Head-to-head reliability
Acura TL vs FORD F 150
How the Acura TL 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 TL vs FORD F 150: The Acura TL averages 122 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages 1,162, nearly ten times more. The TL has 39 recalls and 35 crash-related complaints; the F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints. Both have 1 death reported. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura TL or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura TL
The Acura TL is a luxury sedan that owners often keep for many years, but the complaint pattern shows a mix of major safety recalls and persistent quality issues. Air bag inflator recalls dominate the data, with owners frustrated by slow remedies and temporary rentals. Beyond that, structural problems like dashboard cracks and steering failures appear repeatedly, suggesting that even a well-maintained TL can develop costly and potentially dangerous faults.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that sees heavy use, and its complaint volume is nearly ten times that of the Acura TL. Power train and electrical issues are the most common, with owners reporting transmission limp modes, lead frame failures, and sudden electrical glitches. These problems can leave the truck stuck in gear or cause sudden loss of power, making reliability a major concern for buyers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura TL | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,218 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 39 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 35 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 121.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 32 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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 TL
- 01AIR BAGS440
- 02STRUCTURE277
- 03STEERING153
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER147
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM121
Owners report Takata inflator recalls that can take months to remedy, with some being offered rental cars of lesser quality. The risk is that the air bag may explode with too much force, sending shrapnel into the cabin.
Many owners complain of large cracks developing in the dashboard, even on well-cared-for cars. This is not just cosmetic; it can affect the passenger side air bag deployment and is expensive to fix.
Reports describe the electric power steering (EPS) failing suddenly, causing the steering wheel to lock and making the car impossible to steer. This can happen at speed, creating a serious crash risk.
Owners mention paint peeling and clear coat defects, as well as unexplained electrical glitches. These issues hurt resale value and can be costly to repair.
“TAKATA INFLATORS: I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH HOW HONDA/ACURA IS HANDLING THE RECALL OF THE 2014 ACURA TL AWD THAT I AM CURRENTLY LEASING. THE TWO OPTIONS THEY OFFERED IF I ACCEPT EITHER WILL END UP COSTING ME MORE MONEY AND PUTTING MORE CASH IN THEIR POCKET.…”
“TAKATA RECALL- TOOK CAR IN FOR BATTERY REPLACEMENT. INFORMED OF RECALL. TOLD REPLACEMENT COULDN'T TAKE PLACE UNTIL SOMETIME IN SUMMER. OFFERED A CAR AS TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT. IT WAS INDICATED CAR WOULDN'T BE OF QUALITY OF MINE, WOULD BE OF ENTERPRISE RENTAL Q…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The most common complaint is the lead frame issue, which can cause the transmission to suddenly downshift into limp mode or get stuck in 5th gear. Owners report near-collisions and expensive repairs, with some saying the problem recurs even after fixing.
Electrical problems often stem from the same lead frame defect, causing output speed sensor failures and limp mode. There are also reports of rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the back glass.
Owners report rear window defroster shorts that cause the back window to explode outward, sending glass shards flying. This is a severe safety hazard that can happen without warning.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, exterior lighting issues are among the top components, suggesting problems with headlights or tail lights that 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 TL — 39 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
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 specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
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 TL or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Acura TL has far fewer complaints per year (about 122) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,160), meaning you are statistically less likely to encounter problems with the TL. However, the TL's issues include serious safety defects like steering lock-up and air bag recalls, so fewer complaints does not automatically mean trouble-free ownership.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has nearly 10 times more complaints per year than the Acura TL, with power train and electrical issues dominating.
- Acura TL complaints often involve safety recalls (air bags) and structural defects (dashboard cracks), while F-150 complaints focus on transmission limp mode and electrical shorts.
- The F-150 has more crash-related complaints (330 vs. 35) and injuries (297 vs. 32), though both have 1 death reported.
- Acura TL steering failures can cause sudden loss of control, while F-150 lead frame issues can cause sudden downshifts and limp mode.
- Check for open Takata air bag recalls and confirm the inflator has been replaced; if not, factor in the hassle and risk.
- Inspect the dashboard for cracks, especially near the passenger air bag, and test the steering for any hesitation or locking, particularly at startup.
- Ask if the lead frame has been replaced and if the transmission has ever gone into limp mode; test drive at highway speeds to check for sudden downshifts.
- Inspect the rear window for cracks or signs of defroster damage, and check for any electrical gremlins like flickering lights or sensor failures.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both vehicles, especially the Takata air bag recall for the Acura TL and the lead frame recall for the Ford F-150.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission issues or steering problems.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Acura TL's dashboard and steering system, and the Ford F-150's transmission and electrical system.
- Ask for maintenance records to see if known issues like the lead frame or air bag inflator have been addressed.
- Check the rear window and defroster on the F-150 for any signs of shattering or repair.
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 TL or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura TL vs FORD F 150
- Acura TL total complaints
- 1,218
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Acura TL total recalls
- 39
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Acura TL avg complaints/year
- 121.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Acura TL
- Acura TL top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN