Head-to-head reliability
Acura Integra vs FORD F 150
How the Acura Integra and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Acura Integra vs FORD F 150: The Integra has 301 complaints over 6 years (50.2/yr) with a major steering issue, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131.1/yr) with transmission and electrical problems. The Integra has 15 recalls, the F-150 has 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura Integra or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura Integra
The Acura Integra, in its modern form, is a compact sporty car that owners generally enjoy, but the complaint data reveals a significant and widespread issue with the electric power steering system. Many owners describe a 'sticky' or 'heavy' steering feel, particularly on the highway, which can make corrections difficult and is a safety concern. There are also sporadic reports of sudden engine shutdowns and a sunroof that can shatter, which are alarming but less frequent. Overall, while the Integra has a relatively low number of complaints per year, the nature of the steering problem is a serious quality and safety issue that buyers should investigate.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup known for its capability, but the complaint data shows a high volume of issues, especially with the powertrain and electrical systems. Owners frequently report harsh shifting, clunking, and even sudden loss of power, which can be dangerous in traffic. Electrical problems, such as camera and sensor malfunctions, are also common, adding to the frustration. With over a thousand complaints per year, the F-150's reliability record is concerning, and buyers should be prepared for potential repairs and visits to the dealer.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura Integra | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 301 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 12 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 50.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 8 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Acura Integra
- 01STEERING246
- 02LANE DEPARTURE13
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
- 04SEAT BELTS9
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE8
Owners report a 'sticky' or 'heavy' steering feel, especially on the highway, making it hard to keep the vehicle centered. This is linked to a recall (24V-744) and can be intermittent, making it a tricky issue to diagnose.
There are reports of the car suddenly shutting off while driving or in reverse, which is a serious safety hazard. Also, some owners have experienced the sunroof spontaneously exploding, which is alarming and could cause injury.
Some complaints mention the passenger seat belt buckle coming undone on its own, which is a critical safety issue. Others note the placement of horn buttons on the steering wheel, which could be a design flaw that affects usability in an emergency.
“Vehicle: 2024 Acura Integra Affected Component: Steering Gearbox Assembly / Electric Power Steering (EPS) Related Recall: NHTSA Campaign Number 24V-744 / Acura TSB 24-054 Description of Incident: My vehicle is actively experiencing the dangerous "sticky," hea…”
“The steering on this vehicle began feeling sticky intermittently, not every trip starting 7/31/2024. Since then it has become more and more of an issue. The sticky steering is most noticeable on the interstate when trying to recenter the steering wheel after…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is with the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners say shifts hard, jerks, or clunks between gears, and in some cases, the vehicle loses power and shuts off. This can be dangerous, especially in traffic.
Many owners report warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear on startup. These issues can disable safety features and are often persistent, requiring dealer visits.
There are numerous complaints about headlights, though the specific nature is not detailed in the sample. Given the high number of complaints, it's likely a common problem that affects visibility and safety.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Acura Integra — 15 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have b…
The risk: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers f…
The defect: CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIA…
The risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
The fix: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
The defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Acura Integra or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Acura Integra has far fewer complaints per year (50.2) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Integra's steering problem is a significant safety concern that affects many owners. In practice, the F-150's higher complaint volume suggests more frequent and varied problems, but the Integra's issues may be more severe in nature.
Key differences
- The Integra's main issue is a sticky steering feel, while the F-150's main issue is harsh transmission shifting and loss of power.
- The Integra has occasional reports of sudden engine shutdowns and sunroof explosions, whereas the F-150 has frequent electrical glitches with cameras and sensors.
- The Integra has a much lower complaint rate per year, but the F-150 has a higher number of recalls (145 vs 15), indicating more widespread safety campaigns.
- The F-150 has a higher number of crash-related complaints and injuries, but the Integra has no reported deaths, while the F-150 has one.
- Test drive the Integra on the highway and pay attention to any 'sticky' or 'heavy' steering when making small corrections. Ask if the steering recall (24V-744) has been performed.
- Check for any signs of sunroof damage or ask if the sunroof has been replaced, and listen for any unusual engine shutdowns during a test drive.
- During a test drive, accelerate and decelerate to feel for any hard shifts or clunks from the transmission, especially between 4th and 6th gears. Ask if the transmission has been serviced or if there are any pending recalls.
- Start the truck and see if any warning lights appear for the front camera or pre-collision assist. If they do, it may indicate an electrical issue that needs fixing.
Before you buy
- Check the NHTSA website for open recalls on the specific VIN of the vehicle you're considering.
- For the Integra, ask for service records related to the steering recall and any repairs for the sunroof or engine shutdowns.
- For the F-150, ask for transmission service history and any software updates for the electrical system.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the steering system for the Integra and the transmission for the F-150.
- Take both vehicles for an extended test drive that includes highway speeds to feel for any steering or shifting issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Acura Integra | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 24 |
| 2025 | 7 | 329 |
| 2024 | 63 | 617 |
| 2023 | 207 | 1507 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Acura Integra or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura Integra vs FORD F 150
- Acura Integra total complaints
- 301
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Acura Integra total recalls
- 15
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Acura Integra avg complaints/year
- 50.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Acura Integra
- Acura Integra top complaint area
- STEERING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN