USED TRUCK RELEVANT: 2015 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4 Steve Purdy Snowy Icy Review +VIDEO

2015 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4 Reliability As Of March 16, 2023 Based on the search results, there are mixed opinions about the reliability of the 2015 Ford F-150. Some reviews praise the vehicle for its reliability, powerful engine choices, exceptional towing and hauling capabilities [1], and impressive handling. Other reviews suggest that there have been issues with doors, hood, and tailgate repeatedly becoming misaligned and being crooked with uneven gaps between body parts [2], which could indicate potential reliability issues. It's worth noting that individual experiences with a vehicle can vary, and it's always a good idea to do your own research and consider factors such as maintenance, driving conditions, and usage patterns when evaluating a vehicle's reliability. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any specific information available about the reliability of the 2015 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4 model [2]. It may be helpful to consult other resources such as automotive forums or consumer reports to get a better idea of the reliability of this specific model.

SEE ALSO: 43 2015 Ford F-150 Videos

2015 FORD F-150 LARIAT
Road Trip Review
By Steve Purdy
The Auto Channel
Michigan Bureau

The accommodating folks at Ford agreed to provide this new aluminum-bodied F-150 Lariat for a long road trip to Amelia Island, Florida where I would cover the fantastic Concours d’Elgance. That would be about 2,500 miles in six days and a 19-hour drive each way. As it turned out I had a scheduling anomaly (wrong dates on my calendar) so I had to rethink my plan. Unfortunately, the Concours date was the following week and would work for neither the F-150 nor I.

So, instead of that long drive to Florida I decided on a 4-day “writers retreat” (I’m calling it) to northern Michigan – Traverse City to be precise – where we’ll find beautiful winter scenery and perhaps a few driving challenges to test our 4-wheel drive pickup. It will be a shorter jaunt and not as gratifying but still a decent solitary road trip. My pretty wife found a great off-season deal for me on a room at the Bayshore Resort near downtown right on the shore of the West Bay and she sent me off with a smile. (Not sure what she has planned while I’m gone.) As I left home just after the truck arrived a light freezing rain began to fall glazing the already snowy roads and offering an opportunity to immediately experience the 4-wheel drive system on our F-150.

The 2015 F-150 made huge news at the North American International Auto Show in January of 2014. Ford announced this new generation of the best selling vehicle in the U.S. market would have an aluminum body – first in the industry – saving hundreds of pounds. Journalists immediately began to speculate about the wisdom of the plan questioning the cost of aluminum, its repairability and even availability. Between the aluminum body panels and more than doubling the percentage of high-strength steel used in the fully boxed frame they’ve actually saved around 700 pounds. We’ll see if that is manifest in fuel economy.

The F-150 offers a 4-engine lineup including two EcoBoost 6-cylinder engines – 2.7- and 3.5-liters – both of which make horsepower and torque greater than most standard V8s. The normally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 is the standard powerplant and Ford still offers the 5.0-liter V8. Our Lariat (mid-trim level) 4X4 is equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost rated at 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. That’s about 20 less horsepower but about 10% more torque than the V8. Our EPA rating shows 17 mpg in the city, 23 on the highway and 19 combined, using regular fuel. No more than 2 mpg separates the EPA ratings of any of these four engines. One six-speed automatic transmission serves all these engines.

Under normal driving conditions (without cargo or trailer) this 3.5-liter EcoBoost is a powerful engine. Acceleration is brisk but the mileage was not as good as I had expected. We managed just 17.4 mpg in our week of testing and that was mostly on back roads at 50 to 60 mph. Kudos, though, to the Ford acoustic engineers who make it sound like a hot rod on full throttle. The transmission shifts quickly up and down whether in fully automatic or using the manual mode.

While the main roads were slowly glazing over it was the back roads that still had significant snow cover and offered the greatest challenge. Of course, those are the ones I chose. Four settings control our driving dynamics – two-wheel drive, automatic four-wheel drive, full-time four-wheel high and four-wheel drive low range. I tried all but the low range on the way north preferring the automatic setting for most of these slippery road conditions. I found one opportunity while up north to engage the low-range setting and take advantage of substantial ground clearance as I skittered down an unplowed two-track leading to a beachside trailhead east of Glen Haven. Our Lariat 4X4 handled that challenge admirably. Without any weight in the bed it felt a bit light in the rear but it never got too jittery or enough off kilter to cause any concern.

Neither interior nor exterior design breaks much new ground. Both are attractive and functional although I found many of the interior details less than optimal. Large knobs for audio and climate control allow operation with work gloves but icons on the navigation/multi-function screen and the other dash controls are small and often hard to see and manage. We love the 110v outlet on the center stack and the cavernous center console with plenty of storage options but my favorite element inside was the meaty pistol-grip shifter that more than filled my fist. I found the interior materials, including the leather seating, very nice and everything fit and functioned well except the memory seats that returned to a default position each time I left the truck requiring me to reset my position each time I returned. Generous and comfortable rear seating has become standard in just about all full-size pickups and this one is no exception. The rear seat base folds upward easily, leaving a flat floor for cargo. You’ll certainly want the running board option on the 4X4 versions of the truck since it sits so high.

Different options effect both towing and hauling limits. We have the optional 3.31 rear end and that means we can haul about 3,000 pounds of cargo and tow about 10,000 pounds of trailer. Properly equipped the F-150 can tow up to 12,000 pounds.

Our F-150 4X4 Supercrew Lariat with short bed shows a base price of $44,465. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost adds about $1,200, and the Rapid Spec Package adds another $5,400. Along with a few other minor options and a substantial $1,200 destination charge our sticker shows a bottom line of $58,975. The F-150 line starts at about $25,500 for the unadorned and goes to over $50,000 loaded.

Ford’s new truck warranty covers the F-150 for 3 years or 36,000 miles and the powertrain for 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Michigan-built Ford F-150 has been the best selling vehicle in the U.S. for many years in spite of intense competition from Chevy, GMC and Ram. Even Toyota appears to be gaining ground in this segment. The new F-150 is selling so well Ford just began production at another U.S. plant to keep up with demand.

Having reviewed most of the new pickups, regular and super-duty, I’ll forthrightly report that none stand out from the crowd. They are all very good indeed. They are not all alike though with very different powertrains, convenience options, levels of trim and capacities. For example, Ram is the only regular-duty to offer a diesel and they have the way cool saddlebag toolbox built into the rear fender. The Chevy and GMC have a slick and efficient new 8-speed transmission and more luxurious trim. This F-150 has an optional step that emerges from the tailgate. That would be indispensable for me.

The point is, if you’re shopping for a full-size pickup and you don’t have a loyalty issue that will make your decision for you, this will be an overwhelming task if you do it right. They are all so good.

Good luck!