Sorry F-150 Owners, Your Trucks Don’t Last the Longest

We’ve transitioned from the period where a car would go from the factory floor to a junkyard before it hit 100,000 miles, and most vehicles today don’t even break a sweat until 200,000 miles – with the right maintenance and care, of course. With so many trucks available, it might be challenging to determine if yours is reliable enough to achieve that many miles. If you own a Ford F-150, you’ll want to continue reading.

What Makes a Brand Reliable?

It’s no secret that poorly designed and manufactured vehicles with cheap materials will reduce a car’s reliability and longevity, but something we can’t ignore is the companies work ethic – Toyota and Honda, for example, have a reliability-over-all culture that encompasses their brand(s), which sticks in the minds of consumers for decades.

A brand like Lexus spent 15 years creating the perfect paint! When you add exceptional customer service and longer-than-usual warranties, you can understand why a consumer would seek out one vehicle over another, which is evident in our top five below.

However, no matter the amount of money an automaker puts into high-quality parts or marketing to create an image, once it leaves the dealership, outside factors will impact the vehicles durability. You might change your oil every 5,000 miles, but others aren’t so car savvy. A story on Reddit emerged of a woman going 30,000 miles without changing the oil – and as you guessed it, totaled the car.

What Impacts Your Vehicles Longevity?

The most important factors are your maintenance schedule, your driving habits, and if you live in an extreme climate where the weather could affect your truck. Keeping your truck away from the tropical sun or harsh desert, as well as salted roadways in the winter, will extend its life. Lastly, not treating your truck like a race car will help and keep your engine, brakes, tires, and chassis from enduring too much stress.

Which Trucks Last the Longest?

The data provided from an iSeeCars study provided information on the longest-lasting trucks to reach 200,000 miles and beyond. They based their methodology on 15.8 million pre-owned cars sold in 2019. For each model, the percentage of the number of cars with 200,000 miles was mathematically modeled. Here is a top five list of trucks, according to the study, which may come as a surprise to POWERNATION fans.

#5 Ford F-150

The F-150 continues to dominate sales and be the best-selling vehicle in the United States. The F-150 is an American icon and has paved the way for pickup trucks today. Despite its popularity, it ranks lower than others in this category. It received low scores across the board, leaving it at the number five spot. Given its popularity, it means there’s a huge market for parts, allowing the truck to sail into the 200,000-mile club. However, it’ll need a little extra help getting there and leaves you wondering – how does a less than reliable truck sell so many units?

#4 Chevrolet Silverado

Although the truck was significantly outsold by the Ford F-150, the Silverado showed greater reliability and longevity. Sorry, Ford Fans. The Silverado ranks above average in reliability for a truck. It ranks very well for a full-size truck. The average maintenance and repair costs of a Silverado cost around $714, which is the average ownership cost. The Silverado only needs unexpected repairs about 0.2 times a day, while the average is 0.3, respectively.

#3 Toyota Tundra

Simplicity is the reason Toyota has made it to these lists, and the Tundra doesn’t need complex driving aids to remain relevant. Toyota uses reliable parts for their vehicles, and the Tundra had the fewest reported issues when it was compared to other vehicles over a three to five year period. Although sales pale in comparison to the F-150, consumers spend less time in the shop. The Tundra also retains its value well compared to other trucks. You can sell a used Tundra for more than an F-150, which has among the lowest resale values. In the past 15 years, the Tundra has won significantly more awards versus its competitors. Not to mention, two Tundra’s have gone one million miles.

#2 Toyota Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma has long been lauded by enthusiasts for its superior reliability. It’s not uncommon to hear owners talk about their trucks not getting “broken in” until they’ve reached at least 200,000 miles. One reason Toyota has generated this buzz is because of the high-quality parts their engineers use. Everything about the Tacoma is in sync. It’s not a big chunk of heavy metal that stresses the suspension, and the engines are geared perfectly to accommodate its needs. If there is one truck American enthusiasts can get behind, it’s the Tacoma.

#1 Honda Ridgeline

The Honda Ridgeline is a perfect blend of reliability with a workhorse ethic and holds the status of one of the most dependable trucks around, but who drives a Honda Ridgeline? Where else have you seen it number one anywhere? We get it, but these figures are based on vehicles that reach or surpass the 200,000 mile mark, and it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that a Honda reached this, even in a pickup truck category. The Ridgeline isn’t the typical body-on-frame pickup, and it offers good handling, a smooth ride, comfortable seating, and a versatile bed geared toward recreational use. Not only is it reliable and fuel-efficient, but it can tow up to 5,000 pounds.