Originally Posted by JRTJH

I know this thread is almost 2 years old, but wanted to add my recent experiences with my 2015 Lariat. This summer I kept getting a check engine light and using my OBD scanner, it kept indicating DEF problems. I took it to Ford after the 3rd or 4th time of resetting the CEL. Ford indicated a tech bulletin and Customer Satisfaction Program that would change out the tank/pump with no charge to me. They changed it and on the way home, the CEL came on again. Back to Ford and on the way, the truck went into limp mode and I "idled the remaining 4 miles to the dealership. They indicated the SCR needed to be replaced, at a cost of about $5k. YIKES !!!!! Well, I went to the internet and started searching, found more Customer Satisfaction Programs, one which provided for changing the SCR (at Ford's expense) if certain DTC's were present. Sure enough, all those codes were present, but before Ford would approve the repairs, they wanted a complete historical service record for the truck. Fortunately for me, the only service done anywhere but the dealership was changing out tires. It took almost 2 months to get the truck back (national shortage of parts due to COVID) at least that's what Ford said, but Ford picked up the entire tab for repairs at the tune of almost $7K by the time they replaced the NOX sensors, the SCR, changed out the DEF tank a second time (don't ask me why, the service manager couldn't answer that question either), but since then, the truck has run great with no further CEL's. All this started at around 68K miles on a 7 year old truck.

Fortunately for me, even though I've been tempted to take shortcuts, install a "modest tune" and do some other things to the truck, I never did "take that plunge" and the truck was "bone stock with all service done at the dealership" (oil changes, front brakes, fuel/air filter changes and coolant change) While I'm not advocating that owners shouldn't do their own maintenance, I would suggest that if you do, keep receipts and good records....

While everyone has different experiences and feelings about service and especially about Ford standing behind their products, at least in this situation, Ford "did good by me". I side-stepped a major repair cost, largely because I didn't "make changes that might be considered a violation of warranty"... Sure, I could have fought the decision (if Ford had refused to repair) but with the truck "all stock" I didn't have to face that battle.... Why do I post any of this?? As posted previously, if buying a used truck, what the previous owner may have done can be of significant consequence "down the road".....

Originally Posted by B-Rad88

I ended up changing my mind. It was a in the moment thing and it was right before used truck prices sky rocketed. I ended up buying another house instead, and have been putting all my time/money into it. And then bought a new corolla. So im sticking with the 2001 F350. Its reliable and does what i need, when i need it to. The only thing I don't like is that it's a short bed.

New goal for the wife and I is to leave Phoenix and buy land somewhere that's cheap. Most likely keep this truck as a work type truck and buy another truck later on. I have a 1988 suburban project i was going to cummins or 6.0 powerstroke swap too but since land is our goal, im selling it now. Life happens. I would have loved to have got that 2015 King Ranch, but paying that much for a used truck with 150K miles to me doesn't make sense these days. It does to a lot of people, because they have been paying that for over a year now.

Honestly, if I could score a good deal on a 1999-2000 F350 dually 4x4 crew 7.3 in decent shape that's reasonably priced, I'd probably go for it.