Last updated: 2026-10-10
Ford F-150 Engine Problems
Ford F-150 engine complaints center on a cam phaser rattle at cold start on the 3.5L EcoBoost, followed by heavy oil use, mostly in 2018 and 2019 trucks.
- Owner complaints
- 729
- Share of all complaints
- 13%
- Crash / fire / injury reports
- 1 / 9 / 4
- Related recalls
- 7
F-150 engine complaints by model year
Engine complaints bunch up in the oldest years tracked. The 2018 model year leads with 363 complaints, and 2019 follows with 205. Both are dominated by cam phaser noise and oil consumption. The 2020 and 2021 years drop to 68 and 57, with oil use on the 5.0L V8 and 2.7L EcoBoost failures standing out. The 2022 through 2024 years have only a handful each. The 2025 and 2026 years show no complaints, but they are too new to judge. Newer trucks have simply had less time to collect filings, and several recalls already cover 2024 and 2025 engines.
- 2018363 · 6/10k sold
- 2019205 · 3.4/10k sold
- 202068 · 1.3/10k sold
- 202157 · 1.2/10k sold
- 202218 · 0.4/10k sold
- 20238 · 0.2/10k sold
- 202410 · 0.2/10k sold
- 20250 · 0/10k sold
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA under engine, engine and engine cooling. Newer model years have had less time to collect complaints.
What goes wrong
The most common complaint is a loud rattle or clank from the cam phasers for a few seconds after a cold start on the 3.5L EcoBoost. It usually quiets once the engine warms up, often with no warning light. Oil use is the second big pattern, and it shows up on the 5.0L V8 as well as the EcoBoost. Some trucks run quarts low between changes. Owners also report timing chain failure, stalling, and outright engine failure, including on the 2.7L EcoBoost. Many say the repair is costly and that Ford's coverage program left their truck out.
How serious this is depends on the symptom. A phaser rattle is more a warning than an emergency, but repeat failures and low oil can end with a destroyed engine. Some owners report power loss or a shutdown while driving, which is a hazard in traffic or when towing. Fire reports appear in several model years, with 2022 holding the most at three. One 2024 report describes the engine stuck at full throttle in a crash with two injuries. Several trucks were left undrivable.
Symptoms owners report
Cold-start cam phaser rattle
A rattle, clank, or knock from the front of the 3.5L EcoBoost for several seconds after a cold start. It fades as the engine warms. Some trucks also start hard. Owners say the noise returns after a first phaser replacement.
Heavy oil consumption
Oil disappears between changes with no visible leak. Owners cite a quart every 1,000 miles on some trucks and a dry dipstick at change time on others. This affects the 5.0L V8 and the 3.5L EcoBoost. Dealers sometimes call it normal.
Engine stalls or shuts off
The engine dies at red lights, while turning, or at speed, sometimes with an Auto StartStop message. Some trucks need several tries to restart. Dealers often find no codes. A loss of power while towing is a repeated worry.
Timing chain and internal failure
Reports include timing chain failure, rod bearing failure, lost compression on the 2.7L EcoBoost, and seized engines. Some trucks need a new engine. One 2018 truck failed at 772 miles and was not repaired.
Misfires and rough running
Owners describe misfires, idle shudder, hesitation or surging after a cold start, and a cracked fuel injector spraying gas. One Raptor owner blames a wait for a recall fix for misfires and possible engine replacement.
Smoke, burning smell, and fire
Several owners report a burning odor, smoke from under the hood, or flames, sometimes with no warning light. One truck burned to the frame while parked. Another fire was traced by Ford to a front differential oil leak.
When the problems start
Cam phaser failures are reported from about 35,000 miles up past 127,220 miles. One owner had phasers replaced at 29,000 miles and again at 78,000. Another paid for phasers at 52,000 miles. A timing chain failed at 101,000 miles. Some failures come very early, such as 772 miles on a 2018 and 4,000 miles on a 2021.
Repairs and recalls
Cam phaser replacement bills run from over $4,000 to $4,800 in owner reports. Owners say Ford's program 21N03 has expired or skipped their VIN. A timing chain job cost one owner $4,500. For oil use, dealers apply TSB 19-2365, a PCM reprogram and new dipstick, and owners say it did not cure the problem. Federal recall records list seven engine recalls. They cover 3.5L cylinder heads (2018), 2.7L and 3.0L intake valves (2021 to 2022), 3.5L oil cup plugs (2024 to 2025), connecting rods (2025), and block heater cables (2018 to 2019). Owners report back-ordered parts for some.
| Model years | Campaign | Problem |
|---|---|---|
| 2024, 2025 | 25V198000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a… |
| 2025 | 25V344000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Transit, F-150, and Explorer vehicles. The connecting rod and rod bearing components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. |
| 2024, 2025 | 24V851000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result… |
| 2021, 2022 | 24V635000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves… |
| 2018, 2019 | 19V278000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and… |
| 2018, 2019 | 18V894000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater.… |
| 2018 | 17V672000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L engines. The cylinder heads may have been machined without lubrication supply holes for the camshaft bearing journals. |
Checking a used F-150 for engine problems
- Start the engine cold and listen for a rattle or clank in the first several seconds. Walk away if the noise comes from the front of the engine.
- Pull the dipstick before the test drive. Ask when the oil was last changed and whether the owner adds oil between changes.
- Ask for service records showing cam phaser work, TSB 19-2365 work, or any engine replacement. Treat a repeat phaser repair as a warning.
- Run the VIN through federal recall records and confirm each open engine recall was completed, not just scheduled or waiting on parts.
- Drive through stops and slow turns. Watch for stalling, hesitation, rough idle, or an Auto StartStop message.
- Check the engine bay and ground under the truck for oil leaks, and look for blue exhaust smoke after startup.
7 engine recalls cover the Ford F-150. A VIN check shows whether the car you're looking at had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
Ford F-150 Engine Problems: common questions
- Which Ford F-150 years have the most engine problems?
- The 2018 model year has the most engine complaints at 363, then 2019 at 205. Both are mostly about cam phaser rattle and oil use. Complaints fall sharply from 2020 on. The 2025 and 2026 years have none, but they are too new to treat as safer.
- Is it safe to drive an F-150 with a cam phaser rattle?
- The data does not say. A rattle often quiets once warm, and many owners keep driving. One owner said Ford's customer care could not assure them the truck was safe. Repeat failures and engine damage are reported, so have a mechanic check it soon.
- Does a recall cover F-150 cam phaser problems?
- Not in the federal recall records listed here. Owners point to Ford's program 21N03 instead, and many say it has expired or excluded their VIN. The listed engine recalls cover cylinder heads, intake valves, oil cup plugs, connecting rods, and block heater cables.
- How much does an F-150 engine repair cost?
- Owners report cam phaser replacement from over $4,000 to $4,800 and a timing chain job at $4,500. Some trucks needed a new engine, and one owner estimated a catalytic converter repair at about $3,000. Independent repair-cost data puts the model's overall annual repair cost at $788.
- Why does my F-150 use so much oil?
- The data does not give a cause. Owners report oil use on the 5.0L V8 and 3.5L EcoBoost, from a quart every 1,000 miles to several quarts between changes. Dealers apply TSB 19-2365, but owners say it did not fix it in reported cases.
Other Ford F-150 problems
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