Comments: 1-15, 16-22
Looking to buy a Ford Truck? Go ahead, I did…
So Ford has been in the press a bit with the Firestone relationship, the safety ratings, the quality issues, the recalls and more. Can all of this press be picking on the Ford Motor Company? Is it really disruptive in the consumers buying habits? Is it time for Ford to treat their customers as an asset to their future?
I would like to relate a brief version of what I have experienced with my Ford purchase. It has to be brief because it is still going on after three years. This truck has been nothing but problems! Ford Corporate is too busy fighting forest fires, bigger than the industry itself, to pay any attention to one of their customers. Ford does have a process to deal with the consumer but that color only comes in black. Ford needs to relate to what their customers are saying and correct their image. To put it blunt, I have never had a new truck that had so many problems that the manufacturer just doesn’t care.
I am not going to go on and list all of the things wrong with this truck, brakes, shocks and clutch, RUST, windows leaking, that ever so specific check engine light that has now become a cabin reading light. Fellow Ford owners already know this, actually maybe they don’t. Chevy, Toyota and Dodge owners know what I am talking about. I have owned other Fords and they have been decent trucks but when you can't be at all consistent with quality and don’t care about your existing customers, it is time for another ride. To make matters even worse the fine folks at Ford we rude, arrogant and refused to help.
I will never, nor recommend to anyone that they buy a Ford period. My family has purchased 6 new Fords over the past 10 years and we’re done! I may sound bitter but my ordeal has lasted over three years and I am just taking upon myself to warn other consumers. Look elsewhere for a truck!
If you disagree, it is you call and I am not going to argue with you. I have done all my arguing with Ford. It is your money and I hope you get a good one when you go to that showroom and deal with those honest sales folks. It is easy to get sucked in, I did those truck look nice!
Something to think about:
Something I noticed today, I had another car at the station today for registration and the only thing getting repaired at the local station were Ford's.
Looking to buy a Ford Truck? Go ahead, I did and would be glad to sell you mine…
4.8 engine? Really? I agree with your article. Fords SUCK! However, where did the 4.8 come from?
4.9 I-6 maybe but a 4.8?
If fords do suck, it makes me wonder why they are the best selling trucks for 25 straight years and out number chevy's on the road 3 to 1.
No Fords don't suck, but an there old I-6 which is a 4.9 liter definently does, 302 and 351 are a lot better engines.
I had a in-line-6 cylinder engine, 1990 fi50 4x4. I bought it when it had 150,000 and now has 225,000. I don't know where you guys get the idea that fords are bad.
Every car or truck needs maintainents... but not a new engine or transmission like dodge ram trucks. seems like every dodge I know has had a new tranny put in.
I own a 1997 F-150 4x4 (XLT) and I have owned it for 6 and 1/2 years and I couldn't be happier. I have 117,000 miles on it and the only thing I have had any trouble with was the passenger side lower A arm, and the upper and lower ball joints. Actually it was not the fault of the truck, I was trying to avoid a head on collision on a down hill mountain road in N.E. Tennessee. I was doing about 50 MPH and had to drive my truck off the road and my truck dropped off the edge of the road and fell about 10" and when I came to a stop I got out and didn't notice anything was wrong, but I had to put it in 4 wheel drive to get back on the pavement. After about a year I took the truck in for service for new brakes and they informed me that the lower shock mount was broken and the ball joint was bent and worn out. I don't understand why ford doesn't put grease fittings on there high wear suspension parts or there u-joints on drive shafts. Well it's not that I don't understand, I understand all too well, I just think it sucks!!! All in all I have had great success with this truck, and I can't say that about my friends that have Dodges and Chevys or even Toyotas. I will own this truck for a long time to come because I'm not going to pay over $35,000.00 for a pickup truck. When my wife and I and our 2 jack Russell Terrorists go anywhere we take my Ford instead of my wife's Honda CRV. The F-150 is much more comfortable and drives like a passenger car, and can hold a much bigger payload. I do have to admit that ford dealerships are very hesitant to try to fix small problems that do come up and they will not ever tell you about recalls. I believe Ford should fix some of the problems that have started way after the warranty runs out, like the leak from the rear sliding window, and the way it has always pulled slightly to the right. Also Ford service writers tried to persuade me from putting Amsoil Synthetic oil and tranny oil and rear end oil in my truck, and they actually told me that if I did it would void my warranty. NOT TRUE, this oil exceeds fords recommendations straight across the boards. Actually by using this oil I get over 30,000 miles between oil changes and my truck gets better mileage and runs cooler and quieter.
Owned them my entire life and never did a thing, but change oil and drive.
I have a 1996 ford Xlt f-150 It is sort of a drive way peice now it won't run the 302 engine has no power. I should have kept my chevy s-10 with the v-6. Believe it or not my chevy v-6 was faster than the junky 302. yeah your right ford sucks!!!
I have a 1996 Ford XLT V8 5liters and the truck runs so good I really like it.
I Recently purchased a 1996 F150 XLT w/bed liner and matching topper, 104,000 miles. Has a 5 Liter V8 & auto transmission with plenty of gusto for everyday driving and hauling. Even pulls my 17' 1973 tri-hull boat without issue.
Have to admit all vehicles have issues. My 89 Tempo had issues from day one with factory defects. Took a while to get them fixed, but in the end the car was pretty reliable and got us from point A to B.
The gentleman who owned my truck prior to me was the original owner and took GREAT care of it. Took it to the dealership for every oil change and service. Truck was near perfect except for some wear and tear. So far, no problems. I had to buy the truck when the wife wrecked my 88 Taurus wagon. That too was a Ford and went all over the US and Europe & the UK. Great transportation and darned reliable. I had only 1 breakdown in my Taurus between 1994 & 2003. Bad fuel pump. Wife took two cars out with the front of the Taurus. I cut the sub frame at the bolt points between the front tires and the radiator frame and header panel. Mated a used one in about 4 hours and completed repairs in another 8 hours w/paint. Car looks almost perfect. Gave it to my nephew for college and he loves it. Cheap on gas and just goes and goes. My family has always owned mainly ford vehicles and farm implements back in the 70's. Yea, I'm that old... but we have always come out ahead with Ford. Though our Chevy's were good also. Dodge, I must admit I won't discuss them. Great innovations in the passenger compartments, but NO reliability in the Drivetrain... My last Dodge Transmission went 7 miles before meltdown. That was the 4th in under 4,000 miles. By the way, stay away from AAMCO. Privately owned and you never know what kind of service you may get. My experiences were ALL bad...
Randy...
I bought my F150XLT 4X4 new in 1996. It has a manual transmission with the 4.9 engine. I have taken very good care of the truck including regular 4K mile oil changes, lubrication of all fittings, and never overloading its capacities. It currently has 63K miles on it.
This truck has been problematic from the beginning. I have replaced many of the same parts as listed in the other reviews. The mpg is not good (15 mpg) and it is underpowered as pickup trucks go.
This isn't my first Ford truck, but it will certainly be my last.
We too have a 1996 Ford 150 XLT extended cab, short bed with a 302 engine. It has 92k miles and we haven't really had any problems. Although there are two things we haven't been happy with: 1) the engine light won't go off. We were told it was coding to the fuel lines or something and after about $500 and a few parts, it still wasn't fixed, we left it. So although the light is on, the truck runs great! 2) This truck has the optional fuel tank, and BOY does it need it! This vehicle is one of the worst on fuel we have ever owned, and we have had several V8's of different size, shapes & configuration! So maybe the engine light has something to do with the fact of how much fuel this truck burns! But other than that, it's been a great truck. I think it depends on each individual vehicle regardless of the manufacturer! They all have troubles that do not get resolved!
I have a 1996 ford f150 with the 4.9 in line six it has 140000 miles on it and I have had it for 5months and have not had a problem in fact everyone says that is the best american engine to have and are good for over 300000 miles go ford you r the best and the 2004 models look better than any thing on the road. so don't hate. michael crockett.
I purchased a 1996 F-150 XLT recently. It had 48,000 miles on it. The truck runs great. I had to replace the left upper/lower ball joints and had a problem with the 4 wheel drive. I changed to manual hubs. Now the 4 wheel works fine. I have one problem that I can't figure out. The check engine light is on. The engine is a 4.9 I-6. I have brought it to be repaired and the mechanic has had it for several day's and is having trouble finding the problem. Any ideas? From what I read this is a common problem. I believe the codes came back with an O2 sensor or a upstream problem. As I stated earlier the mechanic ckecked these problems and they were fine. I have had the light clears in the past and for some reason it came back on after filling the tank. This happened twice. I have checked the fuel caps and they are on properly and are tight. Thanks!
I have a 1997 F150 XLT V-6 with 95,000 miles that has just thrown a rod. Now I need a new engine. I thought that I could get a few more miles out of it. With this and the five or six recalls, I am done with Ford.