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Ford F-150 vs Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Which Used Car Should You Buy?

3 min read

Full-size trucks live hard lives, so buying used is less about which badge is better and more about which specific engine you're getting and how the previous owner treated it. The F-150 gives you more choices; the Silverado gives you fewer ways to be surprised — as long as you understand AFM lifters.

Used Ford F-150 buyer's guideUsed Chevrolet Silverado 1500 buyer's guideAll comparisons
Quick Verdict
Best all-round used pick
F-150 with the 5.0L V8
Simplest to maintain
Silverado 5.3L V8
Biggest single risk
Silverado AFM lifter failure
Best towing value
F-150 3.5L EcoBoost (2017+)
Rust exposure
Silverado — steel body panels
Typical good-buy mileage
60k–120k miles

Bottom line: Buy a 2017+ F-150 with the 5.0L V8 if you want the safest all-round truck, or a Silverado 5.3L with documented lifter or AFM-delete history if you want a simpler machine for less money.

Ford F-150 vs Chevrolet Silverado 1500: side by side

F-150 vs Silverado 1500 — used-buyer comparison
Ford F-150Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Best engine5.0L Coyote V85.3L V8 (with AFM addressed)
Engine to research2011–2016 3.5L EcoBoostAny AFM-equipped V8
Transmission6-speed, 10-speed from 20176-speed, 8/10-speed later
Body corrosionAluminum body from 2015 — low riskSteel — check arches and cab corners
PayloadClass-leadingCompetitive
Repair costModerateLow
Interior (2014–2018)BetterBehind Ford
Resale valueStrongestStrong
Option A

Ford F-150

The broadest engine choice and the best payload for the money.

Strengths
  • The 5.0L Coyote V8 and 3.5L second-gen EcoBoost are both strong long-term engines.
  • Aluminum body from 2015 on largely eliminates panel rust.
  • Enormous parts supply and every shop knows the truck.
  • Best-in-class payload figures across most configurations.
Watch out for
  • 2011–2016 3.5L EcoBoost timing chains and cam phasers need verification.
  • 2017–2019 10-speed automatics can shift harshly without updated software and fluid.
  • Early aluminum-body repairs cost more at shops without the right equipment.
Used Ford F-150 buyer's guide →
Option B

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The simpler truck with the more predictable V8.

Strengths
  • The 5.3L and 6.2L V8s are simple, durable, and cheap to repair.
  • Straightforward mechanical layout with excellent aftermarket support.
  • Generally lower purchase prices than an equivalent F-150.
  • Comfortable, quiet ride in crew-cab configurations.
Watch out for
  • Active Fuel Management / AFM lifter failures are the defining Silverado risk.
  • Steel body panels rust at the wheel arches and cab corners in salt states.
  • Interior quality trailed Ford noticeably in 2014–2018 trucks.
Used Chevrolet Silverado 1500 buyer's guide →

Which engine should you buy?

Quick answer
The Ford 5.0L Coyote V8 is the safest used full-size truck engine — naturally aspirated, durable, and cheap to service. On the Chevrolet side, the 5.3L V8 is equally simple but carries Active Fuel Management lifter risk that must be verified before purchase.

The 3.5L EcoBoost is a genuinely strong engine in second-generation (2017+) form and tows better than any naturally aspirated V8 in the class. Earlier 2011–2016 versions need timing chain and cam phaser history; a rattle on cold start is the tell.

AFM (later DFM) on GM V8s deactivates cylinders to save fuel, and the lifters for those cylinders can collapse. Symptoms are a tick, a misfire code, and in bad cases a damaged camshaft. Many owners disable AFM preventively — a truck with documented AFM delete or lifter replacement is worth paying for.

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Which truck lasts longer?

Quick answer
Both trucks routinely pass 250,000 miles when the engine is sound. The F-150's aluminum body from 2015 on gives it a real long-term advantage in salt states, where Silverado wheel arches and cab corners commonly rust through first.

On a truck this age, the body often decides the outcome before the drivetrain does. A rusted-out Silverado cab corner is a bodywork bill, not a mechanical one, and it is the most common reason otherwise healthy trucks get retired in the northeast and midwest.

Frames rust on both. Get underneath with a flashlight and check the rear frame section over the axle, the brake lines, and the fuel lines.

Which is cheaper to own?

Quick answer
The Silverado is generally cheaper to buy and cheaper to repair, with simpler mechanicals and lower parts prices. The F-150 costs more up front but holds resale value better and avoids the AFM lifter risk entirely with the 5.0L V8.

Both trucks are cheap to service at any independent shop. Where they diverge is the worst-case bill: an AFM lifter job that takes out a camshaft is a four-figure repair, and an EcoBoost timing chain job is similar.

Fuel economy is close in real use. The EcoBoost's advantage shrinks or disappears when towing.

Which one should you buy?

Buy the Ford F-150 if…

  • You want the widest engine choice and the best payload numbers.
  • You live where roads are salted and body rust decides a truck's life.
  • You tow regularly and want the 3.5L EcoBoost's torque.
  • Resale value matters at trade-in time.

Buy the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 if…

  • You want the simplest possible V8 truck to maintain.
  • You're buying in a dry climate where rust isn't a factor.
  • You've found one with AFM lifters already addressed.
  • You want more truck for the money up front.

What to inspect on either car

  • Cold-start any EcoBoost and listen for timing chain rattle in the first few seconds.
  • Listen for a lifter tick and scan for misfire codes on any AFM-equipped GM V8.
  • Get under the truck: rear frame section, brake lines, fuel lines, and cab corners.
  • Check for a bent or cracked frame near the hitch on trucks that towed hard.
  • Test 4WD engagement in both high and low range.
  • Look at the bed floor and tailgate hinges for evidence of commercial use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the F-150 or Silverado more reliable used?
With the right engine they're close. The F-150 with the 5.0L V8 is the safest single choice; the Silverado 5.3L is equally simple but carries AFM lifter risk that has to be verified before purchase.
What is AFM lifter failure?
Active Fuel Management deactivates cylinders to save fuel. The lifters serving those cylinders can collapse, causing a tick, misfires, and sometimes camshaft damage. A documented AFM delete or lifter replacement makes a used Silverado a much safer buy.
Is the EcoBoost engine reliable?
Second-generation 2017+ 3.5L EcoBoost engines have a good record. Earlier 2011–2016 units need timing chain and cam phaser history — listen for a cold-start rattle.
Does the aluminum F-150 body cause problems?
It largely eliminates panel rust, which is a major long-term advantage. The trade-off is that collision repair requires a shop with aluminum-certified equipment, which costs more.
Which truck holds value better?
The F-150, consistently. That resale strength offsets much of the Silverado's lower purchase price.

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