[Old Ray]

but I hope to heaven this isn't a preview of things to come for the next few years.

Well it could be worse, I traded in (for other reasons) a 2019 new model year other make and it has had a least three recalls so far.
It unfortunately might be a indication of the industry overall but the advantage of having a proven (older) design is that most of the bugs have been worked out?

 

[Old Ray]

laid eyes on the 2 screws for peace of mind.

They are in the oil pan, I read it here!

Is the warranty not comfort enough, just curious ?

 

[Old Ray]

T just waiting to get sucked into the cylinder at the most inopportune time like 100s of miles away from any dealership pulling a camper on a family vacation.

Yes, I can understand that very well, had a street rod truck that I built leave me walking, and the reason I have F150 is I had a 2019 other-make that had many small issues, so I know what you mean.

Just to give your imagination some more fuel, it will also be at night, in a thunder storm, with no cell service, and warm beer. It's called Murphy's Law. :surprise:

 

[Old Ray]

...now I see that there was a "Stop Sale” order on these trucks from January 2019...not a good start to FORD ownership!

I also have a 2018 diesel King Ranch. Just after I had made the deal by email, the sales manger called to say that I couldn't pick up the truck for two days because of the "stop sale" order and the repair.

BUT, is the stop sale order a blanket order on all 3.0L diesels or is time of manufacture dependent recall? What I'm asking is what are the your two recalls for ..... and are they a "Stop Sale” recalls? I highly doubt that a dealer would let a vehicle go out with one, but who knows.

 

[Old Ray]

OK, now you have a good reason to go ballistic, you must determine / find out for sure if that was a stop sale or a TSB, (from another dealer or internet search) if it was a stop sale then what I would do along with a lot of hints about lawyer up, is DEMAND to see the egr valve before the screws are removed, if they are there, and your OK with that, then all is good. If one of the screws is missing then it's new truck time !

The way you can tell if a car salesman is lying it is whenever his lips are moving.