Simple question for all long time mullite year F150 owners. Between F150, Tundra RS, GMC/GM Sierra 1500 and Ram 1500 is one really any more reliable than the other?
Been researching trucks for two years and have found all have TSBS's in the 100's GM/GMC 1K+ TSBS's factory recalls in the mid to high single to low double digits.
Been reading about F150's IWE 4X4 issues that have persisted for years. Consumer Reports didn't give a single 2021 full sized truck a buy rating.

Seams all have a a distinguished list of issues, but over all I found F150 to have on average fewer or no more factory recalls than GM/GMC and Ram and fewer average TABS's than GM/GMC and Ram.

So is it as a friend of mine so often says "When it comes to buying one of todays full sized pick ups yous pay the price roll the dice hope for da best and take your chances"

 

I've had my '07 from brand new. It's a great truck. However, comparing yesteryears trucks with new trucks is difficult. The biggest difference between mine and the new trucks is the amount of electronics. Although, some structural design can make a difference as in certain parts wearing out quicker. Heck, even what day of the week the truck is made can make a difference.

I've driven a lot of newer vehicles, and for some reason I don't like the electronics and gizmos. I find it very distracting.

 

I’ve owned many GM products and went to buy another in 09. This time a new one. Long story short I was unimpressed with the test drive of the 2500 so I did some research and found the ford was a better truck on paper for less money. Bought the F150 because the towing numbers were plenty high for me. Have had the truck ever since. 150,000 miles, most of which was towing a 10,000 lb travel trailer. I’ve had to replace the exhaust manifolds 3 times until I just threw some headers on it. No longer a problem. Also had to replace all A/C components under the hood at about 140,000 (was moving to Guam so this was important). Still a great truck. Has some valve noise but it’s old.

i don’t know if this helps as it’s older than what you seem to be looking at but mine has been a great truck. It has the 5.4L Triton which is known to have a slew of issues but I’ve taken good care of it while working it’s tail off and in return it’s taken good care of me.

 

The only trucks I've owned for any length of time are Fords.
94 4x4 bought used with 35k miles. Ran it up to 92k with only one repair, a u-joint.
2000 5.4L 4x4 bought new. Ran it up to 105k miles with only one repair, a right rear axle seal and the traction lock was popping on corners. A new seal and new rear gear oil cured the issues.
2002 5.4L 4x4 bought used with 69k miles. Currently has 170k miles on it. The only repairs are both front bearing hubs, right rear axle bearing and axle, front lower ball joints, tie rods, sway bar end link bushings, and idler arm.

Very reliable trucks! I'm afraid of the new overly complex trucks with their super expensive repair costs.

 

I've owned nothing but Ford and Lincoln vehicles for the last 26 years.
Four of them were trucks (two quad cabs, one Lightning, and the 2020 XL I own now) and four SUVs (an Explorer Sport, Eddie Bauer Expedition, Lincoln MKX, and Nautilus).
I've had very few problems with any of them, so I find no reason to change.

 

My first truck was a ford F150 XL in 2005 it lasted almost 9 years with minimal repairs and if any it was under warrenty then in 2014 it blew the motor with 80K I traded in the dead one for a new XLT 2013 Ecoboost it has been flawless sans a leak in the coolant to the turbos but no failure, had that fixed, and at at about 100,000 Miles the tranny was acting up wanted to down shift "diagnosed in August 2022" .. leadframe needed to be changed Under Ford warrenty and now with 111,000 (still no parts) I traded it in for a New XLT FX4 Powerboost ..
But if any truck or car can drive 8-9 or 10 years with minimal problems I think its alright ..I have driven both Jimmys and chevey's and rams I still prefer the F series and I would have gotten the Diesel if I had the dough .. the only one I thing that comes close and intrigued me some was the Ram.
I will say if Ford had gotten the part in to fix the tranny I would still be driving it.. the best transportation I have had.

 

glc said the lead frame is on Amazon/eBay.

I just got a 2020 RAM EcoDiesel and I'm getting 28 mpg with it city/highway. On the highway no wind, I get 30-31 mpg doing 57 mph. Very happy with it so far. However I bought it with an extended warranty knowing there might be problems. In fact, the Bosch CP4 injection pump has issues across anything that uses it.

Although I do have backup vehicles, like my F150.

 

I've owned an F-150 or F-250 Super Duty since 1997. I never had any major problems with any of them. The least reliable was the 97, especially when it got around 100,000 miles on it. Even with regular maintenance, it seemed like something was always going out.
My current 2018 uses about 3 quarts of oil every 4,000 miles due to the known oil consumption issue.

 

If you are using 5w20, switch to 5w30.

 

I've had 4 F150's, and 2 Rangers, and have a 2023 F150 on order right now.

1983 Ranger standard cab 2.3 4 cylinder 4 speed manual, long bed (no problems, was wrecked 2 years into ownership)

1985 Ranger standard cab 2.3 4 cylinder 4 speed manual, long bed (virtually identical to my 1983), no problems, traded this truck in on the 1987 F150 because I needed more truck
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1987 F150 "Custom" (lower than XL) regular cab long bed, 300 6 cylinder 4 speed overdrive manual. Basic work truck with air conditioning. Good truck, the 4 speed overdrive manual transmission was a dream to drive, but was the mechanically weak point in the truck. I also had an odd fuel pump issue in it. The 87-88 EFI engines had 2 fuel pumps, a low pressure pump in the tank, and a high pressure pump on the frame rail, my truck had dual tanks too, so I had issues with the pumps fighting each other. I eventually had the truck retrofitted to remove the 2 pumps and replaced the in-tank pumps with high pressure pumps and a different tank switching valve. But I had to replace the transmission after about 7 years, a bearing somewhere in it went out. Put 380,000 miles on it. Also put a couple clutch master cylinders, a starter, alternator and heater core in it over the years.

1997 F150 XL regular cab long bed, 4.2 v6, 5 speed manual. Had no issues with the truck, put almost 300,000 miles on it. Had to replace a water pump later in the life, and an alternator.

2005 F150 XL regular cab, long bed, 4.2 v6, automatic. Had no real issues with the truck, put 280,000 miles on it. Had the rear differential and drive shaft assemblies and air conditioning compressor replaced under warranty, other than that, just minor stuff like an alternator. Also a year or so before I sold it, it developed a rear main seal leak, but I never fixed it. This was common on these engines with high mileage. Just had to put a quart of oil it it every once in a while cause it leaked.

2015 F150 XLT SuperCrew, 6.5' bed, 5.0. Had no issues with truck until summer of 2022, where it developed an odd electrical issue which was eventually traced to (of all things) the front steering rack and pinion. It took them several trips to diagnose this, but once they did, and replaced it under warranty (just before my extended warranty expired), it was fixed for good. Then 2 weeks ago, an 18 wheeler truck driver fell asleep, plowed into my truck, totalling it...

I have a 2023 F150 XLT SuperCrew 6.5' bed, 5.0 FX4 on order right now...

If my 2015 was not totalled, I would have kept it for a few more years, I loved that truck, it really did me well and was fun to drive, hauled and drove like a champ, and was great for hauling long distances. Truck probably also saved my life.

 

I came to my '21 Powerboost from an 09 Tundra Crewmax. It felt like the 5.7 6 speed would have gone forever. Gave me a great 13 years and 113k. Ran like new when sold with nothing but fluid changes.

In the end it probably needed a water pump which is a common leak issue for them but I just kept topping her off until trade in time. Cam tower leak probably would have happened at some point but not yet. No other detectable issues with it. But I just wanted something new and after next year with my wife turning 50 it would get very hard to do for a bit. So last year was the time. Otherwise probably was looking at trying to get out of a 17-18 year old truck that would no longer get me half what I paid new in 2009.

If they'd kept and improved that powertrain I'd own a Gen3 now. They went TT V6/10 speed and I felt like all bets were off. They are going through quality issues trying to get the new platform ironed out. All the manufacturers are closer to being in the same boat. Even GM and Ram holding onto their ancient V8s with 10s of millions of miles of field testing have their issues.

So now I look for features that wow me like propower on board and then buy extra coverage.