F-150 Owners Share Deer Strike Stories and Pictures
Ford F-150 pickups have stood up well to hitting deer at speeds while other members’ vehicles did not.
In many parts of the United States and Canada, one of the biggest risks when cruising the country roads with your Ford F-150 pickup is having a deer run out in front of you with too little time to stop. Hitting an animal that weighs upwards of 500 pounds can do a world of damage to your vehicle, and in an F-150 Online forum thread started by “Iggy F-150,” we get a close-up look at how some of the members have been impacted by Mother Nature.
The Introduction
When the OP first started this thread, he included a few pictures of the damage to his F-150, along with a simple, frustrated comment.
Well, built Ford tough isn’t tough enough when a f’ing deer jumps out in front of you! Stupid deer!
However, he would later offered some insight on the incident and the damage.
Yea, I was almost home too. Stupid deer jumped a concrete barrier, was almost hit by drivers on the other side, and landed pretty much right in the center of the front of the truck. I guess Iv’e been lucky after all these years, never even had a close call and now this, guess it was my time. A/C condenser is ruined (A/C no longer works) and I’m sure bent the radiator too, front bumper, valance, driving lights, CCM, air dampers, check engine light on now, and who knows what else. Luckily no body damage though.
Followed by an update on the pricing:
Well it amounted to just over $5k not including whatever else they find once they take it apart.
And a final update on the progress of the repairs.
Just an update on my experience with my body shop (Beaver County Auto Collision Center in Beaver Falls, PA). I just talked to my estimator this morning from the body shop and he flat out told me they didn’t want to do business with me. Why? I refused to have anything but new OEM parts installed on my 17k mile truck where he wanted to use a used headlight and aftermarket condenser and radiator. He said that was a requirement of Allstate which is not the case as I called them immediately afterwards. I also challenged them on their ridiculous prices on the parts that are straight up retail. He was shocked when I informed him that I could get the exact same parts for a lot less directly from Ford through places like Tasca. So come to find out also from Allstate that they have an interactive app they use called Virtual Assist where I have a real-time conversation with one of their adjusters that also includes video in real-time and they take screenshots of the damage to do their estimate. As it stands now, looks like I’m going to do all the repairs myself since it’s mostly just cosmetic and bolt-on stuff, just may need to take it somewhere to get the A/C evac/recharge done.
A Common Problem
While many of the members comment in the thread to share their condolences on the damage to the OP’s F-150, a handful shared their own experiences with deer-strikes. This includes several members who hit a deer with their F-150 and while the repairs were generally costly, the trucks seemed to handle the impact pretty well.
The first was “TopOMichXL”:
I can relate. Hood, fender, two dooors, mirror.
“Autoworker” explains that he has hit two:
I’ve hit two. One was $5000 and the other was $2800. Both in the morning at 6 am.
While “fordtrks4ever” showed how an F-350 handles a big deer.
2011 F350 $10,500 damage grill, hood, headlight, fender, brace behind the fender, door, fender well, and piece under the wipers.
“FutureRaptorOwner” hit a deer with his 1986 F-150 and it held up very well.
Yep, been there. With my ’86 F150 4×4.
And “MrKrabs” showed that a Raptor didn’t eat a deer as smoothly as you might expect.
Here’s a 2018 Raptor after a 8 point buck committed suicide. Seven weeks for parts and a $13,000 insurance claim. Are we having fun yet?
“Kevin Steen” has posted the last F-150 pictures, complete with deer hair packed around the edge of the front wheel.
Big Axis 75mph $15,000 damage
Scarier Strikes
Two members shared pictures and stories of deer-strikes in other vehicles that made for a much scarier situation.
“LCW” shared the most graphic crash photo, showing his Ford Escape after a high speed impact.
I hit a deer with a Ford Escape a couple years back. Going 75 mph on interstate. Never even had time to let off the throttle let alone touch the brakes. Front end literally exploded and the hood flew open. Had to coast to the shoulder looking through the gap between hood and cowl. It was also -20F, so anything plastic didn’t stand a chance.
Damage was >$19K. In MN, damage has to be 70% or greater of the value of the vehicle at time of accident for it to get totaled. In my case it got totaled.
While “KYBuckeye” shared his story of hitting a deer on a motorcycle.
Well I’ve never hit one of these things in a car but…I did cream one on my motorcycle about 10 years ago. We have some great twisty roads here in KY and apparently deer like them as much as motorcyclists. I hit this guy going about 45mph in a straight line (just coming out of a curve). Thank my lucky stars I kept the bike on two wheels and managed to limp it to a stop. The deer was about the size of a German Shepherd. I hit him square in the midsection and he buckled, so to speak. He even crapped on the side of one of my fairings during the quick ordeal. Happened at 9:00am on a Sunday morning. Guess that was my sign to not skip church. LOL!
Heavy Duty Solution
While most members shared their own experiences or insight on the cost of repairs, several shared pictures of brush guards on Ford pickups.
Click here to head into the forum to share your stories of hitting deer or what you have done to protect your vehicle in the case of a high speed impact.
Join the F-150 Online forums now!
