2019 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 53owner reports
- 65,000median miles
- $5,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 21, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
374 of the 1,329 complaints on this car are about the engine. 53 of those describe engine failure.
Narrower sheets: Engine knocking or ticking (27 reports)
Tick what matches of 53 reports
Engine failure on other F-150 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (45 reports), the timing chain (9 reports) and the turbo (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2019 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.
All 9 recalls on the 2019 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the F-150
Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.
Reduced power during hard acceleration. Closed apr 7, 2014.
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed aug 31, 1994.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed jul 30, 1993.
None of these investigations covers the 2019 model year.
What owners paid
9 of the 53 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,500 to $10,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 23,504 and 89,000 miles, from the 34 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
It may be possible that an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after your vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time, or as a knocking noise when ...
In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after the vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time or as a knocking noise ...
Some 2018-2019 F-150 and Mustang vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a light to moderate knocking type noise at idle (600-700 RPM) that is sometimes described as a quiet diesel type sound.
What owners wrote
“1) Vehicle transmission erratic shifting ,skips gear 2 and 4 a lot and sometimes from stop to 33 mph it seems to go into neutral then bang back into gear. Grand kids in back gets knocked around hard enough to lose food/drinks. It dose to back but now the truck is less than 10MPH. 2) On start up something in the engine jingle and gaggle sound for 1-3 seconds.. This happens when truck has been sitting for long period.”
Filed Feb 25, 2026
“Failure of the timing chain started as a rattle on a cold start. I contacted the dealership, and they indicated that all 2019 EcoBoosts need to have cam phasers and timing chain replaced, or they can cause major engine failure.”
Filed Aug 13, 2025
“The VCT phaser are leaking oil causing the engine to knock when cold starting. There already was a recall but my vehicle wasn't on the list but it has the same defect as those in the recall”
Filed Aug 8, 2025
“About a month ago my truck started shifting hard between 3rd and 4th gear. My truck has been in the shop almost 1month Water Solutions is giving me a run around. They drove the truck and confirmed itâs shifting hard. Took the transmission pan out and saw the metal shavings. now they want me to take it to another shop for a CDF air drum test. Have any other F150 having this issue?I need help on what to do”
Filed Jun 25, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 53 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 385 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 177 reports
- Timing chain or cam phaser rattles 136 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 125 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 122 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 104 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 84 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 82 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 34 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 34 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 25 reports