Ford F-150 Oil Consumption Lawsuit A Quart Every 1,000 Miles Is Not Normal

If you drive a 2018 to 2020 Ford F-150 with the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 and you have found yourself buying […]

If you drive a 2018 to 2020 Ford F-150 with the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 and you have found yourself buying oil more often than gas station coffee, you are not imagining it, and you are not alone. A class action lawsuit filed in federal court in Michigan says Ford knew about a defect that causes these engines to burn through oil at a rate the company never disclosed, and it is now the subject of a growing legal fight that F-150 owners across the country are watching closely.

What the Lawsuit Actually Alleges

The case, Bryan, et al. v. Ford Motor Company, was filed on August 28, 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Plaintiffs Daniel Bryan, Victor Caballero, Nathan Dew, and at least nine other named owners brought the complaint, and it draws in drivers from nine different states. That is not a small regional gripe. It is shaping up to be a nationwide consumer protection claim.

The core allegation is mechanical, not cosmetic. The lawsuit claims the piston rings and oil control system in the 5.0L Coyote engine do not seal properly, letting oil slip past the rings and into the combustion chamber. Instead of circulating back through the engine to do its job of lubrication, that oil gets burned off during combustion. The result, according to the complaint, is a truck that consumes oil at a rate far beyond what any owner’s manual prepares you for, in some cases close to a quart every 1,000 miles.

That is a meaningful detail for anyone trying to understand whether this is “normal wear” or something else. A modern V8 built for daily driving and towing is not supposed to need a top-off between scheduled oil changes. The complaint argues Ford has known about the issue since at least August 2018, based on internal service bulletins and special service messages sent to dealerships, and that the company continued selling and leasing these trucks without warning buyers.

The Part That Frustrates Owners the Most

Ask any owner who has been through this and the story is almost always the same: a dealership tells them the oil consumption is “within normal limits” for the engine design. That phrase shows up again and again in owner complaints filed with consumer watchdog sites. One 2019 F-150 owner with just over 100,000 miles on the odometer described using about a quart of oil every 3,500 miles since the truck was new, and being told each time that this was expected behavior for a Coyote V8. Another owner reported keeping a five-quart jug of oil in the truck bed at all times and noticing smoke in the rearview mirror while backing out of the driveway.

The lawsuit argues that framing oil consumption as “normal” is itself part of the problem, because it discourages owners from pursuing warranty repairs or trading in a truck that may already have carbon buildup, spark plug fouling, or premature wear on internal components. Left unaddressed, the complaint says, the defect can progress to engine stalling, damaged catalytic converters, and full engine failure, sometimes while the vehicle is being driven.

Why This Matters Beyond the Repair Bill

An engine that burns oil unpredictably is not just an expense problem, it is a reliability problem, and reliability failures on the road can turn into something more serious. A stall on a highway on-ramp or a sudden loss of power while towing is a safety event, not an inconvenience. This is part of why product defect claims like this one often intersect with personal injury law when a mechanical failure contributes to a crash. If a vehicle defect plays a role in an accident, whether you are behind the wheel of your own truck or you are a passenger in a rideshare vehicle that experiences a sudden mechanical issue, the legal analysis of who is responsible can get complicated fast. Our related coverage on rideshare accident liability in Arizona walks through how fault gets determined when a vehicle problem intersects with a crash involving a Lyft or Uber driver.

Where the Case Stands Now

As of late 2025, the lawsuit is still in its early stages, and Ford has not been found liable for anything. Class certification, discovery, and Ford’s response to the allegations are all still ahead. Ford has separately pushed back on a related Canadian lawsuit over similar Coyote engine complaints, arguing it already offers free repairs for oil consumption issues that fall within warranty and mileage limits. Whether that argument holds up in the U.S. case remains to be seen.

For owners, the practical takeaway right now is documentation. Keep every oil top-off receipt, every dealership visit record, and every note about what a service advisor told you. That paper trail is exactly what turns an individual complaint into evidence a court can use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Ford F-150 models are affected by the oil consumption lawsuit? The lawsuit specifically targets 2018 through 2020 model year Ford F-150 trucks equipped with the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine.

How much oil consumption is considered excessive for these trucks? Plaintiffs describe consumption rates as high as roughly one quart of oil per 1,000 miles, well beyond what a properly functioning V8 should use between standard oil change intervals.

Can I join the Ford F-150 oil consumption lawsuit? If you own or leased a 2018-2020 F-150 with the 5.0L engine and have experienced excessive oil use, you may be able to join the case or a related state-level action. An attorney can review your service records to determine eligibility.

Did Ford recall the 5.0L Coyote engine? No formal recall has been issued for this specific oil consumption defect as of the lawsuit’s filing, which is part of what plaintiffs argue against Ford.

What should I do if my F-150 is burning oil quickly? Document every oil addition with dates and mileage, keep dealership service records, and have the vehicle inspected by an independent mechanic in addition to any dealership visits.