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An image of a 2021 Ford F-150 outdoors.

Is Getting a Preproduction 2021 Ford F-150 a Bad Thing?

Are you tired of waiting for the 2021 Ford F-150? Well, you may not have to wait much longer. There is a secret stockpile of Ford F-150 trucks that are waiting to have last-minute quality checks. Then they will be on their way to dealers.  The stockpile of 2021 Ford F-150 trucks is ready to …

Are you tired of waiting for the 2021 Ford F-150? Well, you may not have to wait much longer. There is a secret stockpile of Ford F-150 trucks that are waiting to have last-minute quality checks. Then they will be on their way to dealers. 

The stockpile of 2021 Ford F-150 trucks is ready to move 

According to Car Buzz, there are over 6,000 2021 Ford F-150 models that are almost ready to go. If you drive near the Detroit Metro Airport on I-95, you can see thousands of preproduction Ford F-150’s lined up. 

They have been stockpiled in anticipation of huge demand. This was a solid move by Ford because dealerships can’t wait to get these models in stock as demand has already exceeded supply and may not slow down anytime soon. 

An image of a 2021 Ford F-150 outdoors.
2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid | Ford

This fleet of F-150’s will have a final quality check before being shipped out. They had a delay because they were built in the Dearborn truck plant while engineers were still testing prototypes. As Ford became aware of the growing demand, it decided to proceed with production ahead of schedule. 

Are preproduction Ford F-150 models good trucks? 

The preproduction Ford F-150 models are undergoing last-minute inspections in case they require software updates or mechanical adjustments. The specific details haven’t been released, and Ford also won’t state how many of these stockpiled trucks are available. 

An anonymous source claimed that there are about 6,000 to 7,000 models in the stockpile. Ford’s decision to begin the 2021 F-150 production early is a little risky due to potential quality issues. 

Hopefully, the quality checks will catch issues. Also, the fact that these earlier build examples need a final quality check is a significant downside as it slows them down. Current models of the Ford F-150 are being shipped without delays. 

Is the Ford F-150 struggling with delays? 

A majority of auto manufacturers have been facing delays due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Some manufacturing sites were closed to protect workers, and others switched to manufacturing personal protective equipment. 

According to Torque News, some 2021 Ford F-150 models will be delivered on schedule, but other models have been delayed. For example, the King Ranch trim with the Max Recline seats have been delayed until the end of December. The Ford F-150 isn’t being delayed until next summer like the Ford Bronco is. The Ford Bronco faces separate supply issues. 

While Ford is ramping up production to avoid a major F-150 delay, consumers and dealerships are getting a little nervous. This is the most popular selling truck, so they can’t afford to drop the ball with this one. 

2021 Ford F-150 Tremor
2021 Ford F-150 Tremor | Ford

Early build examples, and the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator suffered from various issues due to the rushed production at the Chicago Assembly Plant. This caused a stockpile of 2020 models that needed to be fixed. 

Issues included air-conditioning system problems, suspension problems, transmission problems, emergency brake problems, and more. Ford claims they were spread too thin for the production of both SUVs. Hopefully, they learned their lesson and won’t make the same mistake with the F-150

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