Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin DBX vs FORD F 150
How the Aston Martin DBX 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 DBX vs FORD F 150: The DBX has 2 complaints over 6 years (0.3/year) and 14 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the DBX reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin DBX or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin DBX
The Aston Martin DBX is a low-volume luxury SUV, and its NHTSA record reflects that: only 2 complaints over 6 years, or about 0.3 per year. The two complaints involve a torn underbody panel that exposed wiring and a seat belt that pressed against the driver's throat. There are 14 recalls, but no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported in the complaint data. For a buyer, this suggests very few reported problems, but the ones that exist can be expensive and may not be covered by the manufacturer.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 1,162 per year. The most common complaint areas are the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Owners report serious issues like transmissions stuck in limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the glass. There are also 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death reported, along with 151 recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin DBX | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.3 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Aston Martin DBX
- 01STRUCTURE1
- 02SEAT BELTS1
One owner reported the left underbody panel tore, exposing wiring, servos, and cables. The repair was done at the owner's expense and not reimbursed, so buyers should check underbody panels for damage or missing fasteners.
One owner of a 2025 DBX said the seat belt strap laid across the driver's throat even when buckled, with no apparent adjustment to fix it. This is a comfort and safety concern that should be checked during a test drive.
Recalls include electrical system wiring and fuses/circuit breakers, though no specific owner complaints describe these. Buyers should verify that all recall work has been completed.
A recall covers engine cooling hoses, lines, piping, and fittings. There are no owner complaints about this, but it is a known recall area to confirm has been addressed.
“Left underbody panel tore. Available for inspection. Exposed wiring, servos, cables, etc. confirmed. Replaced panel at my expense by dealer. Manufacturer notified.Neither will reimburse me. No alerts. Occurred about 3/2/25. Cause: asphalt driveway twig caught…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners frequently report transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures. One owner said a lead frame issue nearly ended their life, and another described daily limp mode in a 2017 F-150.
Complaints include the same lead frame issue and an output speed sensor failure that caused highway limp mode. A rear window defroster short was reported to shatter the back window outward, which is a serious safety risk.
One owner reported the rear window exploded outward after using the defroster, with no external cause. This suggests a possible defect that buyers should be aware of, especially in older models.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting is a top area, though no sample text is provided. Buyers should test all lights and check for recalls related to lighting.
“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.
Aston Martin DBX — 14 recalls
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2021-2024 DBX vehicles. Electrical cables in the battery fuse box may be loose, which can result in an engine stall, or a loss of headlights and/or power steering.
The risk: An engine stall or loss of headlights and/or power steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the fuses and cables for damage and replace them as necessary. In addition, the fasteners will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2024. Owners may cont…
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2023-2024 DBX707 vehicles. An oil hose for the oil cooler may burst, resulting in a sudden loss of oil and oil pressure.
The risk: A sudden loss of oil and oil pressure can result in the engine stalling or seizing, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the hoses for the oil cooler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2024. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this recall is RA-03-1926.
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2026 DBX S, 2023-2026 DBX707, and 2021-2024 DBX vehicles. The pin for the torque reaction link may slide out of the rear lower suspension arm, causing the rear lower suspension arm casting to crack or shear.
The risk: Failure of the rear lower suspension arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, damage the brake line or other suspension components, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will inspect the lower rear suspension arms for cracks, and as necessary, replace the lower rear arms, and replace the bolts for the torque reaction links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2026. O…
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2025-2026 DBX and 2026 DBX S vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light may not illuminate as intended, failing to warn drivers that one or more tires may be underinflated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…
The risk: Underinflated tires increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2026. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this recall is RA-13-2153. The V…
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
Aston Martin DBX or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin DBX has far fewer issues per year (0.3 complaints/year) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,162 complaints/year). In practice, the F-150 is far more likely to have reported problems, including serious transmission and electrical failures. The DBX's low complaint count suggests fewer reported issues, but its higher recall count (14 vs. 151) still means buyers should check for open recalls.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, while the Aston Martin DBX has only 2 over 6 years, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Ford F-150 owners report serious power train issues like limp mode and lead frame failures; DBX complaints involve a torn underbody panel and a seat belt positioning problem.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the DBX has 0 in each category.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls, including engine and seat belt pretensioner issues; the DBX has 14 recalls, including electrical wiring and suspension.
- Inspect the underbody panels for tears or missing pieces, as one owner reported exposed wiring and cables after a panel tore.
- Check the driver's seat belt routing and adjustment to ensure it does not press against the neck when buckled.
- Test drive the truck and watch for transmission shudder, delayed engagement, or limp mode, especially in 2017 models with the 6-speed automatic.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for signs of overheating or shattering, and ask if the defroster has ever caused the glass to break.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full NHTSA recall history for the specific vehicle by VIN and confirm all recalls are repaired.
- For the DBX, inspect underbody panels and seat belt operation during a test drive.
- For the F-150, scan for transmission trouble codes and test the rear defroster and window integrity.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and electrical repairs.
- Have a independent mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the known complaint areas.
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 DBX | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 1 | 345 |
| 2024 | 1 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
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 DBX or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin DBX vs FORD F 150
- Aston Martin DBX total complaints
- 2
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Aston Martin DBX total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Aston Martin DBX avg complaints/year
- 0.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin DBX
- Aston Martin DBX top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN