A Ford F-150 owner is facing a hell of a bill no truck enthusiast wants to deal with: a failing engine barely five years into ownership.

The truck, equipped with the 5.0L Coyote V8 and the black appearance package, has always been maintained at a Ford dealership and fed premium gas. The driver swears it’s been pampered, driven responsibly, and logged just under 128,000 kilometers (that’s about 79,500 miles).

Yet recently, the F-150’s engine light came on and a faint rattle sounded

Within minutes, the driver was at the dealer. But only to be told the entire engine needs replacement due to worn piston rings.

The timing couldn’t be worse

The truck is still under the mileage limits of its warranty, but the clock on time expired a month ago.

The dealer hasn’t confirmed whether Ford corporate will step in to help. The silence is leaving the owner balking at a $17,000 repair bill.

What went wrong here?

For starters, 2018 to 2020 F-150 5.0L Coyote V8 engines are notorious for burning oil

Early owners often reported excessive oil consumption. Sometimes, it’s enough to damage cylinder walls and piston rings if levels weren’t checked consistently.

While Ford issued updates and recommended switching from 5W20 to 5W30 oil, many engines still developed issues that weren’t always preventable.

A slight rattle, like the one heard, often points to timing chain tensioners or phasers operating with low oil pressure, which can escalate quickly if overlooked.

Reddit weighed in with suggestions

Some advised taking the truck to an independent shop rather than the dealer, pointing out cases where out-of-warranty engines were repaired for a fraction of the dealer quote.

One former F-150 owner reported sourcing a used engine from a totaled truck, swapping it in for a few thousand dollars instead of paying the full Ford price.

Others stressed that regular oil checks (monthly, not just at service intervals) could catch issues before they become catastrophic.

There’s also a possibility of goodwill coverage from Ford

While standard warranties might be expired, the company occasionally covers repairs for loyal customers under special programs.

Success isn’t guaranteed, and much depends on the dealership’s relationship with the customer and documented maintenance history.

Even F-150 trucks with “Built Ford Tough” reputations can develop known mechanical problems

Staying on top of oil levels, understanding engine quirks, and exploring independent repair options can make the difference between a manageable fix and a financial headache.

For this F-150 owner, the coming days will reveal whether Ford steps up…or leaves a loyal customer out to dry. If they want to keep him, they best make good on the trouble.