The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) issued a report Thursday suggesting Ford’s all-new F-150 aluminum models costs more to repair than prior generations made from steel. The agency simulated low-speed “accidents” between the two models and ultimately concluded repair expenses soared 26 percent for aluminum F-150s.
Ford disputed the reparability costs and findings by IIHS, citing real-world accident repair data and called IIHS’s simulations “stunts.”
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Ford, citing Assured Performance – an independent body shop certification company that works with leading automakers – says real-world repair costs on the new 2015 Ford F-150 actually average $869 less than last year’s F-150 model.
According to data published by Assured Performance, only 337 repairs have been performed this year at 121 different Assured Performance member shops on 2015 F-150s. While 2014 average has a much larger sample size (1,238 F-150 pickups during the calendar year), the 2015 repairs to-date still come in at nearly $900 less on the newer model trucks. The average repair for a 2014 Ford F-150 was $2,345.97, while the cost of a 2015 F-150 has averaged $1,476.93 so far this year.
Two of the country’s largest insurance companies also agree with the new F-150’s lower repair costs. Both Allstate and State Farm say insurance costs for the new F-150 are comparable with 2014 models.