F-150 Tremor MPG Reality Check (USA Owners Report): Why You Might Be Seeing 11–12 MPG

If you just bought your first Ford F-150 Tremor, congratulations. It’s one of the best-looking and most capable trims Ford makes.

But a lot of new owners have the same first reaction:

“Why am I only getting 11–12 MPG?”

You’re not alone.

This post breaks down what real Tremor and F-150 owners are seeing, why MPG looks terrible at first, what improves it, and what people are happy about vs disappointed by.

Quick Summary (What This Reddit Thread Shows)

Many new Tremor owners report:

• 11–12 MPG is possible early on, especially with short trips and a brand-new engine
• MPG usually improves after 1,000–3,000 miles
• Most owners end up around:
  • 15–18 MPG mixed driving
  • 19–22 MPG highway (steady speeds, light throttle)

Real Owner MPG Reports (From the Discussion)

Below are the most common MPG numbers mentioned by owners.

MPG Range Table (What People Actually Reported)

Key takeaway:
If your Tremor is brand new and you drive short distances, 11–12 MPG can happen even with careful driving.

Why Your Tremor MPG Might Be Low (Most Common Reasons)

1) Break-In Period (Big Factor)

A lot of owners mention MPG improves once the engine loosens up.

Many say:

• Don’t judge MPG at 100 miles
• Wait until 1,000–3,000 miles before you panic

What to expect:
Your MPG should gradually improve as the truck gets real miles.

2) Short Commutes Destroy MPG

One owner mentioned a commute of only 4–5 miles.

That’s a fuel economy killer because:

• engine doesn’t warm up fully
• more stop-and-go driving
• more idling
• cold oil + cold transmission = inefficient operation

If your commute is under 10 miles, your MPG will almost always look bad.

3) Tremor Trim = Heavier + More Off-Road Focused

Tremor isn’t built to be a fuel saver.

It comes with:

• off-road suspension
• bigger tires (often 33s)
• extra skid plates / equipment
• more weight and rolling resistance

That means MPG will be lower than a standard XLT or Lariat.

4) EcoBoost + Boost = Fuel Burn

If you have the 3.5 EcoBoost, your driving style matters a lot.

Owners repeatedly mention:

• “Keep it out of boost”
• “Drive like the pedal is glass”
• “Stay under 2K RPM when possible”

When boost kicks in, fuel usage climbs fast.

5) Tire Pressure Can Drop MPG More Than You Think

One owner pointed out even being 5–8 PSI low can hurt MPG.

Dealers sometimes deliver trucks with lower pressure for a smoother ride.

Quick check:
Make sure all tires are set correctly (use the door sticker as your baseline).

“Happy” vs “Not Happy” — What Owners Like and Hate

Here’s what people are consistently saying in the comments.

What People Are Happy About (The Good Stuff)

1) The Tremor Looks Incredible

A lot of owners love the Tremor styling and colors (Atlas Blue gets mentioned a lot).

Common vibe:
“Beautiful truck. Love the Tremor spec.”

2) Power Feels Strong Even in Eco Mode

Several owners said Eco mode still has plenty of power, especially on the 3.5.

What owners like:

• strong acceleration when needed
• comfortable daily driving
• great highway passing power

3) MPG Improves Over Time (Big Relief)

Owners who were worried early often said the truck improved after real mileage.

Examples from the discussion:

• MPG went up noticeably after 1,000–2,500 miles
• some hit ~20 MPG highway after break-in

4) Great Balance vs Raptor

A few people compared it to the Raptor.

Owners like Tremor because:

• easier to find than a Raptor
• better payload/towing than Raptor
• still looks aggressive and off-road capable

What People Are Not Happy About (The Bad Stuff)

1) 11–12 MPG Feels Brutal (Especially Early)

Even if it’s normal under certain conditions, it still shocks people.

Main complaint:
“It’s sucking gas.”

2) City MPG Is Hard to Keep High

Many owners admit:

• City MPG often struggles to stay above 15 MPG
• Stop-and-go driving drops it fast

3) Tires + Lift + Mods Make MPG Worse

Owners with:

• lifts
• 35” tires
• heavy off-road upgrades

often accept they’ll stay around 11–12 MPG.

Reality:
Big tires look amazing, but they cost fuel.

4) The MPG Computer Can Be Misleading

Some owners don’t fully trust the dash MPG reading.

Reasons:

• dealer idling and test drives affect the average
• short trips skew the numbers
• reset may be needed to get accurate results

Expected MPG (Realistic Tremor Numbers)

Here’s a realistic expectation guide based on what owners report:

Tremor MPG Expectations Table

Quick Tips to Improve Your MPG (Without Killing the Fun)

If you want better mileage without driving like a grandma:

Best MPG Tips Owners Mention

• Use Eco mode for daily driving
• Keep RPM under 2,000 when possible
• Avoid hard launches (boost burns fuel fast)
• Check tire pressure (don’t run low PSI)
• Reset the MPG calculator after buying
• Do one long highway drive to see your true MPG baseline

Final Thoughts: Should You Be Worried?

If your Tremor is brand new and you’re seeing 11–12 MPG, the data suggests:

It’s not unusual in the first few hundred miles, especially if you drive short trips or mostly city.

Most owners report MPG improves after the break-in period, and many settle into:

• 15–18 MPG mixed
• 19–22 MPG highway

Tremor is built for capability first, but you should be able to do better than 11–12 once you get miles on it and your driving pattern stabilizes.

FAQ

Q1: How long until MPG improves?

Most owners say after 1,000–3,000 miles, it starts looking much better.

Q2: Is 11–12 MPG “normal” for a Tremor?

It can be, especially with:

• short trips
• cold weather
• heavy traffic
• aggressive driving
• off-road tires

Q3: What’s the easiest MPG test?

Do a 20–50 mile highway trip at 60–70 mph and check your average.