Skip to main content

The Ford F-150 Hybrid or Powerboost truck is a bit of an anachronism. Sure, it packs a punch as the most powerful Ford F-150 you can buy today. It also has several features that big truck buyers want. But its reliability scores are in the dumps. Is it worth taking a chance on the Ford F-150 Hybrid?

Is the Ford F-150 Hybrid unreliable?

Black Ford F-150 hybrid PowerBoost pickup truck driving down a country lane, fences on both sides.
2021 Ford F-150 PowerBoost | Ford

Let’s start with the Ford F-150 Hybrid bad news; for reliability, it ranks low on Consumer Reports reliability list. In fact, it ranks the lowest. Ford calls the hybrid powertrain the PowerBoost, and it’s a combination of a 3.5-liter V6 with turbochargers and a hybrid battery pack. This newish powertrain, which debuted in 2021, has had a few teething problems.

Cars.com’s review of a first-year F-150 Hybrid showed several software glitches and a some other unexpected problems in a new truck. The site TruckBed.com did a poll that could be one of the least scientific polls available, but it does give some insight. It polled F-150 Hybrid owners on social media, and the vast majority of owners didn’t make any warranty claims.

Still, most of those issues are covered under Ford’s warranty. Overall, though, at J.D. Power, owners said the F-150 (which includes every model) earns a “great” reliability score of 86 of 100. That puts the F-150 in a tie for second place. Only the GM trucks, the Silverado and Sierra, ranked higher for reliability.

Is the Ford F-150 Hybrid powerful?

The Ford F-150 Hybrid is the most powerful F-150 you can buy, well, other than the $110,000 Ford F-150 Raptor R. With 430 horsepower and a diesel-like 570 lb-ft of torque, the Hybrid certainly makes the numbers most truck buyers want. That extra power comes from a 47-horsepower electric motor. And, because of its hybrid boost, it also gets gas mileage that many truck buyers would envy: 24 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. For those keeping score, that’s a not-insignificant 20% increase over the regular Ford F-150.  

Depending on whose numbers you prefer, most Ford F-150 PowerBoosts that have been tested are some of the quickest trucks you can buy, too. Most testers seem to manage 0 to 60 mph times of less than 5.5 seconds, which puts this truck in some rare company. In fact, it’s nearly as quick as the beloved Lighting trucks from the early 2000s. The power is funneled through a new 10-speed automatic.

How much can the Ford F-150 Hybrid tow?

A white 2023 Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck is driving on the road towing a trailer.
The 2023 Ford F-150 | Ford

The Ford F-150 Hybrid has some impressive specs, too. It can tow up to 12,700 pounds. It can hold 2,120 pounds of cargo, which is a lot considering it has a heavy battery 1.5-kWh battery under the bed.

But that’s only part of this truck’s capability. The PowerBoost trucks use that battery for Pro Power Onboard, which is Ford’s name for its in-bed electric outlets. The system can pump out enough electricity to power most power tools. And, the PowerBoost trucks can be ordered with a four-wheel drive system.

Though the Hybrid has a few issues, and they seem relegated to software glitches, most issues will be detected by the Ford app before they are a major problem. And, visits to a dealer for warranty service can be a pain. But, the convenience of more power and better gas mileage could be worth it.

Related Full-Size Hybrid Trucks: Should You Pick Ford or Toyota?

Full-Size Hybrid Trucks: Should You Pick Ford or Toyota?

Best in Trucks
Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.