Kane Dan
When Ford decided to put out high-performance pickup trucks, it decided to give them the nameplate Ford Raptor.
It drew its name from the dinosaur, the Velociraptor, and the birds of prey and covered at least three different lineups of cars.
While you may have heard of the Ford Ranger and Bronco, the F150 is mostly discussed when discussing the Ford Raptor.
This is also because the Ford Bronco would be code-named the Warthog, and the Ranger Raptor would not be sold in the United States.
For this reason, I will look into the best and worst years for Ford Raptor.
These years will include the following:
Worst Years for Ford Raptor:
- 2013
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2014
Best Years for Ford Raptor:
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2019
- 2018
Make sure to read the rest of the article because I will be going in-depth into all of these years. I will also discuss the Ford Raptor and what you should expect from the car.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What Are The Worst Years For The Ford Raptor? Which Years To Avoid
When it comes to issues, these models are full of them. Unless you want to constantly repair your Ford Raptor, I recommend staying away from these models.
1. 2013 Ford Raptor
While it is a decent Ford F-150 year at best, when you compare it to the other years with a raptor, the 2013 Ford Raptor is probably one of the worst models for the nameplate.
This is mostly because of the insane number of complaints the year had for the model, which hurt its reputation.
The 2013 Ford Raptor had a lot of everything. Engine issues, brake problems, transmission faults, and the list goes on and on.
I’ll start with the engine first since it is the most crucial part of any car. The engine would leak oil, and loss of power was common. It would constantly shudder and stall as well.
The brakes are also no stranger to failure, often locking up and pulsating. The rotors would also often need a replacement.
The transmission was also prone to erratic shifting and would often get stuck in the first gear. This was accompanied by leaking and a buzzing noise.
2. 2010 Ford Raptor
Even though it came three years before the last discussed model, the 2010 Ford Raptor gets second place on this list because of its lower amount of complaints.
This should not keep you from the fact that it still had many complaints that had to be addressed.
Transmission issues were common, which included shuddering, slipping, failure and inconsistency.
The rear window was poor quality and would often shatter. Water would leak into the interior, and rusting took place.
To wrap it up, engine failure was also common, and spark plug ejection was along with it. Overall, it was a difficult experience.
3. 2011 Ford Raptor
The next model on this list is the 2011 Ford Raptor. I am placing this model in 3rd place because of its various issues, which were high in amount.
You should, however, know they were less in number when compared to the previous two models, hence the 3rd spot.
The problems are as you’d expect. Engine stalling and failure are common sights, and the rear window issue was still not fixed from the previous model.
The steering would stick when turning, and the power steering was faulty. Hard shifting was also common, and so was a loss of power and transmission failure.
4. 2012 Ford Raptor
One of the better models on this list, the 2012 Ford Raptor, gets 4th place because of its high amount of engine problems which took the car by storm.
While it did have other issues, the engine problems were the most prominent, which is why I will mainly be talking about them.
Starting, the main thing you could feel was losing power while driving. The engine was prone to constant misfires, and this was especially so under hard acceleration.
Ticking noise was common throughout the engine, as well as the fact that it would die when in wet or humid weather.
5. 2014 Ford Raptor
Due to its relatively low number of complaints, I will discuss the 2014 Ford Raptor as the last model on this list.
While it was a pretty good car, it had many problems that held it back. These issues included engine problems, braking issues, and transmission errors.
Blown engines and turbos were common in this model, and the engine had a habit of losing power.
There was vibration while braking, and the brakes would squeal when applied. There were random downshifts while driving, hesitation, and erratic shuddering.
All of this made the 2014 Ford Raptor very annoying to deal with.
What Are The Best Years For The Ford Raptor? Which Years To Buy
Now that you know which models are best to avoid with all certainty, it is time I tell you which models you should look into.
The models mentioned below are a great choice:
1. 2020 Ford Raptor
Starting this list with a rather recent model, I will discuss the 2020 Ford Raptor.
While it is still early in its lifespan, the 2020 Ford Raptor has a relatively low amount of early issues and shows no sign of developing any in the future, which is why I opted to place it in the first place.
The 2020 Ford Raptor shows great agility when driving on city streets, especially for a pickup truck. The ride has been refined to near perfection and offers great driving quality.
This is something else when you notice the towing potential it has with its EcoBoost turbo engine. When it comes to this year for the Ford Raptor, there is no parallel.
The developments in the 2019 model were seen directly here in the 2020 Ford Raptor and showed just how much potential the Raptor trim nameplate had.
2. 2021 Ford Raptor
Going a year into the future, I present the 2021 Ford Raptor, which takes second place because it further refinements to the 2020 Ford Raptor.
While it is easily a contender for first place, I opted to give it second place because it is too early to develop any substantial issues that can always arise.
This should not put you behind the attractive styling this car brings along with the luxurious interior.
The 2021 Ford Raptor has installed innovative technology, which makes the car stand out.
The optional features it brings are a great addition while still having a great number of standard features.
3. 2022 Ford Raptor
The same reason I used for the 2020 Ford Raptor apply to the 2022 Ford Raptor, making it the reason I placed it at 3rd place.
It is shaping up to be a stellar model, but whether it will reach that position, only time will tell.
The 2020 Ford Raptor brought great changes, such as a new appearance and various utility packages.
The Raptor trim specifically gets a boost in performance and speed as well, which is exactly what people want from this trim of the F150.
If you want sheer power on top of the improvements of the 2021 model, this year is perfect for you.
4. 2019 Ford Raptor
2019 was the start of what I would say, the golden age of the Ford Raptor, which is why I decided to talk about this model at 4th place on this list.
Once again, the car brings many refinements and agility, which you cannot find in other cars. These features alone separate the Ford Raptor from other pickup trucks.
While it is, by all means, a great car, I opted to place it at 4th place because it is, by all means, a stepping stone for the lineup as a whole.
It had great improvements, but future models simply added much more to the formula, making me place this model lower on the list.
5. 2018 Ford Raptor
The second model in the 2nd generation of the Ford Raptor, the 2018 Ford Raptor, can make its way on this list due to its superiority over the 2017 model.
It paved the way for the 2019 model, a launching point for the lineup, which is why the 2018 Ford Raptor deserves to be mentioned on this list.
This particular year has a good amount of value for the price. Many consumers who got this year’s Ford Raptor were extremely happy with the car and gave it amazing ratings.
As expected, the 2018 Ford Raptor provides the towing potential and power you expect from the series.
How Reliable Is A Ford Raptor?
With the amount of power and speed this car provides, it is always the question of whether the car is reliable or not and will stick by you.
You will be happy to know that if you take good care of the Ford Raptor, it can be a very reliable car that you can depend on till its last few miles.
Not only can you expect the car to last a very long time, but despite the expensive-sounding nature, it is not as high as you would expect.
How Long Do Ford Raptors Last?
Given the best care and maintenance, the Ford Raptor can last you well over 300,000 miles which is a great amount for a pickup truck.
On the other hand, if you do not take care of the Ford Raptor, you can see it fall below 200,000 miles.
Overall you should expect anything between this range and typically should be able to cross 250,000 miles.
What To Do To Lengthen The Life Of Your Ford Raptor
You should carry out these activities to increase its lifespan and get the most out of the Ford Raptor:
- Use quality parts and replacement components.
- Do not hard shift or hard brake.
- Check tire pressure regularly.
- Stay within the max towing capacity.
- Drive sensibly.
- Polish car every 6 to 8 months.
All these factors should significantly boost the life of your Ford Raptor so make sure to follow them.
Things That Shorten The Lifespan Of Your Ford Raptor
Just as you can increase the life of your Ford Raptor, there are ways you can decrease its health and lifespan.
Here are a few of those activities which you should avoid:
- Using cheap fuel.
- Driving on rough terrain.
- Not doing regular maintenance.
- Keeping the car in the sun or the cold for too long.
- Keeping the lights on for a long time.
- Running on fumes.
Above pointers should be avoided in any case so that your Ford Raptor can last long.
3 Most Ford Raptor Common Problems You Should Know
I have discussed many issues with the Ford Raptor in this article and would like to highlight the major ones in one section.
Here, I will talk extensively about the issues which are very common to experience when it comes to the Ford Raptor.
It should be known that most of these problems were only found in the first generation of the Ford Raptor.
1. Braking issues
Braking is an integral part of your car, which is why there should be no room for error when it comes to them.
Despite knowing this, many models of the Ford Raptor have shown various issues in their brakes.
These can be small and annoying issues such as squealing but can also be grave issues such as the brakes locking.
This can pose a very dangerous threat to the driver, any passengers, and other people on the road, eventually leading to an accident.
Vibration in the brakes is also very common and could get really annoying really fast.
2. Transmission Problems
Every car has some degree of transmission issues, but the Ford Raptor has had various issues when it comes to transmission.
These issues have spanned many models, especially in the early years of the nameplate. These made it very difficult for the driver to shift the gears, often resulting in hard shifts.
Sometimes, the transmission would get stuck on the first gear, and other times it would randomly downshift.
Not only is this extremely annoying, but it can also cause a lot of complications on other systems of the car. This can eventually lead to an entirely new set of issues as well.
3. Engine Complications
Engines are no strangers to issues which is why it is not surprising to talk about engine problems when it comes to the Ford Raptor.
What is surprising is the number of engine problems that the nameplate has had to deal with.
Engine failure was surprisingly common despite being a major problem which is anything but cheap to get fixed.
Oil leaks were very common, and so were stalling. This stalling would only increase with speed and sometimes lead to power loss while driving, which is another huge detriment.
Luckily, you should not see these issues in the newer generations of the Ford Raptor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is Ford Raptor A Good Car?
The Ford Raptor is, by all means, a good car.
Not only does it provide a great amount of speed and power for its price, but it also lasts for a considerable long time and also shows a great amount of potential.
It is a great pickup truck that you should consider buying.
Q2: Do Ford Raptors Hold Their Value?
The Ford Raptor does a pretty good job of holding its value.
It has a 44% depreciation rate in 5 years which is average for most cars, so you can expect the Ford Raptor to hold a decent amount of value.
Within five years, this may not be the case.
Q3: How Many Ford Raptors Have Been Sold?
Since the Ford Raptor is a trim of the Ford F-150, it is difficult to get a specific read on the nameplate when it comes to units sold.
I can tell you that the Ford F-150 has sold over 12.8 million units in the United States alone. A considerable amount of these has to be the Ford Raptor.
Q4: Which Ford Raptor Engine Is The Most Reliable?
The 2020 model seems to be the most reliable and comes with the Twin Turbo Regular Unleaded V6 engine.
This engine has 3.5 L of displacement and outputs over 450 HP. This is a good amount of HP for a pickup truck. The engine is also great on mileage and has fewer to no issues.
Q5: Is Ford Raptor Expensive To Maintain?
Since many consider the Ford Raptor to be one of the greatest pickup trucks ever made, you cannot expect the car to be cheap to fix.
You will find yourself spending $10,000 over a span of 10 years on the car at a minimum, and this is assuming you do not run into a major issue.
Conclusion
The Ford Raptor shows the agility of a racing car and the speed and performance of one, all in the shape of a pickup truck.
This is something that is notably praiseworthy, especially because it remains a great pickup truck and has great towing potential.
This is one of the many reasons why people love the Ford Raptor and regard it as the best pickup truck in the company.
If you were looking into the Ford Raptor, you should now be able to tell between the best and worst years for Ford Raptor and get yourself the perfect model.
