Thinking of new truck and considering Ford again

I’ve been a truck guy for a long time. Had a Silverado in 2003 with 5.3 that did me well then upgraded to a 2011 Silverado extended cab when kids came along. No issues with that 5.3. Drove that for years until the kids moved out and away so went back to sedans. Had some used sedans up until 2019 when I got a RAM 1500 classic with 5.7 hemi. That was the deal of the century as I got it for employee pricing, $4000 rebate and 0% financing!
That RAM has been pretty good outside usual maintenance until recently when my cruise control button stopped working then 2 weeks later it worked again. Check engine light comes on if I don’t change the oil at 3000 miles and last few weeks the sound on the radio just goes and won’t come back until I restart. It’s got close to 90,000 miles and so far no Hemi tick.

I think it’s time to start looking.

I prefer new as used cars and I don’t have a good track record. In my sedan years got a great deal on a loaded Ford Taurus AWD with 21k miles still under warranty. In 9 months and using the Ford warranty I had the tie rods replaced twice, the steering column replaced, all four tires replaced, and the transmission rebuilt. Wife said trade it in or I will. That’s when I went back to a truck.

I’m looking to retire in 2 years and plan to do some traveling and the missus always has some yard work or beach vacation planned that I need the space for. Plus I have a grandson just under 2 and I want as much metal around him as I can get when I get grandpa duty.

So started looking at new trucks.
I don’t tow anything so a basic engine is fine but I need heated seats for the winters and 4wd.

I get GM employee pricing but keep hearing and reading about the many issues Silverados are having. Stellantis quality seems to be heading downward and with the engine issues have no interest in Toyota.

My son’s best friend has worked at the local Ford dealer as a technician and said the most reliable truck right now seems to be the F150 with the 2.7 engine. He sees a lot of 5.0 and 3.5 in the shop but not so many 2.7. The dealership is a chain with many makes and models and he swaps stories with the other techs who are saying GM are having lots of issues along with Toyota Tundras.

I plan to test drive them all but I’m thinking of giving Ford another try.

Anyone drive a Ford 2.7 and have any insights?

I know the various car reviews and internet chatter can make issues overblown so willing to hear what folks have to say about the new Silverado and what engine is the most reliable for them?

or do I look at a RAM again? 10year 100k warranty is nice.

So far in rank I’m leaning
F150 2.7
RAM Hemi 5.7 again
Silverado ? engine

Sorry to rattle on but hoping for some feedback.

I’m a Ford guy. But GM has O% for 60 months now

Ford Has a Better Idea.
My 91 E350 460 injected gave me 12 MPG for 430,000 mils. Still runs, but got moldy when left out in the weather one winter.
My 96 Bronco 351 still runs smooth @ 289k
My 2006 E250 smooth as silk @ 220k
My next will be either an old Ford or Jeep wagon of some sort. Nothing new forever.

On my fourth Tundra, no problems. The 5.7 is bulletproof, unfortunately they don’t offer that one anymore

Toyota would be bestest. The engine issue was from not using correct machining fluid when making it.

I have no faith in ford or GM. or dodge.

I recently traded in my 2022 "refresh" Silverado on a 2026 Silverado (both were 1500 4x4 crew cabs). Engine-wise, they both had the 2.7L (?) 4 cylinder Turbomax engine. The 2022 had just over 100,000 miles and I was able to get a consistent 26-28 mpg on the highway. My only gripe with that truck was the telecommunications module. The original module failed at 13 months (21000 miles). I then had to replace it 3 more times, with each module dying after about 21000 miles. I felt the need to trade in the truck because I refused to pay $1300 (for the module) plus labor every 20000 miles!

I love my 2015 Ford F250 (6.2L V8, 4x4). It has 150K miles on it and I've had no trouble at all with it, except a pack rat ate up some wiring a few years ago. But nothing has ever broke. Engine still runs great and needs no oil between 5K mile oil changes. Nice and powerful for carrying a camper and pulling a boat. Transmission no problemo. Brakes no problemo. Front end still solid. I guess I'll keep it another 50K miles before trying to replace it (which I dread). I replaced the serpentine belt and alternator (it was still ok, but 150K miles old) last month.
I don't like the idea of a little turbo charged engine. Too complicated.

The Auto Loan Interest Deduction might be relevant…

i have a 2005 gmc 2500 with 385,000 ,been the best truck i have ever owned.Just general maintenance .Been looking at new 2500 and a similar equipped truck in 2026 is 72 k plus another 9k for tax and license.I want to pull the trigger but am really worried about all the smog on the new diesel trucks .
hopefully the truck lasts another 100k so i don't have to make a decision

Larry

For myself, if I didn't have to tow I'd be looking at a Tundra. Unfortunately, I will likely be going with a 2027 Sierra 1500 soon and put a module in it to turn off AFM/DFM. Don't want to, but that's the current plan. I don't feel like there are any good choices right now. Only bad and worse, lol.

I don’t know about Ford. They’ve had millions of recalls in the last year.

Not good.

I'm waiting for the big rebates and the 15 yr financing.....
And it's coming, all truck lots are full and stagnant....prices are tooooooo high for the average tire kicker.....
They ain't moving like they used to........Gas and economy are in charge.....could get worse before better....
lots of folks hanging on to current vehicles for as long as they can...

Not sure about the Tundra either.

IMO, a full size pickup should have a V8

Back in the day, late 90s early 00s I plowed snow. F350 or 250 with 5.8. Beat the daylights out of them but maintained them well. Oil pumps were usually done by 100k mi. Easy fix. I started doing it preemptively. For whatever reasons when I quit plowing I found myself driving GMC with one Chevy mixed in for over 20yrs. My last 2 GMCs were leased. 1500 with 5.3 motors. 2017 and 2020. The 17 wasn’t to bad but the 20 was junk. It was the blacked out elevation model. Sharp truck with tons of power. I brought it home on Tuesday. On Friday it left my driveway on a flatbed. For almost 3 yrs it was always something. Engine lights on. Paint peeling off nerf bars, electrical gremlins etc. I decided to go back to Ford. Got a 2022 F250 with 7.3. I LOVE it. I got about 48k on it and all I’ve done is OFL and tires. I’ll probably put brakes on it before winter. Just so I don’t have to do it in the cold.

In my early years I was a dedicated Chevy guy.. sedans, pickups, and Corvettes.
After my first Toyota pickup in 1986 I was hooked.
Today I'm on my 14 Toyota vehicle, including 4 pickups and 1 Lexus.

I bought a used 2025 F150 with the 3.5 Twin-Turbo earlier this year. I did a heap of research on just about every truck on the market, and I learned a lot.

1) Chevy 1500s. Their reliance on the AFM/DFM systems to squeeze a bit more CAFE mileage borders on the psychotic. They even use it on their 4-cylinder 2.7 turbo. That would be fine if the damned arrangement worked reliably. Maybe there is a way to disable it and leave the truck reliable, but that was a level of research beyond the pale. Oh, and I don't like the Chevy interiors, they reek of being built down to a price.

2) RAM 1500s. Their V8s have similar issues with AFM/DFM. The latest Hurricane twin-turbo is a beast of a motor, but there are reported issues with the engine wiring loom. RAMs in general have quite a rep for electrical problems. That the OP's truck is dying at 90k does not surprise me that much. It is sad though, as RAMs generally have nice interiors and ride well with their coil sprung rear end.

3) Ford F150. Ford's Coyote V8 also has AFM/DFM, but it seems less troublesome than the systems used by Stellantis and GM. Of their turbo V6s, the 2.7 has been bulletproof from the start. Nobody seems to be able to explain why, but don't knock it, eh? The 3.5 V6 has had issues, and you don't touch anything 2018 or older. The later versions have port and direct injection, so the inlet coking issue that often happens with DI engines is not a consideration.

The one I picked up is the 3.5 with 400 hp and it is a beast. Interior is nice and solid, and on 18" wheels it rides very well. It is very quiet, maybe quieter on the freeway than my last Jaguar XJ. I must stress the bit about the 18" wheels. Most tested in the motoring mags ride on 20" wheels as a minimum, and this leads to complaints about a flinty ride. I believe that 4WD 2.7 trucks are not common. The Ford dealers were overrun with STX trim models riding on 20" wheels. I wouldn't buy one. F150s with three across seating in the front are also hard to find.

4) Toyota Tundra. The old V8 was solid, but Toyota got themselves in a right old mess with the new 3.4 (?) turbo. Mega issues with machining swarf left in the oil galleries. I am no fan of the Tundra interior, it's very plasticky.

LVSteve said:

4) Toyota Tundra. The old V8 was solid, but Toyota got themselves in a right old mess with the new 3.4 (?) turbo. Mega issues with machining swarf left in the oil galleries. I am no fan of the Tundra interior, it's very plasticky.

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The new Tacoma's are the same way. When I had my Rav4 at the shop to fix a roof rail leak, they gave me a new SR5 Tacoma to drive till the parts came in.

A week or so ago I took my 2018 Tacoma in for an engine, transfer case and differential oil change. My windshield got hit by a rock or something, and they said they'd replace that too. My windshield has sensors in it for cruise control, and some kinda braking thing that would need to be reprogrammed.

They gave me a new Tacoma TRD Sport model to drive that time. It was nice, but still really cheap feeling inside.

I wouldn't be afraid to buy a new Tacoma or Tundra from them due to their lifetime drive train warranty and free oil changes for life. I just don't like the looks of them at all. My 2018 only has a 20 year 200K mile drive train warranty, and an oil change is around $80.

The TRD loaner truck they gave me.

All I know there is a reason they’re
clearing them out at 0% APR. They’re
not doing it out of the kindness of their
hearts.

Bearing construction, turbo unreli-
ability, self imploding transmissions,
electrical problems are what I have
read about. 2 acquaintances and I are
going to wait.

An email the other day wanted me to
reserve a 2027 and something about
2 new motors, yea right. Pass.

That’s just me. The best to you and
your endeavors.

Since I don’t need towing but for the occasional shopping spree for home repair/maintenance, I’d get a Ridgeline. Three friends have them with no complaints.

Last good Ford pickup was 2003 (in my humble opinion) Nowadays its luck of the draw to get a good one that will even last out of warranty! Never mind service in the future..

I see so many issues with newer vehicles it makes me glad I retired from passenger vehicle repair. (Only race cars nowadays)

My F100 I bought back in 1978 is 62 years old and still going strong...

I can't seem to get to an end point on trucks. My 2000 4.6 F150 was great until some moron rear end totaled it. Went with a 2016 Colorado V6 and that was working out well until some stoner in his grandpa's handy cap van (hand controls) rear ended me. Totaled. Felt bad for his grandpa, as it was totaled too. My current 4x4 2022 Colorado is performing well, but I hate the cheap stereo. I know, small potatoes but an irritant to me. I'm 78, and each trucks is supposed to be my last. We shall see. Best of luck in your search. BTW, I went to the mid-size because my wife likes to drive my truck, on occasion, and the newer full size is just too big for her. Besides, the Colorado does everything I need it to do,

I've owned three Silveradoes in my time, and all three suffered from the infamous Chevy Shudder. No one ever figured out how to fix any of the three. I finally gave up on Chevy and leased a 2026 Ford Maverick Hybrid--on a whim. It was the bait model, the one to draw you in so they can upgrade you to all the bells and whistles. Many come with AWD, but mine is FWD. My one concern was if my Murray lawn tractor would fit in the 4.5-foot bed, and it does, tailgate down, barely. Performance wise, I am impressed. On the highway it's mostly gas-powered. In normal mode in the city, it's about half battery/half gas. In Econ mode, it's more electric. "Sport" mode is pretty impressive for a 4 cylinder. It's got some get up and go! My 17-mile run to the favorite waterside restaurant will get 50+ MPH if I don't get on it. On the highway, 30-35 is about the norm.

All Mavericks are "crew cabs, roomy enough for five adults--as long as 1-2 are midgets. My base model has more electronics than I care for, mostly unused or turned off. The cargo bed is small, but I really don't haul much other than the lawn tractor about once a year and some 50-pound bags of feed corn to keep the ducks from revolting.

If you need a full-size, 15-foot-high truck, you need one. I no longer do. The best thing about is, and the primary reason I looked at one, you don't need a cherry picker to access the cab. Both the wife and I were getting really tired of having to "climb" into a pickup truck. That was an accident waiting to happen.

And one more note: The hybrid version weighs 2000 pounds more than the gas version. You can tell it in the braking.

I have the Maverick for my wife. She loves it. It's AWD and has the all gas engine w/towing upgrade.
I drive the Mustang GT. If they would put that 302 in the Maverick Ford would have something going on!
At almost 4'10", wife doesn't need any more of a higher vehicle to waddle into. The AWD works great, being that we live above the Mason-Dixon Line and need traction a few days a year. I think the all-gas Mav is 250 HP w/9speed auto. It won't pull a circus parade but it's all the truck we'll ever really going to need here. UHaul rents trucks every day if needed.
Edit to add:
Coincidentally, I've been really liking this Mustang since I bought it (used) last summer. Lately I've been thinking about a shiny new special kinda beasty Mustang in the +650 HP and that cool maroon color Ford uses. It's like I kicked the tires on a M686, now I'd like one brand new all for my own greedy, grubby mitts!

FYI - General Motors is replacing their current 5.3L and 6.2L gas motors. The 5.7L (350 cubic inches for those who use Freedom Units...) is coming back and the new big motor will be the 6.6L.

Here's a little YouTube video with some info:

As for quality, it is cyclic with every manufacturer. I've had excellent performance out of all three of the Duramax diesels I've owned over the years, even as I was reading about just how bad each of the versions I owned SHOULD have been. And just to show it's not only domestic makers, who would have thought that Toyota would have so many issues with their 3.6L twin turbo V6 as to require full engine replacements. As my dad used to tell me, "At some point you just have to take the plunge and hope for the best!"

I would not get a new truck. Don't get me wrong, I have a 2019 F-150 Ecoboost. I love it, BUT. Too much big brother is going into new vehicles these days. Not only that, most if not all auto manufactures these days have forgotten the golden rule, KISS. They are putting so much junk into the new vehicles these days that you are bound to have a big $$ down the road if anything breaks. I Googled how to change the fuel filter in my F150. I can't, it is internal to the tank. I could have the gas line cut and one put in but then what issues will I be asking for down the road.

Buy an old truck and fix it up. Simple to fix and you can have it done your way. If you get an 80's or 90's pickup and fix it up, you have have a great truck. Spend 10-15k on an older running truck. Spend another 50-60k to fix it up and bam, you will probably have spent less than a new truck from one of the big 3.

Whatever you end up buying just know that you're buying a computer not a car. Some of the tech, in my option, is very intrusive and Ford seems to lead the way with some dystopian tech that already exist but isnt yet programmed into cars. Theyre all doing it, some are a lot worse than others

I've had two Ford trucks (still have the 2021 and often wished I'd kept the 1990 F150 after getting the 05 Silverado). One Chevy truck.

I've had three Chevy SUVs. The Chevy truck and the big K5 Blazer were the kind that make you say, "The more you drive them the more they break down."

So far the 2021 F250 has only been to the dealer for one recall issue and the oil/filter changes and annual inspections they offered to do for free when I bought it. Hoping it stays that way.

ladder13 said:

Since I don’t need towing but for the occasional shopping spree for home repair/maintenance, I’d get a Ridgeline. Three friends have them with no complaints.

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I have a 2024 Ridgeline and it has been a solid vehicle. That said, it has a lot of big brother features that really piss me off from time to time. I also have a 2015 Ram 3500 diesel that has been rock solid.

I used to always buy new but it seems any new truck is a crap shoot. When I bought the Ram, I also looked at the equivalent Chevy. I liked the Duramax engine and Allison transmission a lot. I was later to learn the Chevy DEF system that year was crap. This situation could have easily been reversed and the Ram could have had issues. I would wait on a nice two year old truck that your mechanic had nice things to say about. This is another reason to be on great terms with your mechanic. These days, it's kind of like the relationship you want with your doctor.

No bias, but undoubtedly, the Dodge Ram is the best of all.
Best looking by far, best driving for sure and the best interior ergonomics.
They all have the same amount of power these days, but nothing beats the sound of a tuned Hemi.