Ok, here's my 31,000 mile report for my truck.

I'm almost out of warranty (36k coming up soon - I've had the truck since March 2004). I ordered my truck from the factory exactly how I wanted it. I picked it up at the dealer a few days after it arrived.

Problems over the course of the 31,000 miles I've traveled:
- Outside temp sensor replaced (was reading way too high)
- All four center caps on the wheels replaced (the plastic coating was peeling off and the Ford emblem fell off one)
- Clutch pack replaced in 3.73 LS rear end (was binding up too much on corners from a stop - plus it felt like I was riding the parking brake as it got worse - also had a slight burning smell after some trips to work)
- Annoying whistle from the front end - fixed myself with round foam from Home Depot. There's a TSB for this loud whistle. Whistle comes from around the fog lights...air blows between lights and bumper creating the whistle.
- Brake pads replaced - This one was on me. I wanted to get rid of the dust and towards the end, I had a REALLY loud squeaking. I replaced with $45 ceramic pads from Advance Auto Parts. Work great! No dust and stop very well.
- Had the butyl pad on the bed removed under the 'almost' recall. They did a fine job.

Dealer issues:
NONE! I bought my truck in Rochester NY and have it serviced in Cherry Grove OH near where I live and have had zero problems with the dealer wanting to take care of me. They've been great.

Quality issues:
None really. I expect mass produced complex mechanical things to have some problems now and then, but you always hope you get by with minor stuff...and I believe I did.

What I'm happy about:
The ride is still awesome in my Lariat! As smooth and quiet as the day I bought it. I couldn't be happier really. MUCH quieter and MUCH better quality interior than my wife's 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix. That's no joke. My interior is at least twice as good as her leather trimmer interior. Good job Ford. It's the little things that make a difference and I sure notice them all.

I'm still happy I picked the two-tone paint. I heard people complain that you might get paint chips, but I have very few. I've been to Gatlinburg TN and back once. Been to Pittsburgh and back once. Been back and forth to work every day (30 miles one way - 65% highway). Been lots of places and many situations. Still hardly any chips to speak of @ 31,000 miles.

I'm still happy with my very light colored tan leather interior! I love this stuff. I have no issues whatsoever about the seats cracking, peeling, getting blue jean stains, etc. They look awesome and I hardly ever clean them anymore. Of course, I don't abuse them either. I don't slide off the seat when getting in or out - just a tiny bit. I don't put crap in my rear pockets that would damage the seat. I don't dump coffee on them, etc. They are holding up great for all the seat time I have.

It still shines like a new dime in a goat's *** too! I was just noticing how shiny and awesome it looked today when I had to go to the GMC/Pontiac dealer to check on my wife's new Grand Prix. (It had a dead battery @ 350 miles - because the dang thing sat on the lot for 10 months before we bought it! - replaced and fine now)

I love that V8 growling under the hood when I stomp on the peddle!

What I would like to improve:
Well, like most of you, I would love more acceleration. But I can live with it...it's a truck! But some day I plan on buying a tuner and running the 87 octane tune.

Other than that, I honestly can think of nothing else that's wrong with the truck or needs to be improved. It's been very high quality in my opinion.

I guess that's it. I'll write more if I remember something later. But until then...photos from today....

 

 

im glad these trucks are holding up nicely. its good to hear its having no problems in the long run. nice truck btw

 

"It still shinies like a niew dime in a goats ***"...
Well written, love it
Glad your F-150 is holding up.
Ive got an early build F-150 (7/03), had some issues like you, got them taken care of and now im a happy camper too.

 

Gosh, I have had my truck a little over 8 months and only about 5,000 miles on it. No problems whatsoever and I hope it looks as good as yours does when I hit the 30,000 mile mark.

Glad you're still enjoying the ride! I know that I am

Scott

 

For some reason, many people think high miles equals a crappy looking car. That doesn't have to be the case. I don't baby it, but I do try to be a little careful where I park, etc. If you don't beat a car like a rental mule, most of the time they can look good well into the future.

I figured I finally got what I wanted to drive and I'll be damned if I'm going to let the thing sit in the driveway and rot...LOL I'm gonna drive the heck out of it. It's my everyday ride to work. Also used for vacations and misc travel. Regular oil changes and proper mainenace will keep me going through the 250,000 miles I need to get out of it. I sold a 1990 Beretta in 2001 that had 225,000 miles on it and it was still in pretty good shape - looks and mechanically.

 

A guy I used to work with at a Porsche dealer (cleaning cars) used to say that. I liked it, so I still use it today...hehe Man that guy could work wonders on cars.

 

Great honest post Lariat. Can't wait for your 60,000 mile review.

 

That doesn't have to be the case. I don't baby it, but I do try to be a little careful where I park, etc. If you don't beat a car like a rental mule, most of the time they can look good well into the future.


Exactly. My 2001 F150 looks and runs just as good as the day I brought it home from the dealer. I've done all the regular maintenance and kept it waxed all year. Especially during extreme temps. It's only got 54,000 miles on the odometer. I'm gonna hate trading her in on a new one, but I should get over her real fast when I put some miles one my new baby.

 

Awesome .. I hope my report at that stage is that good, thing is
at the rate I drive that won't be for another two years or so ..
I bought my rig in May '04 ( april ' 04 build ) and only have 8200 miles on it
thus far ...

 

Good lord! Sounds like you drive about as much as my wife's grandma. My miles come from going to work for the most part.

 

Got 41000 on mine. Only problem was had to replace clutch pack. Wished it got better mileage averaging 11.8 right now, but that's just a Ford thing. I knew it wouldn't do as good on gas as Chevy but wouldn't be in the shop all the time either, good trade off..........

 

I also just hit 31,000. My truck is still rock solid except for a few problems.

The Bad:

- Reverse sensiing system quit working several months ago. I need to get it fixed already, but I've just been too busy with work to give it up.

- I often get a clunking noise or two from the rear on take off. Sounds like it could be the diff, but I'm not totally sure.

- My windows are a little lazy going up. Down is OK. Also, he light on the "up" part of the drivers window switch is out. Weird...

- My power rear slider works sometimes and when I really need to open it, it doesn't - The dreaded intermittent (and undetectable) problem.

- Still need to get the d@mn butyl pad thing taken off.

The Good:

- My tan leather is holding up really well too. Much better than my last two Lariats ('99 & '01)

- My gas mileage has recently magically increased pretty dramatically. I went from low 13's to almost 15 mpg in the same type of mixed driving. Maybe she's breakin' in, maybe I'm just driving more sanely. Probably been lightfootin' it with these rediculous gas prices.

- My paint still shines too, lariatf150. However I haven't had a good close up look at goat's *** to make a comparison with yours!

 

Yup, Ford did a really good job screwing my '05 XLT Scab together. It's really tight, and good to know it should stay that way as the miles roll by.

Like others, I plan on driving mine! It's no fun to just look at it (ok, it is a little) but you gotta get out and drive it to really have fun.