Ford F-150 Lawsuit: Defective V8 Engine Allegedly Burns Oil

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit alleges Ford sold 2018–2020 F-150 trucks with 5.0L Coyote V8 engines that consume oil at abnormal rates, risking engine damage and breakdowns.

Consumers Affected: Owners of 2018–2020 Ford F-150 trucks with the 5.0L Coyote V8 engine.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Ford F-150 owners thought they were buying America’s best-selling truck when they purchased 2018–2020 models with the 5.0L Coyote V8 engine. What they claim they got instead was a pickup that burns through oil so quickly that it risks damaging the engine before the next scheduled oil change.

A new class action lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that Ford sold thousands of trucks with engines that consume oil at abnormal rates. Plaintiffs say the problem forces drivers to constantly monitor levels and refill between maintenance intervals, or face potential breakdowns and costly repairs.

Ford F-150 Engine Accused of Abnormal Oil Consumption

According to the filing, the Coyote V8 engine contains internal defects that allow oil to slip past components and enter the combustion chamber. Once inside, the oil burns away, leaving behind carbon deposits that reduce fuel efficiency and engine performance.

Drivers allege that Ford’s owner’s manuals only worsen the problem by giving maintenance instructions that don’t account for the higher consumption. The manuals tell owners how often to check and change oil, but plaintiffs say the engines cannot last through those intervals without burning off too much. 

Several owners claim their trucks required extra oil long before they were due for service, while others report that running too low caused serious engine damage.

Ford Denies Allegations, Cites Internal Lab Standards

Ford has pushed back against the claims, pointing to testing the company conducted during engine development. Engineers measured consumption using a benchmark called “miles per quart,” or MPQ, which was set at 10,000 miles for internal evaluation.

The automaker insists this figure was only for laboratory use and not a standard for customer vehicles. Ford says MPQ was created to track performance under controlled conditions and was never included in owner manuals or consumer-facing materials.

Owners Say They Paid for Reliability They Didn’t Receive

Plaintiffs argue that Ford marketed the F-150 as a dependable, durable pickup but delivered trucks that required constant monitoring. Many claim they would have paid less for their vehicles—or chosen different models—if they had known about the oil issue.

Some owners also point to the added costs of repeatedly topping off between oil changes, describing it as both inconvenient and expensive. Beyond the price of oil, they say the risk of damage from running low undermines the long-term reliability they expected from Ford’s flagship truck.

Ford Faces Broader Pattern of Vehicle Complaints

This lawsuit joins a growing list of disputes over Ford vehicles. Similar complaints have already been raised in Canada about the same Coyote V8 engine, where Ford has attempted to dismiss a case by citing warranty coverage for repairs within certain limits.

Earlier this year, Ford also faced a separate lawsuit over batteries in Bronco Sport and Maverick models. That complaint alleged the automaker installed defective 12-volt batteries in 2021–2023 vehicles that could cause sudden stalling. Ford recalled nearly 273,000 affected vehicles in January 2025, but plaintiffs there argue the recall does not fully resolve the issue.

In the F-150 excessive oil consumption class action lawsuit, plaintiffs seek monetary damages for consumers who say they overpaid for trucks with defective engines. The complaint also requests restitution for the difference between what owners paid and what the vehicles were worth given the alleged defect. 

In addition, the lawsuit asks the court to stop Ford from marketing the affected F-150 models in ways that could misrepresent engine durability.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Bryan, et al. v. Ford Motor Company
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-12714
• Court:  U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• The Miller Law Firm, P.C.
• Sauder Schelkopf LLC
• Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC
• Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC
• Baron & Herskowitz
• Gordon & Partners, PA

Do you own a 2018–2020 Ford F-150 with a Coyote V8 engine? Have you noticed oil consumption problems in your truck? Share your experience below.