Ford maintenance: cost, plans and service schedule

Are Fords expensive to maintain?

According to information from RepairPal, Ford vehicles tend to cost more to maintain and repair than many other brands. While the reported industry average for yearly maintenance and repair costs is $891, Ford vehicles average $1,059 per year, adjusted for inflation.

How Ford compares with other automakers

RepairPal also rates Ford’s reliability at 3.5 out of 5, which puts the company 21st out of 32 automotive brands. While it estimates that Ford vehicles visit the repair shop slightly less than the industry average, Ford vehicles have a 15% chance of the repair being severe, which is above the industry average of 12%. Here’s how its repair and maintenance costs stack up against other popular brands.

Of course, your results may vary, especially if you meticulously maintain your vehicle and drive with caution. These estimates are based on data from a multitude of vehicles, and combining something as variable as maintenance and repair costs into a single figure erases a lot of nuance that may be necessary to understand what you can expect from your vehicle. With that in mind, let’s dig a little deeper into how these costs break down.

Author’s note: As a mechanic, it’s always been difficult for me to understand why Ford vehicles are associated with such high average maintenance costs because that hasn’t matched my experience. What I’ve come to learn is the popularity of the F-Series trucks, especially the Super Duty models, has skewed the brand’s average. Some of the older sedans and the newer crossovers usually cost far less to repair and maintain than what the brand’s average may suggest.

Ford maintenance and repair costs by model

Maintenance and repair costs vary from vehicle to vehicle based on a number of factors, so it’s worth picking a reliable vehicle with low repair costs. We’ve included the estimated yearly maintenance and repair costs for three popular Ford models in the table below so you can see how much of a difference your choice of vehicle can make.

Ford maintenance costs and schedule

Every Ford model has its own maintenance schedule, so you’ll need to look in your owner’s manual or check Ford’s website to see what’s recommended for your vehicle.

Ford F-150 maintenance schedule

We’ve provided the maintenance schedule for a 2023 Ford F-150 below as an example to help you see what your expected maintenance may look like.

You can keep up with this schedule on your own if you prefer, but newer Ford vehicles also have computerized systems to tell you when it’s time for maintenance. These alerts are reset after the technician performs the necessary service.

So far, we’ve conflated maintenance and repair costs because they’re both figures that will show up on your bill at the mechanic, but it’s helpful to understand the difference between them if you’re trying to budget:

• Repair costs are generally random, infrequent expenses that result from something in your vehicle malfunctioning or failing.
• Maintenance costs are easier to plan for because they’re usually needed on a regular schedule regardless of whether your vehicle shows signs of breaking down.

Typical maintenance costs for a 2019 Ford Escape

To see how much maintenance services may cost you, let’s take a look at some average prices for them on a 2019 Ford Escape in Austin, Texas.

Your costs may vary based on your vehicle’s maintenance needs, where you take your car for service and local labor rates, but comparing costs for these services with your recommended maintenance schedule can give you a good idea of how much you’ll spend to keep your car running, assuming nothing goes wrong.

Schedule maintenance for severe driving conditions

Ford expects that you may push some of its vehicles to the extremes. If you own a Super Duty truck or Bronco Raptor, for instance, Ford understands that your vehicle may be hauling heavy loads or going off-road, and it publishes alternate maintenance recommendations for vehicles in those situations. For example, Ford recommends that the 2023 Ford F-150 should have more frequent cabin air filter replacements if you drive in dusty or dirty conditions.

If you frequently use your vehicle under severe driving conditions, make sure you check your owners manual or Ford’s website for these special maintenance recommendations.

Ford repair costs

If something does go wrong with your vehicle, you may end up spending big on a repair bill. While repairs are generally needed less frequently than maintenance, they tend to be considerably more expensive.

In a previous investigation, we spoke to mechanics around the country to see what they’d charge to fix major issues in some sample vehicles, one of which was a Ford F-150. We’ve compiled the Ford-specific results of those articles below.

There’s no guarantee that your vehicle will need repairs of this magnitude, but it is a possibility. Some people even get stuck with paying for multiple major repairs on their vehicles.

Curt, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Pennsylvania, told us: “I purchased a brand-new Ford F-150 in 2016 with an EcoBoost engine. At the 3,000 mile mark the engine failed and had to be completely replaced. Fast-forward to the 30,000 mile mark. The second engine failed, and half the engine is being replaced as we speak.”

Dwight, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from New York, reported numerous issues with their Ford Escape, including two failed engines and two failed transmissions. “For the past three years, I’ve been dealing with multiple manufacturing defects and repairs that have rendered my vehicle unusable for extended periods of time. This has had a deleterious effect in many aspects of life, as I have no alternate means of transportation and live in an area where a car is necessary for work,” Dwight wrote.

Cases like this are why it’s smart to be aware of what major repairs could cost you. That way, you can budget appropriately and make educated choices about your vehicle.

How can an extended warranty help?

If looking at the costs above made you feel a twinge of panic, you’re not alone. Many people have trouble affording vehicle maintenance and repairs, especially when something major goes wrong. However, there are ways you can avoid the brunt of these costs.

If you’re purchasing a new Ford vehicle, the points you earn through the FordPass Rewards program can pay for your maintenance appointments. Ford also offers optional prepaid Premium Maintenance plans that you can buy for scheduled maintenance. Prices for these plans vary, so it’s difficult to say for sure that they’ll save you money.

Prepaid maintenance plans can actually help you beat inflation by giving you today’s price on tomorrow’s services.

Ford also provides a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty on new vehicles. That means if covered parts fail during this period, you won’t have to pay for the repairs. However, once your factory warranty ends, you’re on the hook for anything that breaks on your vehicle as a result of normal use — unless you buy an extended warranty.

Extended warranties are available from third-party providers and Ford itself, so you can choose a variety of plans that range from basic powertrain coverage to bumper-to-bumper protection. There are pros and cons to these service agreements, but they’re worth considering if you can’t afford the cost of a major repair on your own. We recommend getting estimates from different warranty companies to see what’s available and what a warranty will cost for your vehicle.

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