Are Ford Parts Expensive? (All You Need to Know)

Ford is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world. After General Motors, it is the second most popular American brand and has a world market share of more than five percent.

Are Ford parts expensive? In this article, I am going to answer this question in detail. I’ll also compare the parts cost of Ford vehicles with popular car brands.

Are Ford Parts Expensive?

It really depends upon the part, year, and model of the car, but in general, most Ford parts have prices slightly higher than the average. Overall, Ford parts are almost 20 to 30 percent more expensive than average cars.

Some models like Ford Fusion and Focus Escape have cheaper parts, while parts of other models like Ford Explorer and Ford 150 are relatively expensive.

They are more expensive than their Japanese counterparts and even some of the American cars have less expensive parts than Ford.

Also read: Are Toyota Parts Expensive? (Pricing)

Brake Pads

Brake pads are an essential part of every car. They are used to stop or slow down your vehicle. Brake pads usually come in pairs and for Ford cars, it will cost you from $100 to $200 to buy such a pair.

The wheels of any vehicle are connected to the brake rotors that turn the wheel and when the brake is applied, brake calipers apply pressure on these rotors. The brake pad lies in between the caliper and rotor to avoid contact of metal with metal.

Depending upon your driving habits, brake pads are usually replaced after 30,000 to 70,000 miles. For a safe and reliable ride, you should avoid using second-hand or aftermarket brake pads.

Labor costs for one pair can vary from $80 to $120 and to save some money you can perform this replacement at home. The brake pads of other car brands can cost you somewhere from $70 to $300 per pair.

So, the brake pads of Ford cars are slightly expensive.

Filters

There are four types of filters in every car and they include cabin filter, oil filter, fuel filter, and air filter. The main function of all filters is to enable flow and stop impurities from entering the system.

Cabin Filters: They clean the air that comes into the interior of your car. They often need to be replaced after every 12,000 to 18,000 miles. The cabin filter is a cheap item and for Ford cars, it will cost you around $30 to $70. The cost is also the same for other car brands. The labor cost to replace filters is $36 to $46 and you can also replace them by yourself.
Air Filters: They make sure that the air reaching your combustion engine is clean and free from any impurities and dirt. They are also cheap to buy, and the price is almost the same for every car brand. You should change your engine air filter annually or after every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. It will cost you $20 to $40 for a new air filter and the labor cost will be around $25 but you also can do it yourself.
Oil Filter: It maintains a continuous flow of motor oil by removing dust and metallic particles from it. You should change your oil filter every second time you change the engine oil. Oil filters are usually replaced with the oil change and the combined labor cost is from $25 to $60. While the cost of the oil filter is only 8 to 15 dollars. If the filter and drain are easily accessible, you can change them by yourself.
Fuel Filter: It removes impurities like rust and grit from the fuel and protects the fuel injectors. They should be changed after every 20,000 to 30,000 miles. They are also very cheap, and often labor is more expensive than the part. For Ford cars, it will cost $16 to $34 to buy a new fuel filter and labor costs will be $60 to $90. They can be tricky to replace, therefore avoid changing them by yourself if you aren’t experienced.

Also read: Are Ford Mustang Parts Expensive? (Comparison)

Battery

It provides power to all the electrical components of your car. It starts the car’s ignition system and also acts as a voltage regulator. On average, batteries of a Ford car last for four to five years.

The replacement cost for any battery depends upon its power, size, and type. Typically, it will cost you $120 to $200 to replace the battery of any Ford car, and you can do it by yourself at home.

One can also buy aftermarket batteries but I will advise you against that as low-quality batteries can cause damage to your car. Any normal battery of other car brands has a price tag of $50 to $120 and this price goes up to $200 for premium batteries.

Ford uses Motor craft batteries and they are less expensive compared with other brands.

Timing Belt

It connects the camshaft with the crankshaft of your engine. It makes sure that the engine valves are opening and closing at the right time. It should be replaced after every 60,000 to 100,000 miles.

The cost of the belt itself is very less than the cost of labor. It requires the opening of several other parts, and only an experienced person can perform this replacement.

If changed before the breakdown it will cost you $500 to $900 and if completely broken the cost can go up to $1800 because it may have caused damage to other parts.

For other car brands, this cost will depend upon the type and complexity of the engine. It can cost anywhere from $400 to $2000.

Starter and Alternator

The starter is an electrical component and it is used to rotate the crankshaft of an engine which in turn initiates the engine under its own power. An alternator is used to convert the mechanical energy of your car into electrical energy. It is also responsible for charging the car’s battery.

Starter doesn’t need a replacement for a long time, and one should replace it after 100,000 miles. For Ford cars, it will cost you $150 to $300 to buy a new starter and labor costs will be $120 to $200 depending upon your car and area of residence.

Starters of other car brands also fall in the same price range and to save some money you can replace it by yourself.

An alternator usually needs replacement after 80,000 to 100,000 miles. If you have some experience and the right set of tools, you can replace it by yourself. New alternator for Ford cars will cost you from $400 to $600 and this cost can go up to $850 when labor is included.

If the size and quality are the same, you can also use second-hand or aftermarket alternators because Ford OEM alternators are more expensive than average cars.

Also read: Are Hyundai Parts Expensive? (with Exact Costs)

Spark Plugs

As the name suggests, spark plugs are used to provide the spark that ignites the fuel. This is done by creating an electric spark between two leads of the spark plug. On average they last around 30,000 miles.

A new spark plug for your Ford car will cost $50 to $100. For other car brands, it can cost as low as $16 but for luxury cars, it cost around $100.

If your Ford has a spark plug at an accessible location then you can replace it by yourself. Otherwise, you will have to pay $60 to $150 in terms of labor costs.

Fuel Pump

It draws fuel from the fuel tank of your car and delivers it to the fuel injector or carburetor. Typically, the fuel pump lasts 100,000 miles and sometimes for the whole lifetime of the car.

Replacement of a fuel pump can be a dangerous task as it involves combustible fuel. Therefore, I will advise you to replace it with an experienced professional.

Fuel pumps for Ford cars can cost from $500 to $800 and for other car brands, this cost can vary from $200 to $900. On average, the labor cost for this operation is from $160 to $280.

Water Pump

Water pumps are used to circulate the coolant from the radiator to the engine, coolant system, and then back to the radiator. They usually last for ten years or 100,000 miles.

If the pump is located in the front of the engine, then you can replace it by yourself. For Ford cars, a new water pump will cost $220 to $350.

The cost is almost similar for other car brands, and you can also use aftermarket water pumps if they are of good quality. While the labor cost to replace the water pump varies from $250 to $320.

Also read: Are Subaru Parts Expensive? (with 8 Examples)

Lights

Lights on the cars allow drivers to see the roadway during the night. They are also used to communicate with other car drivers. Lights on the latest models of Ford can last up to 30,000 hours and seldom need replacement.

Nowadays, most cars use LED bulbs and they are easy to replace than incandescent bulbs. If it only involves lights, then you can do the replacement by yourself. Single light won’t cost you more than $50 and if you get it done by some mechanic he may take another $50.

If the whole headlight assembly needs to be replaced, then it can cost anywhere from $200 to $700. Used headlights of popular Ford models are also available in the market and they will cost you around half of the original price.

The latest models of Ford cars use very expensive halogen lights. They can cost up to $2,000 to replace. While their single bulb will cost you around $100.

Also read: 3 Best Fords for the Money (All Costs Calculated)

Oil

The main function of engine oil is to provide lubrication for engine parts. It reduces wear and tears in engine parts. It also acts as a coolant and keeps engine temperature in control. Ford cars that use normal oil require replacement after every 5,000 to 7,000 miles.

Some high-performance Ford cars like Mustang use synthetic oil and it can last up to 15,000 miles. Unless your car’s oil filter and the drain plug are impossible to reach, you can change the engine by yourself.

Normal engine oil will cost you $50 to $100, whereas synthetic oil is more expensive and costs $80 to $150. The labor cost for an oil change is usually $25 to $60. For other car brands, the cost for engine oil is almost the same given that the oil type is similar.

Tires

Tires are used to transmit torque from the car’s engine to the road surface. They also absorb shocks and maintain or change the direction of the car. Tires used by Ford cars should be replaced after every six years.

If the rim is already attached to the tire then you can easily replace it by yourself. New Ford tires will cost you $150 to $250 per piece. While the labor cost for tire balancing and installation will be around $20 to $45 per tire.

Tires of similar car brands are less expensive and cost around $100 to $200. If the tire is in good condition and the grooves are deep enough then you can also use second-hand tires to save some money.

Wiper Blades

Wiper blades keep your windscreen clean by removing rain, snow, and dirt. They ensure clear visibility for safe driving. It is recommended that you should replace your wiper blade after every six to twelve months.

You can replace your car’s wiper blades by yourself, and the process is almost similar for most Ford cars. New wiper blades for Ford cars will cost you $20 to $40, but this cost can go up manifolds if you are looking to buy premium wiper blades from a dealership.

Wiper blades for similar car brands will cost you $15 to $25 and the labor cost will be around $10 for each.

Also read: Are Dodge Parts Expensive? (with Exact Costs)

Which Brands are Cheaper than Ford When it Comes to Parts?

Parts of Japanese car brands like Toyota and Honda are cheaper than Ford cars. Other American brands like Dodge and Chevrolet also have cheaper parts but it depends on the model you are talking about.

Japanese car brands are well known for their reliability, and they are also in huge numbers everywhere. Their parts are readily available in the market, and therefore their cars are some of the cheapest to maintain.

References:

en.wikipedia.org, statista.com, quora.com, motor1.com, tsikot.com, extended-vehicle-warranty.com, coggindelandford.com, autozone.com, championautoparts.eu, carpart.com.au, rd.com