Head-to-head reliability
Acura RL vs FORD F 150
How the Acura RL 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 RL vs FORD F 150: The RL averages 23.6 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1, with 58 and 151 recalls respectively. The F-150 also has more crash-related complaints (330 vs 14). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura RL or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura RL
The Acura RL is a luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume: 236 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 24 per year. Most owner complaints center on air bag inflator recalls, exterior lighting glare, and electrical glitches. While the air bag recalls are serious, the overall pattern suggests fewer day-to-day mechanical failures than the Ford F-150.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging over 1,160 per year. Owners frequently report power train issues, especially transmission problems and lead frame failures, as well as electrical system faults. The sheer number of complaints and recalls indicates a higher likelihood of recurring problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura RL | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 236 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 58 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 23.6 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 297 |
| 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 RL
- 01AIR BAGS81
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING60
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM36
- 04SERVICE BRAKES16
- 05HYDRAULIC12
Owners report receiving recall notices for passenger-side air bag inflator modules and being told to park their cars, sometimes for months. One owner described waiting nine months without a rental, highlighting the inconvenience and safety risk of a defective inflator.
Complaints focus on the HID headlights being blindingly bright to other drivers, with owners calling them a road hazard. This is a design concern rather than a failure, but it can affect nighttime driving comfort and safety for others.
Owners describe random alarm triggers, remote fobs failing, and dashboard displays staying lit after the car is off. One owner reported the car became inoperable after electrical cycling, leaving door locks unusable.
A few complaints mention a thud noise when braking, and one owner reported the gas and brake pedals deploying simultaneously, causing an impact. These are rare but potentially serious if they occur.
“I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH AND WAS TOLD TO PARK MY CAR. I DID FOR 9 MONTHS, FORCED TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. ACURA REFUSED TO PROVIDE A RENTAL. WE FILED A CLASS-ACTION SUIT. ACURA REQUIRED AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRBAGS/INFLATOR. I RECEIVED AN INVOICE I COUL…”
“MY WIFE WAS ENTERING A BEND IN THE ROAD AND CAME UPON A CAR STOPPED IN HER LANE, WITH NO BRAKES LIGHTS!!! SHE ATTEMPTED TO SWERVE TO THE SHOULDER BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. SHE IMPACTED THE CAR IN THE REAR, SLIGHTLY OFFSET TO THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE. THE FRONT O…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners repeatedly report transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. One owner said a lead frame issue nearly ended his life, indicating a severe safety risk.
Complaints include the same lead frame issue affecting electrical signals, as well as output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. These electrical faults can leave the truck undrivable and require costly repairs.
One owner reported the rear window defroster shorted and caused the back window to explode outward. This is a rare but alarming failure that could cause injury or property damage.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, exterior lighting is a top component with 1,224 complaints. Owners may experience issues such as premature bulb failure or malfunctioning lights, which can affect visibility and safety.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
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 RL — 58 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mary…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. T…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura RL, 2010 Honda Element, and 2010-2013 Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
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 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 and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Acura RL or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Acura RL has far fewer issues per year (about 24 complaints) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,160 complaints). In practice, this means the RL owner is much less likely to face frequent repair visits, while the F-150 owner may deal with recurring power train and electrical problems.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has about 49 times more complaints per year than the Acura RL, with power train issues being the most common.
- Acura RL complaints are dominated by air bag recalls and lighting glare, while F-150 complaints center on transmission and electrical failures that can cause limp mode.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 58 for the RL, indicating more widespread safety-related defects.
- Crash-related complaints are much higher for the F-150 (330 vs 14), and injuries are also higher (297 vs 12), though these numbers don't prove causation.
- Check if the passenger-side air bag inflator recall has been performed; if not, the car may need to be parked until fixed.
- Test all electrical functions, including alarm, remote fob, and dashboard lights, for random cycling or failure to turn off.
- Ask for transmission service records and test drive for shuddering, delayed engagement, or limp mode; lead frame issues are common.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and window for cracks or signs of overheating, as one owner reported the window exploding.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are addressed, especially air bag recalls on the Acura RL and power train recalls on the Ford F-150.
- For the Acura RL, have a mechanic inspect the electrical system and check for any signs of brake pedal interference.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive at highway speeds to check for limp mode or shifting issues.
- Verify that the F-150's lead frame and output speed sensor recalls have been completed, as these are frequent complaint sources.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic familiar with the specific model's common problems.
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 RL or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
No VIN yet? Ask the seller.
A genuine seller should be happy to share it. Send this, then paste the VIN into the box above when it comes back.
Going to see one?
Get the Acura RL inspection checklist by email, so you know what to look for when you're standing next to it.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura RL vs FORD F 150
- Acura RL total complaints
- 236
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Acura RL total recalls
- 58
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Acura RL avg complaints/year
- 23.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Acura RL
- Acura RL top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN