Which is cheaper to maintain, the Ford F-150 or the Ford F-150?

Based on 5-year routine maintenance labor at a $150/hr indie shop rate, the Ford F-150 is cheaper to maintain — about $3,078 less over 60,000 miles. Parts cost is not included.

What's the labor difference between the 3.7L V6 and the 2.7L V6 EcoBoost?

Across 32 common maintenance jobs, hours vary by drivetrain and engine layout. See the side-by-side table on this page for each job's labor hours and estimated cost.

Are there any active recalls on the Ford F-150 or Ford F-150?

The Ford F-150 has 8 open NHTSA recalls. The Ford F-150 has 1 open recall. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.

2014 Ford F-150 vs 2026 Ford F-150 — Labor Times, Costs & Recalls

Specifications

Year

2014

2026

Engine

3.7L V6

2.7L V6 EcoBoost

Drivetrain

4WD

Transmission

automatic

Fuel

gas

Powertrain

Engine output, acceleration, top speed, handling, braking — and Nürburgring if either car ran one.

Horsepower

302hp

—hp

Torque

278lb-ft

—lb-ft

0–60 mph

7.8s

—

Quarter Mile

16.1s @ 87 mph

—

Top Speed

100 mph

—

Skidpad

—

60–0 Braking

—

70–0 Braking

—

Curb Weight

5,150 lb

—

Max Towing

7,600 lb

—

Max Payload

3,120 lb

—

Performance specs synthesized from manufacturer figures and instrumented magazine tests (Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Road & Track). MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Numbers flagged as "low confidence" by AI generation are conservative estimates from related platforms.

Achilles' Heel

Engine-specific failure modes mechanics see in the bays — with probability, typical onset mileage, and fix cost. The data Mitchell and AllData hide behind paywalls.

VEHICLE A

Ford F-150

3.7L V6

7/10

2 major2 moderate3 minor

The 3.7L Cyclone V6 (Duratec 37) is a generally solid, naturally-aspirated workhorse used across Ford's truck and SUV lineup 2011-2018. It lacks the catastrophic failure modes of Ford's EcoBoost turbos or the earlier 5.4L 3-valve Triton. Most issues are maintenance-related or wear items that appear at higher mileage. The timing chain is the most serious concern if neglected. Overall, this engine is reliable when maintained but not bulletproof — a mid-tier workhorse with predictable failure modes.

VEHICLE B

Ford F-150

2.7L V6 EcoBoost

Reliability data not yet generated

major15% probability

Timing Chain Stretch and Tensioner Failure

📏 100k–180k mi💵 $1,800–$3,500🏪 Shop only

The 3.7L Cyclone V6 uses a chain-driven timing system with plastic-backed guides and hydraulic tensioners that can wear prematurely, especially with extended oil change intervals. Chain stretch causes timing retardation and eventual guide failure. Requires front engine teardown.

Symptoms: rattling on cold start · engine timing codes · rough idle · check engine light P0016/P0017

major5% probability

Spark Plug Blowout (Early 2011-2013 Models)

📏 40k–100k mi💵 $800–$2,000🏪 Shop only

Early 3.7L engines (2011-2013 primarily) had issues with spark plug threads stripping from the aluminum heads, causing the plug to blow out. Ford revised thread design mid-production. Less common on 2014+ but still documented. Requires Helicoil or TimeSert repair.

Symptoms: sudden misfire · hissing sound from cylinder head · loud pop · loss of compression on one cylinder

moderate35% probability

Throttle Body Carbon Buildup and Sticking

📏 60k–120k mi💵 $150–$450🔧 DIY-friendly

Electronic throttle bodies accumulate carbon deposits from PCV system blowby, causing the throttle plate to stick. Common on these engines due to the EGR and PCV routing design. Cleaning often temporary; replacement eventually needed.

Symptoms: rough idle · stalling at stops · hesitation on acceleration · surging idle

moderate20% probability

Water Pump Failure

📏 90k–150k mi💵 $500–$900🔧 DIY-friendly

Water pump bearings wear or seals fail, leading to coolant leaks or bearing noise. The 3.7L pump is mechanically driven and accessible, but failure can lead to overheating if not caught early. Not epidemic-level, but well-documented.

Symptoms: coolant leak from front of engine · whining noise · overheating · coolant loss

minor40% probability

Valve Cover Gasket Oil Leaks

📏 80k–150k mi💵 $400–$800🔧 DIY-friendly

Rubber valve cover gaskets harden and leak over time, particularly on the rear bank which sees more heat. Oil seeps down onto exhaust manifolds creating burning oil smell. Not uncommon on higher-mileage examples.

Symptoms: oil smell when engine hot · visible oil seepage on valve covers · oil on spark plug tubes · low oil level

minor30% probability

Ignition Coil Failure

📏 60k–120k mi💵 $200–$500🔧 DIY-friendly

Individual coil-on-plug units fail from heat cycling and internal breakdown. Typically one coil at a time. Common wear item on Ford V6 engines of this era. Replace with OEM Motorcraft for best longevity.

Symptoms: misfire codes P0300-P0306 · rough idle · hesitation · check engine light

minor25% probability

PCV Valve and Hose Deterioration

📏 70k–130k mi💵 $100–$300🔧 DIY-friendly

PCV hoses become brittle and crack, and the integrated PCV valve in the valve cover can stick or fail. Causes vacuum leaks, rough idle, and contributes to throttle body carbon buildup. Often overlooked during diagnostics.

Symptoms: rough idle · oil consumption · whistling noise from engine · vacuum leak codes

Reliability data pending.

Reliability scores and issue probabilities are synthesized from manufacturer TSBs, NHTSA complaints, forum-documented patterns, and instrumented technician reports. Treat as informed estimates, not guarantees — individual vehicles vary widely with maintenance history.

Cost of Ownership

Avg Used Market

$11,000–$22,000

median ~$15,500

Avg Used Market

n/a

Ford F-150: 2014 F-150 with base 3.7L V6 spans XL work trucks to XLT consumer models. Market favors EcoBoost and 5.0L variants, so 3.7L pricing sits lower. Regular/SuperCab models near low end, SuperCrew XLT clean examples reach high end. Post-2021 truck inflation stabilizing but F-150s remain liquid.

AI-estimated US used-market price range. LOW = private-party, base trim, typical mileage. HIGH = dealer retail (Carvana/CarMax), desirable trim, below-average mileage. Local prices vary ±20% with condition, mileage, and region. Treat as a ballpark, not a quote.

5-Year Maintenance

$12,691

0.21 $/mi

★ WINNER

5-Year Maintenance

$9,613

0.16 $/mi

🏆

ADVANTAGEFord F-150 — Saves you $3,078 over 5 years (24% less in routine maintenance labor)

Routine maintenance only. Cost = labor hours × $150/hr × estimated 5-yr frequency. Parts cost not included.

Maintenance Breakdown

Hours per common service. Lower is faster (and cheaper) at the shop.

EcoBoost Cam Phaser and Timing Chain Failure (3.5L Twin-Turbo)

— hrs$2,925 / 5yr

— hrs

Oil & filter change

0.4 hrs$1,200 / 5yr

0.5 hrs$1,380 / 5yr

Front brake pads

1.2 hrs$520 / 5yr

1.4 hrs$580 / 5yr

Tire rotation

0.4 hrs$480 / 5yr

0.5 hrs$600 / 5yr

Rear brake pads

1.2 hrs$500 / 5yr

1.4 hrs$560 / 5yr

Differential fluid

1.0 hrs$380 / 5yr

1.2 hrs$440 / 5yr

Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure / Internal Cooler Contamination

— hrs$650 / 5yr

— hrs

Wiper blades

0.3 hrs$300 / 5yr

Brake fluid flush

0.8 hrs$270 / 5yr

0.9 hrs$300 / 5yr

12V battery

0.4 hrs$260 / 5yr

0.5 hrs$275 / 5yr

Fuel filter

0.5 hrs$210 / 5yr

0.6 hrs$240 / 5yr

3.7L V6 Water Pump Failure

— hrs$439 / 5yr

— hrs

Exhaust Manifold Cracking (5.0L Coyote)

— hrs$438 / 5yr

— hrs

Cabin air filter

0.3 hrs$210 / 5yr

Spark plugs

0.8 hrs$200 / 5yr

0.9 hrs$215 / 5yr

EPAS (Electric Power Assist Steering) Module Failure

— hrs$385 / 5yr

— hrs

Water pump

2.5 hrs$173 / 5yr

2.9 hrs$194 / 5yr

Oxygen sensor

1.5 hrs$173 / 5yr

1.7 hrs$188 / 5yr

Coolant flush

0.8 hrs$170 / 5yr

0.9 hrs$185 / 5yr

Intake manifold gasket

3.0 hrs$162 / 5yr

3.5 hrs$185 / 5yr

Oil pan gasket

3.5 hrs$144 / 5yr

4.0 hrs$163 / 5yr

Engine air filter

0.3 hrs$150 / 5yr

Alternator

1.5 hrs$131 / 5yr

1.7 hrs$139 / 5yr

Serpentine belt

0.6 hrs$125 / 5yr

0.7 hrs$140 / 5yr

Valve cover gasket

1.5 hrs$114 / 5yr

1.7 hrs$126 / 5yr

Transmission Mount Failure (All Engines)

— hrs$228 / 5yr

— hrs

Power steering flush

0.5 hrs$95 / 5yr

0.6 hrs$110 / 5yr

Starter motor

1.5 hrs$85 / 5yr

1.7 hrs$91 / 5yr

PCV valve

0.4 hrs$80 / 5yr

0.5 hrs$95 / 5yr

Ignition coil

0.8 hrs$80 / 5yr

0.9 hrs$86 / 5yr

5.0L Coyote Crank Position Sensor Failure

— hrs$158 / 5yr

— hrs

Thermostat

0.8 hrs$56 / 5yr

0.9 hrs$61 / 5yr

Active Recalls

Open NHTSA Recalls

8 open

★ WINNER

Open NHTSA Recalls

1 open

🏆

ADVANTAGEFord F-150 — 7 fewer open recalls from the NHTSA

Fluid Capacities

Ford F-150

brake0.70 qt · FMVSS 116 DOT 3

coolant23.00 qt · WSS-M97B44-D2

engine_oil6.00 qt · API SN

front_diff2.70 qt · SAE 75W-140

power_steering1.00 qt · Mercon V

rear_diff3.50 qt · SAE 75W-140

transfer_case1.70 qt · Mercon LV

transmission_auto17.00 qt · Mercon LV

washer5.50 qt · windshield washer fluid concentrate or premix

Ford F-150

brake1.20 qt · FMVSS 116 DOT 3

coolant21.00 qt · Ford WSS-M97B44-D2

engine_oil6.00 qt · API SP or API SN PLUS

front_diff2.75 qt · SAE 75W-140

power_steering · none — electric power steering

rear_diff3.50 qt · SAE 75W-140

transfer_case1.50 qt · Mercon LV

transmission_auto17.10 qt · Mercon ULV

washer1.50 qt · windshield washer fluid

The Verdict

🏆

THE WINNER

2026 Ford F-150

2.7L V6 EcoBoost

Ford F-150 is cheaper to maintain (saves ~$3,078 over 5 years)
Ford F-150 has 7 fewer open NHTSA recalls

Based on objective maintenance and recall data. Driving feel, looks, brand loyalty, and ownership experience are separate (and very valid) considerations.

Open the full dashboard for either truck

Labor times, torque specs, fluid capacities, DTC codes, repair procedures, recalls, common platform problems.