Whether you’re shopping for new or used cars or trucks, annual maintenance cost is one of the most important aspects to consider. Ford enjoys a reputation for making some of the most popular vehicles sold in the United States. While much of that popularity derives from the reliability of its vehicles, the model with the lowest annual maintenance costs may surprise you. 

How do Ford’s maintenance costs stack up against other brands?

RepairPal estimates the average annual maintenance cost for Ford vehicles at $775, slightly above average compared to 31 other automakers. While the frequency of Ford repairs is below average, the odds of expensive repair shop visits are higher than other brands. It’s important to note that the vehicle age, mileage, location, and individual repair shop variation will affect the maintenance cost of any particular vehicle. 

Overall, Ford vehicles are subject to 879 documented recalls. The most common Ford recall is 96V071000, a potential short circuit in the ignition switch. This one recall could affect as many as 7.9 million vehicles. Some recalls are for severe issues like possible engine or battery fires. While others deal with issues like the “owner’s manual does not explain how to adjust center head restraints.”

RepairPal documented 585 reported problems with Ford vehicles. The most common of these are issues with the automatic transmission not shifting correctly. Overall, Ford gets an above-average reliability rating and an average of four-out-of-five stars from over 1400 customer reviews. 

What Ford vehicle has the lowest annual maintenance cost?

If you’re searching for an economical vehicle for your business or a large family, the Ford E-250 Econoline Club Wagon is a great choice. The E-250 Econoline Club Wagon has an average annual maintenance cost of $316, according to RepairPal. In addition, it only has four known recalls and no owner-reported problems. The four recalls include the following:

• 350,000 1990-1991 models for a faulty Dual Fuel Tank Selector Valve
• 25,000 1990-1991 models for a faulty Rear Shock Crossmember
• 1,010 1990-1991 models for non-complying Rear Bench Seat Anchorage
• 111,000 1990 models for a faulty Snap Ring in the transmission park gear

How do other Ford vehicles compare to the E-250 Econoline Club Wagon maintenance costs?

While the Ford E-250 Econoline Club Wagon has the lowest annual maintenance costs of any Ford vehicle, other Ford cars also have low costs. Consider these cars and associated annual maintenance costs, for example:

• Ford Aspire – $369
• Ford Contour – $397

Other Ford cars listed here have higher annual maintenance costs:

• Ford Fiesta – $552
• Ford Focus – $569
• Ford Fusion – $581

Other Ford cars, such as the Ford Mustang, have annual maintenance costs above $700. However, the popular Ford F-Series line of pickup trucks drives Ford’s average annual maintenance cost to $775. For example, these F-Series trucks have expensive annual maintenance costs:

• Ford F-150 – $788
• Ford F-250 Super Duty – $1,241
• Ford F-350 Super Duty – $1,295

Be aware, however, that Ford discontinued the E-Series Econoline Wagon line in 2015, according to Car and Driver. And RepairPal reports $1,156 average annual repair and maintenance costs for the modern E-250 Van that replaced the Econoline Wagon. The good news is that CarFax still shows several E-250 Econoline Wagons with less than 100,000 miles for under $20K.