results, not just those for the F-150, for free. I'll share results in this thread after each update.


For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Car reliability research

 

We've updated the results for the F-150 to include owner experiences through December 31, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 52

2001: 61

Both are better than average, based on small sample sizes.

Everyone who has been helping, thank you, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

Ford F-150 reliability comparisons

 

Signed up

 

Thanks, I appreciate it.

To provide an additional benefit, I recently enhanced the related repair history survey so that it can (optionally) be used as a personal car maintenance record for vehicles 2000 MY and newer.

As always, more participants would be helpful. Updated Car Reliability Survey results in May.

Car reliability research

 

We've updated the results for the F-150 to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 46

2001: 56

Both better than average but based on small sample sizes.

Everyone who has been helping, thank you, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

Ford F-150 reliability comparisons

 

In about a week we'll start previewing the next set of results to participants. The preview results will be updated as responses come in.

To help provide the best possible information on your year:

Car reliability research

 

Updated stats in just a day or two. More participants remain needed to fully include all model years.

 

Signed up. I think I'm the first 2002!

 

Sorry, not quite. As I write this there are 37. The problem with older model years is that the response rate tends to be lower--so one more will certainly help.

We've updated the results for the F-150 to include owner experiences through June 30, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 86, about average

2001: 49, better than average

Small sample sizes in both cases, which likely explains the substantial difference between these two results.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who had been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information:

Ford F-150 reliability comparisons

 

Updated reliability stats this month.

As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.

Car reliability research

 

We've updated the results for the F-150 to include owner experiences through September 30, 2010.

Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of next year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 82

2001: 69

2000: 60

The 2003 is about average. The others are all better than average.

Small sample sizes all of these years.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who had been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1995 on.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information:

Ford F-150 reliability ratings and comparisons

 

We've updated the results for the F-150 to include owner experiences through December 31, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of this year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 63

2001: 69

2000: 53

All are better than average.

Good sample size for the 2001, small sample sizes for the other years.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who had been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information:

Ford F-150 reliability ratings and comparisons

 

We've updated the results for the F-150 to include owner experiences through March 31, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 56

2001: 97

2000: 50

1998: 135

The 1998 is about average, the others are better than average.

Good sample size for only the 2001. Small sample sizes for the other years.

We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1995 on.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information:

Ford F-150 reliability ratings and comparisons

 

We've updated the results for the F-150 to include owner experiences through June 30, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 36, better than average

2002: 118, about average

2001: 107, about average

2000: 59, better than average

1999: 49, better than average

1997: 186, worse than average

Small and even very small sample sizes for all of these years.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who had been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1995 on.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information:

Ford F-150 reliability ratings and comparisons

 

We've updated the our reliability stats for the F-150 (on our redesigned site) to include owner experiences through September 30, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2003: 36, better than average

2002: 100, about average

2001: 103, about average

2000: 75, better than average

1999: 48, better than average

1997: 158, about average

Good sample size for the 2001, so that stat is the most precise. Small and even very small sample sizes for the other years.

Thank you, once again, to this forum and everyone who had been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1995 on.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information:

Ford F-150 reliability ratings and comparisons