What are the best years of the Ford E-150?

Among its newer years that came out Worthy, away from any Maybe or Pass year, the 2006, 2015 and 2016 Ford E-150 drew the fewest owner complaints to NHTSA against a typical year of the Ford E-150 at the same age. A year few people bought can look the same. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Which Ford E-150 years should I avoid?

The 2008 and 2013 Ford E-150 are the years to avoid: Pass years come first, then the Maybe years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA against a typical year at the same age. 2008 came out Pass. 2013 came out Maybe. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold. Have any car inspected before you buy.

How do you decide which Ford E-150 years are best?

Each model year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA are held up against a typical year of the Ford E-150 at the same age, never against another model. The typical year leaves out years that were high themselves, so a run of bad years cannot set its own bar. A year with at least 5 complaints and under 2 times a typical year (1.2 times when most are about costly parts such as the engine) is Worthy, unless its complaints about costly parts alone reach 2.5 times a typical year's, or the years on both sides of it came out Maybe or Pass. A Maybe or Pass on its complaints needs enough more of them to rule out chance. The best years named are the newer Worthy years with the fewest complaints for their age, never right next to a Maybe or Pass year, and the years to avoid are the Pass years first, then the Maybe years. The newest 2 model years are too new to judge. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Best and worst Ford E-150 years to buy

Every model year, judged against the others.

Best and worst E-150 years

Look for 2005, 2006, 2015 and 2016. Skip 2008. Careful with 2013.

Best years

Of the newer years to look for, the ones with the fewest owner complaints for their age. A year few people bought can look the same.

Years to avoid

Pass years first, then the Maybe years with the most owner complaints against a typical year at the same age.

From owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.

Every year at a glance

5Worthy
1Maybe
1Pass
5Not judged

1998, Not judged, 67 owner complaints

Newest Worthy years

The most recent judged years that came out Worthy, none right next to a Maybe or Pass year.

Worthy
1.1× a typical year

Lightest for their age

Other Worthy years with the fewest owner complaints against a typical year at the same age, none right next to a Maybe or Pass year. A year with few sales can look the same.

Worthy

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

How we judge a year

Each year’s owner complaints, held up against a typical year of the E-150 at the same age. Popular cars collect more complaints just by selling more, so a year is never compared with another model. The typical year leaves out years that were high themselves, so a run of bad years cannot set its own bar.

Worthy: At least 5 complaints, and under 2 times a typical year (1.2 if most are costly parts).
Maybe: 2 times a typical year or more, with at least 15 complaints. Or 2.5 times a typical year’s complaints about costly parts, with at least 25 of them. Or 1.2 times, with at least 25, most about costly parts. Too many to be chance each time. A year with a Maybe or Pass year on each side is Maybe too: it sits inside a run of problem years.
Pass: 3 times a typical year or more, with at least 25 complaints, too many to be chance.
Not judged: Too new (the newest 2 years), too few complaints, or too few to tell a real problem from chance.

Every rule, in full

Gathering every model year from NHTSA. The first look at a model can take a little while.

Best and worst E-150 years

Look for 2005, 2006, 2015 and 2016. Skip 2008. Careful with 2013.

Best years

Of the newer years to look for, the ones with the fewest owner complaints for their age. A year few people bought can look the same.

Years to avoid

Pass years first, then the Maybe years with the most owner complaints against a typical year at the same age.

From owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.

Year	Verdict	Owner complaints	Recalls	Top problem area
2021	Not judged	1	0	Electrical
2016	Worthy	8	1	Brakes
2015	Worthy	8	1	Engine
2014	Worthy	6	6	Brakes
2013	Maybe	19	5	Transmission and drivetrain
2012	Not judged	12	7	Transmission and drivetrain
2009	Not judged	8	13	Engine
2008	Pass	266	17	Electrical
2007	Not judged	12	18	Engine
2006	Worthy	17	15	Cruise and speed control
2005	Worthy	26	4	Engine
1998	Not judged	67	4	Engine

Best and worst E-150 years

Best years

Years to avoid

Every year at a glance

Newest Worthy years

Lightest for their age

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Best and worst E-150 years

Best years

Years to avoid

Every year at a glance

Newest Worthy years

Lightest for their age

Think twice