Ford Maintenance Cost Guide
Ford maintenance and repair costs are more than the industry average.
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Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- RepairPal puts the average cost to repair and maintain a Ford model at $775 per year. This is almost 19 percent more than the average across 32 different manufacturers.
- Ford ranked 21st out of 32 car brands for reliability. However, it earned an above-average score of 3.5 out of 5.0 from RepairPal.
- If you’re concerned about maintaining and repairing your Ford once its factory warranty expires, an extended warranty could help you pay for unexpected repairs in the event of a mechanical breakdown.
According to RepairPal, the cost to repair and maintain a Ford is about $775 per year. This is almost 19 percent more than the average costs across all automakers. Fortunately, you don’t have to foot all the repair bills by yourself. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at both Ford maintenance costs and how exactly an extended warranty can help mitigate these costs.
Third-party extended car warranties offer coverage after your manufacturer’s warranty has expired. Having coverage can keep you from paying for a $1,000 or $2,000 repair out of the blue.
We’ve spent over 1,475 hours of research on the best extended car warranty providers around, ranking the best ones. All you need is some basic information about your car, and you can compare quotes from our recommended providers below.
Ford Recommended Car Maintenance Schedule
The recommended maintenance schedule for a Ford vehicle varies by model. Your Ford Fiesta will require different services at different intervals than a heavy duty Ford Ranger or Ford F-250 Super Duty. Many models also come equipped with an Intelligent Oil Life Monitor™ (IOLM) that takes the guesswork out of when you need an oil change.
Luckily, Ford offers an online tool that will outline your vehicle’s maintenance schedule for up to 200,000 miles. We went ahead and pulled some of the recommended services for a 2022 Ford F-150, which you’ll find in the table below.
| Mileage Interval | Recommended Maintenance* |
|---|---|
| 20,000 miles
40,000 miles 80,000 miles |
|
| 30,000 miles
90,000 miles |
|
| 60,000 miles
100,000 miles |
|
*Not all component inspections were listed. Head to Ford’s website or your owner’s manual for a complete list for your Ford model.
How Much Does Ford Maintenance Cost?
According to RepairPal, the annual cost of a Ford maintenance plan is $775 per year. Note that this average cost will depend on your location, vehicle make and model, engine type, and more.
General Ford Maintenance Costs
Maintenance is all about taking care of your vehicle ahead of time so that fewer things go wrong later. If you don’t follow a good maintenance schedule, there’s a higher chance you’ll have to pay for expensive repairs down the road. Also, it can be harder to sell your car if you can’t provide a good maintenance history, as it’s often required to keep a factory or extended warranty valid.
So, how much does Ford maintenance cost? Let’s look at a few standard maintenance service costs you can find with different Ford models.
| Ford Model | Maintenance Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Flex | Brake system inspection | $88 to $111 |
| Ford F-150 | Engine oil change | $136 to $152 |
| Ford Explorer | Battery replacement | $259 to $268 |
| Ford Focus | Brake pad replacement | $187 to $215 |
| Ford Escape | Tire rotation | $41 to $52 |
| Ford Edge | Spark plug replacement | $186 to $220 |
*Data from RepairPal.
Nothing out of the ordinary here. Tire rotations are pretty cheap. Oil changes can also be more affordable than what you see above if you go to a chain or even change your own oil and oil filter.
Ford Maintenance Cost Vs. Competitors
How does Ford stack up against other brands? Let’s take a look:
Toyota repair costs are right on par with Honda, and these two brands often vie for the most reliable car brand. The Kia maintenance cost is right in the same neck of the woods. Dodge and Chevy maintenance costs are a little cheaper than Ford’s, but not by a whole lot. We included BMW, which has some of the highest maintenance costs on the market, to give you an idea of the scale of repair costs.
Overall, Ford’s maintenance cost is one of the most expensive out of all non-luxury brands. It’s also almost 19 percent more than the average maintenance cost across all automakers, which is $652.
Ford Repair Costs
Repair costs are another big part of the total Ford maintenance cost. The difference with repairs is they are generally unpredictable. Now, if you’ve been driving with your engine light on for the past three months, you know you have to fix something. But normally, repairs come out of the blue. Here are a few repairs that you might encounter with Ford:
| Ford Model | Common Repair | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang | Brake fluid level warning switch replacement | $178 to $190 |
| Ford F-150 | Air pump replacement | $358 to $412 |
| Ford Expedition | Camshaft replacement | $1,008 to $1,200 |
| Ford Bronco | Engine mount replacement | $572 to $674 |
| Ford Explorer | Serpentine belt replacement | $96 to $115 |
*Data from RepairPal.
Repair prices are also dependent on the area you live in and the shops available to you. Going to the dealer for repairs will typically cost more than going to an independent repair shop. Not only that, but independent shops often have quicker turnaround times. When looking for a shop, you want to ensure that it employs mechanics certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®). If you find a reputable shop, you can expect the same level of quality as a Ford dealership.
Comparing Ford Models
Here’s where things get interesting. Below, we will compare seven of the top Ford models and their annual average repair costs. This data comes from RepairPal as well, and it includes maintenance in the overall cost.
Remember that this is an average cost that includes many model years. Since repairs are unpredictable, you might go years without paying for anything and then get surprised by a $1,500 bill. Some people can also get lucky and pay much less than these average costs.
Ford Maintenance Coverage Plan
Ford doesn’t offer a free maintenance period, but it does offer a prepaid option called the Ford Protect Premium Maintenance Plan. Coverage can last from two to eight years. Within those time periods, you can also choose whether you want to cover less mileage or more.
For example, you could choose 8 years/60,000 miles or 8 years/150,000 miles. The coverage pays for as many scheduled services your car needs, whether services happen every 5,000, 7,500, or 10,000 miles.
Here’s some of the Ford Protect Premium Maintenance Plans include:
- Full synthetic or conventional oil changes
- Replacement of normal wear items like wiper blades and filters
- Multi-point inspection
- Tire rotation
- Brake pads
- Spark plugs
- Engine belts
That’s a lot of stuff, but you wouldn’t need all of those changed at every service, of course. Prices aren’t published on Ford’s website, so you’ll need to contact a dealer to learn more about the cost of a Ford Protect Premium Maintenance Plan.
Can An Extended Warranty Help With Ford Maintenance Costs?
If you don’t want to write a giant check to cover an unexpected repair, you should look into some extended warranty options. Also known as vehicle service contracts, these plans can extend coverage for your Ford long after the Ford factory warranty expires.
Extended warranties repair parts after a failure during normal use. They won’t cover modified parts or misuse. Plans range from bumper-to-bumper warranties to basic powertrain coverage, and they can be a lifesaver when an expensive repair pops up. Many people buy them for the peace of mind that their car (and budget) is taken care of.
What Drivers Are Saying
In our latest extended warranty consumer survey of 1,000 participants, over 86 percent of respondents that owned a Ford were offered extended car warranty coverage at the dealership during their vehicle purchase, and 82 percent of those that went on to purchase the manufacturer warranty were satisfied with the coverage.
One driver with a brand new Ford Escape indicated that he was very pleased with his Ford extended warranty purchase.
“I needed to have the air conditioner clutch replaced, along with the head gasket because it burned up,” he said. “Total cost was $2,638.71. I paid my $50 deductible, and [the] $2,588.71 savings was more than [the] original cost of the extended service warranty… I will always recommend to everyone [you] know to cover themselves.”
That said, manufacturer-backed protection isn’t the only available option. Almost 63 percent of Ford owners in our survey said they would consider purchasing an extended warranty from a third-party provider. If you’re looking for flexible coverage terms and a wide variety of plans to choose from, you may want to consider going the third-party route.
Ford Maintenance Cost: Conclusion
According to RepairPal, Ford ownership costs are more than the average. While keeping up with your Ford’s routine maintenance can help you to avoid a costly mechanical breakdown, you may still suffer from one as your car ages. If you’re looking to lessen the blow of repair costs, consider an extended warranty for your Ford model.
Our Top Picks For Extended Car Warranties
We’ve spent over 1,475 hours of research on extended warranties. We’ve read thousands of customer reviews, surveyed past and present warranty owners, gathered hundreds of quotes, and even bought plans for our own team vehicles. This research has led to the development of our ratings methodology, which has helped us rate more than 40 independent warranty companies based on their industry standing, coverage, cost, transparency, and customer service.
We’ve found that the best extended warranty companies will give you time to go over the whole contract and make sure you understand everything. Here’s what you can expect to find from the top providers on the market today:
- Coverage up to 250,000 miles
- Repair shop is paid directly by the warranty company
- Choice of any certified repair shop you want
- Low or $0 deductibles per visit
- Perks like roadside assistance and rental car benefits
Our team mystery shopped with every independent extended warranty provider we reviewed and found average monthly rates to be between $120 and $135 across the most popular makes and models in the industry. The total price of a warranty depends on many factors but averages around $3,000, according to our research.
All of our top recommended providers perform well in areas like customer service, industry reputation, and coverage options.
Ford Auto Maintenance Costs: FAQ
Here are a few frequently asked questions about Ford maintenance costs:
Are Fords expensive to maintain?
According to RepairPal, the average yearly cost to maintain and repair a Ford is $775. This is almost 19 percent more than the average maintenance cost across all automakers, which is $652.
Are Fords reliable cars?
Ford was given a 3.5 out of 5.0 rating through RepairPal for its reliability. While RepairPal says that this is above average, it puts Ford at 21st out of 32 total car brands.
How much does scheduled car maintenance cost?
Scheduled maintenance costs can vary depending on what needs to be done. A standard oil change and tire rotation could cost between $100 and $200. Adding brake pads or replacing hoses will add to that cost.
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
- Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
- Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
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