We counted the findings on 32 used Fords our technicians inspected between April and October 2026. 17 of the 32 had at least one item marked for immediate attention, and on 10 of those it was a tire or a brake.
Updated October 12, 2026. Counted from 32 inspection reports we sent to customers.
From F-150s to Transit vans to Mustangs, a used Ford is still a used vehicle. Here is what our technicians actually recorded, item by item.
| What we found | Fords | How often |
|---|---|---|
| At least one cosmetic note (body, wheels or interior) | 32 of 32 | 100% |
| Diagnostic trouble codes worth a note on the report | 15 of 30 scanned | 50% |
| A fluid level or condition flagged | 12 of 32 | 38% |
| Tire tread depth flagged | 11 of 32 | 34% |
| Warning lights on the dash | 9 of 32 | 28% |
| A steering note on the road test | 7 of 31 driven | 23% |
| Brake pads flagged | 7 of 32 | 22% |
| An oil leak or oil residue | 6 of 29 | 21% |
| A suspension, CV axle or ball joint item flagged | 5 of 32 | 16% |
Trouble codes. 15 of the 30 Fords we scanned had codes our report called out. The most common were codes from the driver-assist camera or radar (8 vehicles). 4 had engine codes and 4 had codes from the airbag system, current or stored. A code tells you where to look, not what is broken, so the report says which codes are current and which are stored history.
Steering. All 7 vehicles with a steering note had a steering wheel sitting off-center, a drift or pull to one side, or an alignment recommended by the technician.
Tires and brakes. 10 of the 32 had at least one tire or brake item marked for immediate attention. Tires and pads are easy to overlook on a test drive.
Cosmetic notes. Every vehicle had at least one. That is normal on a used vehicle. It is on the report so nothing is a surprise after you hand over the money.
Most of what we found is wear and upkeep (tires, brakes, fluids, alignment) that any used vehicle can need. It tells you how these particular vehicles were kept, not that Fords are badly built.
A clean-looking Ford with a good history can still need tires, brakes or an alignment, and the dashboard will not tell you about a stored code. One of our certified technicians comes to the vehicle, checks it item by item, scans it where the vehicle allows it, takes it on a road test when the seller allows it and it is safe and legal to drive, and sends you a written report with photos.
Across 32 used Fords we inspected, every one had a cosmetic note. After that, the most common findings were trouble codes (15 of 30 scanned), a fluid level or condition (12 of 32), worn tires (11 of 32) and warning lights on the dash (9 of 32). Most of it is wear and upkeep any used vehicle can need. It says how these particular vehicles were kept, not how Fords are built.
17 of the 32 Fords we inspected had at least one item marked for immediate attention, and on 10 of them it was a tire or a brake. A familiar badge does not tell you how this particular vehicle was kept.
Yes. Of the 32 Fords here, 12 were vans (Transit, Transit Connect and E-Series) or Super Duty trucks (F-250, F-350 and F-550), alongside F-150s, SUVs and cars. Trucks and vans rated over 14,000 lb gross vehicle weight (GVWR Class 4 and up) are inspected on Enhanced or Elite. Everyday pickups, vans and SUVs are rated 14,000 lb or less, so this rule does not apply to them.
32 Ford inspection reports with item-by-item findings, sent to customers between April and October 2026. Reports in our older format have no item-by-item findings, so they are not counted.