Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin DB11 vs FORD F 150
How the Aston Martin DB11 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
Aston Martin DB11 vs FORD F 150: The DB11 has 0 complaints over 8 years, while the F-150 has 11,311 over 10 years. The F-150's powertrain issues, like hard shifts and power loss, are common, whereas the DB11 has no reported problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin DB11 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin DB11
The Aston Martin DB11 is a low-volume luxury grand tourer with an extremely low complaint rate—zero owner complaints over eight years. This suggests that owners rarely report mechanical or electrical issues to NHTSA, which is typical for low-production, high-end vehicles where owners may rely on dealer service rather than filing complaints. The seven recalls, however, indicate that the manufacturer has proactively addressed potential safety issues, mostly related to airbags and tire pressure monitoring. For a buyer, this means the DB11 is likely to be a reliable, albeit expensive, vehicle to own, but the lack of complaints also means less real-world data to gauge long-term issues.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with a much higher complaint rate—over 11,000 complaints in ten years, averaging more than 1,100 per year. The most common issues are in the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as hard shifting, jerking, and even losing power. Electrical system problems are also frequent, including camera and sensor malfunctions. With 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, the F-150 has a more complex reliability picture, but its popularity means many issues are well-documented and often addressed by Ford through recalls and service campaigns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin DB11 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Aston Martin DB11
No component data available.
The DB11 has had multiple recalls related to airbags, including frontal airbags. While no owner complaints are on record, these recalls suggest potential deployment issues that could affect safety in a crash. A buyer should verify all recall repairs have been performed.
A recall for the TPMS indicates that the system may malfunction, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. This could lead to tire damage or a blowout, but again, no owner complaints are recorded, so the actual failure rate is unknown.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard and delayed shifts, especially between 7th and 8th gears, and some have experienced a complete loss of power while driving, causing the vehicle to shut off and restart with a jerk. This is a serious safety concern as it can lead to loss of control in traffic.
Complaints include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear every time the truck is started. These issues can disable safety features, and some owners also report loud bangs from the transmission and popping sounds from the rear suspension, which may be related to electrical or sensor problems.
With over 1,100 complaints, headlight issues are common. While specific details are not provided in the sample, this could include flickering, condensation, or failure, which reduces visibility and safety at night.
“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.
Aston Martin DB11 — 7 recalls
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2017 DB11, 2019 DB11 V8 Volante and DBS Superleggera, 2019-2020 Vantage and 2020 Superleggera Volante vehicles. The front seat air bag fasteners may not have been tightened correctly.
The risk: Loose fasteners can cause the air bag to improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will examine and, if necessary, secure the front seat air bag fasteners, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2020. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. As…
The defect: Aston Martin the Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2017 DB11 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that may be incorrectly calibrated, resulting in the low tire pressure warning tell-tale not illuminating at the required minimum activation pressure…
The risk: If the driver is not warned that a tire is under-inflated, continued use may result in tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. The recall began July 18, 2017. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this recall is RA-13-…
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2017-2018 DB11 V12 Coupe and DB11 V8 Coupe vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.
The risk: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988.
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2017 DB11, 2019 DB11 V8 Volante and DBS Superleggera, 2019-2020 Vantage and 2020 Superleggera Volante vehicles. The front seat air bag fasteners may not have been tightened correctly.
The risk: Loose fasteners can cause the air bag to improperly deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will examine and, if necessary, secure the front seat air bag fasteners, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2020. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. As…
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
Aston Martin DB11 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin DB11 has far fewer reported issues per year (0.0 complaints/year) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1 complaints/year). This means that in terms of owner-reported problems, the DB11 is significantly more reliable, but the F-150's issues are more common and can affect safety. However, the DB11's low complaint count may be due to low sales volume and owner reporting habits, so it's not a direct comparison.
Key differences
- The DB11 has zero owner complaints, while the F-150 has over 11,000, indicating a stark difference in reported reliability.
- The F-150's powertrain issues, especially the 10-speed transmission, are a major concern, with reports of hard shifts and loss of power, whereas the DB11 has no such complaints.
- The F-150 has a higher number of recalls (145) compared to the DB11 (7), but the DB11's recalls are safety-critical (airbags, TPMS).
- The F-150's electrical system problems, such as camera malfunctions, are common, while the DB11 has no reported electrical issues.
- Check that all seven recalls have been completed, especially those related to airbags and TPMS, as they could affect safety.
- Since there are no owner complaints, inspect the vehicle thoroughly for any signs of issues that might not have been reported, such as electrical gremlins or airbag warning lights.
- Test drive the F-150 and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, for any hard jerks or clunks.
- Check for any warning lights on the dash, such as front camera malfunction or pre-collision assist not available, which indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the DB11, verify all recall repairs are done by checking the VIN on the NHTSA website.
- For the F-150, ask for service records showing transmission fluid changes and any software updates for the 10R80 transmission.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the F-150's electrical system, including cameras and sensors, for any intermittent faults.
- For both vehicles, check the vehicle's history report for any previous accidents or major repairs.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty, especially for the F-150, to cover potential transmission and electrical repairs.
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 | Aston Martin DB11 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 617 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 33 |
| 2019 | 0 | 36 |
| 2018 | 0 | 56 |
| 2017 | 0 | 43 |
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 Aston Martin DB11 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin DB11 vs FORD F 150
- Aston Martin DB11 total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Aston Martin DB11 total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Aston Martin DB11 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin DB11
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN