10 Ford Trucks You Should NEVER Buy!

Do. Not. Buy.

If you're shopping for a used Ford truck, you are spoiled for choice. Whether you are looking for a desert running off-roader or a heavy-duty work truck, Ford has you covered. And because Ford builds and sells so many trucks, there are many thousands for sale at any one time. You should have no problem finding the perfect truck.

As long as it isn’t one of these ten...

When we say that you shouldn’t buy these ten trucks, we're not suggesting that you stay away from any particular Ford truck model or trim or engine. What we're saying is that you should avoid these ten types of trucks. While there are exceptions to every rule, these ten types of trucks have the highest risk of causing you problems and ruining your truck experience.

Thankfully, because there are so many Ford trucks out there, you can afford to be picky. Don’t get too anxious and rush into a mistake. In our opinion, buying any of the trucks listed below would be setting you up for disappointment.

1. A Truck With a Rusty Frame

Be sure to look under the truck before buying. It might look amazing up top, but that doesn’t mean rust isn’t lurking underneath. Especially if it has a shiny frame that looks freshly painted. The newer aluminum trucks are less prone to rusting bodies, but the frames can still rust out. Water, mud, and gunk can get into the frame and cause serious rust issues. This is easy to avoid with a thorough inspection.  Do your due diligence before buying.

2. A Truck With Cam Phaser Rattle

Ah, the infamous cam phaser issue. Some will tell you the issue is overblown. However, there have been enough reports of failing cam phasers that it is something you have to take seriously. If you start up a Ford truck, especially one from around 2017 to 2020 with the 3.5L EcoBoost or the earlier 5.4L 3V Triton, and it rattles at startup, you might want to move on to another truck right there. You might be looking at expensive repairs in the near future so don’t take the risk.

3. A Truck With Shoddy Aftermarket Parts

Buying a modified truck can be a great move. Oftentimes, it's less expensive to buy an already-modified truck than modifying one on your own. However, not all modifications are created equal. A lift kit from Icon Vehicle Dynamics is going to be superior to Joe’s Discount Lift Kit. Not only will the high-quality parts last longer and perform better, but it's also a sign that the current owner doesn’t cut corners.

4. A Truck Without Service Records

Trust but verify. If you're looking at a used Ford truck and the owner tells you the truck was serviced by Ford every 5,000 miles, that's great. But if there's no paperwork to prove it, then how do you really know if that's true? Those service records are critical, and we would recommend you buy the well-documented truck over one without records. Let this also serve as a reminder for those who already have a truck. Keep your service records! The next owner is going to want to see them.

5. Any Used Truck Whose Owner Refuses a PPI

If you're looking at a used truck, it's always a good idea to have a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) completed. If the owner refuses your inspection request, that could be a red flag. The PPI can protect both the buyer and seller by disclosing any potential issues before a sale is made. If you're looking at a truck without service records and the owner doesn’t allow a PPI, run away.

6. A Truck With a Sagging Suspension and Uneven Tire Wear

A Ford truck with a towing history is no issue at all. That's why many of these trucks were bought in the first place and what they are designed to do. (Although you may want to have the PPI mechanic check the trans fluid, but that's another topic.)

However, if you are looking at a truck with a sagging suspension and tires with uneven wear, that could be a sign that the truck was towed beyond its capabilities. If a truck is repeatedly towing beyond its limits, it's going to experience greater wear on components. Keep an eye out for this.

7. A Truck With Multiple Owners in a Short Timeframe

Are you looking at a 2023 truck with six owners? Why? The truck might be totally fine, and there could be legitimate reasons why the truck was resold every six months. But why take the risk? It's also possible that the truck has persistent problems, and the owners would rather get rid of the truck than deal with the headache.

8. A Budget Buster

We would all love an F-350 Platinum with the high-output 6.7L. However, it's not worth destroying your family budget for one. It can be tempting to overspend when looking at a truck. But try to set a budget before shopping and stick to it. That F-350 is great, but eating ramen every night is not so great. Stressing over money is going to drain the joy out of your truck-owning experience.

9. The First Truck You Drive

If you're not familiar with trucks -- or you're jumping between different truck types or different engine types -- test drive multiple models to get a feel for how they should perform. If you've never driven an F-150 before, you might think that the harsh ride is normal until you drive another one and realize that isn’t normal and the first one just had worn shocks. The first truck you drive may very well be a great truck. But we recommend trying several to get a feel for them before dropping your hard-earned cash on the table.  

10. A Truck That Is More (or Less) Than You Need

Don’t buy a Ford Maverick if you're going to be towing a horse trailer every weekend. And there's no need to waste the money on a Super Duty if you live in a city center and might tow a landscape trailer once a year. It is better to err on the side of buying a truck with capabilities slightly above what you need today. However, buying more than you need has downsides as well, from initial cost, to maintenance, to fuel, and so on. Try to buy the truck that is the right size for you. 

Images: Ford; Joe Kucinski