Is the 3.5L Ecoboost really that bad? Anyone else with this engine?

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

Out of all the cars I’ve had, ranging from 1984 to 2022 models, this is the best engine I’ve ever owned. Bought my 2018 new, and it’s been super reliable. I’ve only done oil changes, air filters, spark plugs (once at 75k), and a new battery this year. It’s been a smooth ride.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

Make sure to check the exhaust manifold studs.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

I love my 2020 3.5L. It’s been across the country a few times with no problems and pulls my 6,000 lbs boat with ease. Great family truck too.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

I had both a 2014 and a 2016 3.5L Ecoboost. Both had around 130k miles when I traded them in. The only issue I ever had was with the 2014, which needed an O2 sensor and a brake booster replacement. Other than that, I think it’s a great engine. Just make sure you’re diligent with oil changes.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

If you’re buying, try to get a 2017 or newer. I think that’s when they added both port and direct injection. Earlier models tend to need carbon buildup cleaned off the intake valves eventually.

Lennon said:

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

If you’re buying, try to get a 2017 or newer. I think that’s when they added both port and direct injection. Earlier models tend to need carbon buildup cleaned off the intake valves eventually.

Yep, and they also switched to two shorter timing chains instead of one long chain. That helped reduce timing issues that were more common in earlier models.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

I’ve had my 2011 XLT 3.5 Ecoboost since 2013, and it now has 140k miles. I’ve never had any drivetrain issues, just keeping up with the usual maintenance.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

It really depends on how it’s been cared for. If the previous owner did regular maintenance and took good care of it, the turbo shouldn’t be an issue. But if they neglected it, then you could run into trouble.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

Make sure to have the turbos inspected by a third-party mechanic before you buy. That’s around the mileage where they tend to fail.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

Not at all! Every engine has its problems. With the 3.5, the common issues are cam phasers and eventually needing to replace the turbos. It’s just part of owning a vehicle, though. Whether you go for a 5.0 or an Ecoboost depends on your needs.

With that mileage, you may be closer to turbo replacement, but it might still be a while off.

Oakley said:

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

Not at all! Every engine has its problems. With the 3.5, the common issues are cam phasers and eventually needing to replace the turbos. It’s just part of owning a vehicle, though. Whether you go for a 5.0 or an Ecoboost depends on your needs.

With that mileage, you may be closer to turbo replacement, but it might still be a while off.

Thanks! I carry about 100-150 pounds of equipment to work every day, and my commute is about 25-30 miles. Do you think it’s still worth the price?

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

I’ve got a 2014 Limited EB and it’s been rock solid. Change your oil regularly, and the engine will run like a champ! They tow like a diesel and are just fun to drive.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

I had a 2012 Lariat 3.5. I had a few issues with coolant fittings, random misfires, and a cracked exhaust manifold at around 150k miles. It was mostly dealer-maintained on schedule. It was great when it worked, but I had to spend a lot on repairs, and it got towed a few times in the last 50k miles. My personal experience makes me hesitant to buy another one, but I know some people have had better luck.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

I’ve got a 2014 3.5 with 118k miles, and it’s still running fine. No cam phaser issues. If you go for it, look into the intercooler weep hole and change the oil with full synthetic every 5k miles. Keep up with plugs and transmission fluid changes too. The 3.5 is a great engine if you take care of it.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

Thanks for this post! I’m picking up the same canopy next Thursday (it wasn’t cheap!). Glad to see what it looks like.

Evanderjay said:

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

Thanks for this post! I’m picking up the same canopy next Thursday (it wasn’t cheap!). Glad to see what it looks like.

No problem! I’m making my final decision this weekend, so I’ll post an update soon.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

In my experience, the 2015-2016 years were the best for the 3.5. The phasers in Gen 1 engines are less of an issue if you stay on top of maintenance, and I prefer the mechanical wastegates in those years over the electronic ones in Gen 2. My 2019 Gen 2 needed a full engine replacement at 105k miles because it spun a bearing, even though I had just replaced the phasers at 100k.

Kenzie said:

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

In my experience, the 2015-2016 years were the best for the 3.5. The phasers in Gen 1 engines are less of an issue if you stay on top of maintenance, and I prefer the mechanical wastegates in those years over the electronic ones in Gen 2. My 2019 Gen 2 needed a full engine replacement at 105k miles because it spun a bearing, even though I had just replaced the phasers at 100k.

My friend has a 2016 3.5 with 170k miles on the original turbos and phasers. As long as you keep up with maintenance, these engines will last a long time.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

I have a 2016 3.5 XLT with 100k miles. Bought it last year and I’ve already had a few issues. The Gen 1 turbos are a pain, and I just had to replace the front engine cover. No cam phaser issues yet, though. If I could go back, I’d get a newer 2.7 since I don’t tow much.

Liam said:
Looking for some advice:

I’m thinking of buying a truck and I found this 2016 3.5L Ecoboost priced at $26,588 with around 93,899 miles on it. I took it for a test drive and it feels good to be back in a bigger vehicle again, but I’ve been hearing mixed opinions about the first generation of this engine. What issues should I be on the lookout for? Also, I noticed some small things like a low fuel pressure warning and a couple of missing outlets. CARFAX says it’s a one-owner vehicle and they kept up with maintenance. Thoughts?

That seems like a good price to me. The 3.5 is a solid engine, but like any, some have issues. Just make sure you get it checked out by a mechanic before buying.