Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin Rapide vs FORD F 150
How the Aston Martin Rapide 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 Rapide vs FORD F 150: The Rapide has only 1 complaint over 9 years (0.1/yr) and no crash-related incidents, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints (1,131.1/yr) with 328 crash-related and 287 injuries. The F-150's transmission and electrical issues are more severe. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin Rapide or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin Rapide
The Aston Martin Rapide is a low-volume luxury performance sedan with a very low complaint rate—just one owner complaint over nine years, averaging 0.1 per year. That single complaint involves the check engine light coming on, with diagnostic trouble codes pointing to fuel, electrical, and engine systems. While the vehicle has 16 recalls, none are crash-related, and there are no reported injuries or deaths. For a buyer, this suggests a car that is rarely reported for safety issues, but the limited data means you're relying on a small sample size.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with a much higher complaint rate—11,311 complaints over ten years, averaging over 1,100 per year. The most common issues are in the powertrain (especially transmission problems like hard shifts and loss of power), electrical system glitches, and exterior lighting failures. There are 328 crash-related complaints, 287 injuries, and one death, indicating that some failures have led to safety incidents. For a buyer, this means the F-150 has a well-documented history of reliability issues that can affect drivability and safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin Rapide | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.1 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 Rapide
- 01FUEL SYSTEM1
- 02GASOLINE1
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04ENGINE1
Owners report the check engine light illuminating, and diagnostic codes point to fuel system issues. This could indicate problems with fuel delivery or emissions components, which might affect performance and fuel economy.
The same complaint mentions a diagnostic trouble code related to gasoline, possibly indicating a fuel mixture or vapor issue. This could lead to rough running or increased emissions.
The check engine light is triggered by electrical system faults, which might involve sensors or wiring. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, leading to frustration.
The engine is implicated in the diagnostic trouble code, suggesting a possible misfire or sensor issue. Engine problems can lead to reduced power and increased repair costs.
“The contact owns a 2012 Aston Martin Rapide. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact used a handheld diagnostic machine to retrieve a DTC for a…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners frequently report hard and delayed shifts, especially in the 10-speed automatic transmission, and some experience sudden loss of power while driving. This can be dangerous in traffic and indicates a serious transmission defect.
Many complaints involve warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing on startup, indicating issues with sensors or the electrical system. These failures can disable safety features.
There are numerous complaints about headlight failures, which can reduce visibility at night and increase the risk of accidents. This is a safety concern that may require frequent bulb or assembly replacements.
Engine-related complaints include stalling and rough running, which can be caused by various issues like fuel delivery or ignition problems. Engine stalling can lead to loss of control and potential crashes.
“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 Rapide — 16 recalls
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 DB9, 2010-2012 DBS, 2010-2016 V8 Vantage, 2012 Virage, 2010-2016 Rapide, 2014-2016 Vanquish, 2011-2016 V12 Vantage, and 2012-2013 V12 Zagato vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with interior door…
The risk: If the doors cannot be opened by an occupant from inside the vehicle, they may be trapped inside, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will disable the double locking feature by reprogramming the software, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2016. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston…
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2009-2016 DB9, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2015 Rapide, 2012 Virage, and 2014 Vanquish vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Touchtronic II Automatic Transmission. A communication error between the Engine Control Module (ECM) and the Transmission Con…
The risk: If the park pawl does not engage and the vehicle is stopped on a slope and exited without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will update the TCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 1, 2018. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this…
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 DB9 and V8 Vantage, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2012 Rapide, 2014 Rapide S, 2011-2012 V12 Vantage, 2011-2014 V8 Vantage S and 2012 Virage vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the accelerator pedal arm may brea…
The risk: If the accelerator pedal arm breaks, the engine will return to idle and the driver will be unable to maintain or increase engine speed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assemblies. The recall began on February 11, 2014. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service by calling 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's recall number is…
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 DB9, 2010-2012 DBS, 2010-2016 V8 Vantage, 2012 Virage, 2010-2016 Rapide, 2014-2016 Vanquish, 2011-2016 V12 Vantage, and 2012-2013 V12 Zagato vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with interior door…
The risk: If the doors cannot be opened by an occupant from inside the vehicle, they may be trapped inside, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will disable the double locking feature by reprogramming the software, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2016. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston…
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 Rapide or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin Rapide has far fewer complaints per year (0.1) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a much lower rate of reported issues. However, the F-150's higher volume and more severe complaints, including transmission failures and electrical glitches, suggest that in practice, the Rapide is less likely to leave you stranded or in need of major repairs.
Key differences
- The Rapide has only 1 complaint over 9 years, while the F-150 has over 11,000 in 10 years, showing a stark contrast in reported reliability.
- F-150 owners report dangerous transmission failures like hard shifts and loss of power, whereas Rapide owners only mention a check engine light.
- The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, while the Rapide has none, indicating a higher safety risk in the F-150.
- Electrical system issues are common in the F-150, disabling safety features, while the Rapide's electrical issue is limited to a warning light.
- Check for any check engine light codes related to fuel, electrical, or engine systems, as these are the only reported issue on the Rapide.
- Verify that all recalls have been addressed, especially those involving latches, transmission control module, and accelerator pedal, as they could affect safety.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for hard shifts, clunks, or delayed engagement, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, as these are common failure points.
- Check for any warning messages on the dash like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' that indicate electrical or sensor issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full service history and check for any open recalls on both vehicles.
- For the Rapide, have a pre-purchase inspection done by a specialist to check for any diagnostic trouble codes and ensure all systems are functioning.
- For the F-150, take it for an extended test drive to feel for transmission shifts and listen for any unusual noises.
- Check the exterior lighting on the F-150, including headlights, for proper operation and signs of moisture or damage.
- Review the NHTSA complaint data for the specific model year you're considering to see if there are any patterns.
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 Rapide | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Rapide or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin Rapide vs FORD F 150
- Aston Martin Rapide total complaints
- 1
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Aston Martin Rapide total recalls
- 16
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Aston Martin Rapide avg complaints/year
- 0.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin Rapide
- Aston Martin Rapide top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN