Head-to-head reliability

Aston Martin Vanquish vs FORD F 150

How the Aston Martin Vanquish and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Aston Martin Vanquish1 complaints · 6 recalls Fewer issues per year
FORD F 15011,311 complaints · 145 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Aston Martin Vanquish vs FORD F 150: The Vanquish has 1 complaint and 6 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls. The F-150 also has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The picture

Is the Aston Martin Vanquish or FORD F 150 more reliable?

A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.

Aston Martin Vanquish

The Aston Martin Vanquish is a low-volume exotic, so it sees very few miles and even fewer complaints—just 1 over 10 years. That single complaint is about the engine losing power under hard acceleration because a plastic intake pipe collapses. With 6 recalls but no crashes or injuries reported, the main ownership concern is that any problem can be expensive and parts may be scarce.

FORD F 150

The Ford F-150 is a mass-market truck with over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, averaging more than 1,100 per year. Owners most often report transmission problems like hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden power loss, as well as electrical glitches such as camera and sensor failures. With 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, it's a high-volume vehicle with a wide range of reported issues.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryAston Martin VanquishFORD F 150
Total complaintsAll model years combined1 Better11,311
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns6 Better145
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints0 Better328
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years0.1 Better1131.1
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better287
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better1

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 Vanquish

  1. 01ENGINE1
What these mean
ENGINE

One owner reported that during hard acceleration at high revs, the car suddenly lost power and stopped accelerating. The manufacturer said the plastic intake pipe can collapse under heavy acceleration, which can be a costly and potentially dangerous surprise.

In owners' words — ENGINE

“The car at high revs at hard acceleration suddenly loses power, causing it to upshift and stop accelerating. Manufacturer said on heavy acceleration, that the intake pipe to the engine collapse upon heavy acceleration, as they are plastic and can compress and…”

FORD F 150

  1. 01POWER TRAIN3,553
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
  4. 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
  5. 05ENGINE847
What these mean
POWER TRAIN

Owners frequently report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and even sudden loss of power while driving, often linked to the 10-speed automatic transmission. This can leave you stranded or cause a crash if it happens in traffic.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Many complaints involve warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs or popping sounds from the transmission area. These electrical gremlins can disable safety features and are frustrating to diagnose.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

With 1,164 complaints, lighting issues are common—likely headlights or taillights failing or flickering. This matters because poor visibility or non-working lights can lead to accidents or tickets.

ENGINE

There are 847 engine-related complaints, though specific symptoms aren't detailed in the sample. Engine problems can range from rough running to stalling, and they are often expensive to repair.

In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

“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 Vanquish — 6 recalls

Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Power Assist — Electric — Control Module — Software
#25V532000

The defect: Aston Martin is recalling certain 2025 Vanquish vehicles. The vacuum pump may not generate vacuum, resulting in a loss of power brake assist and decreased brake function.

The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Aston Martin will update the ESP software for all affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2025. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for…

Latches/Locks/Linkages
#15V846000

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…

Latches/Locks/Linkages
#15V846000

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…

Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
#17V796000Nov 2017

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…

FORD F 150 — 145 recalls

Exterior Lighting — Headlights
#20V097000

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.

Electrical System — 12v/24v/48v Battery — Cables
#19V805000Dec 2019

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…

Engine
#18V894000

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…

Seats — Front Assembly — Recliner
#19V633000

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 Vanquish or FORD F 150: which should you buy?

The Aston Martin Vanquish has far fewer issues per year (0.1 vs. 1,131.1), but that's partly because it's a low-production exotic. The Ford F-150's much higher complaint rate means you're more likely to encounter transmission, electrical, or lighting problems in everyday use.

Recommendation. If you prioritize low reported complaint volume and can handle exotic-car maintenance, the Aston Martin Vanquish may suit you. If you need a practical truck and are willing to deal with more frequent but well-documented issues, the Ford F-150 is the choice—just budget for potential transmission and electrical repairs.

Key differences

  • The Vanquish has 1 complaint in 10 years; the F-150 has 11,311, with transmission problems being the most common.
  • F-150 owners report hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden power loss, while the Vanquish's lone complaint is about engine power loss due to a collapsing intake pipe.
  • The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries; the Vanquish has none reported.
  • The F-150 has 145 recalls covering lights, batteries, engine, and seats; the Vanquish has 6 recalls, including brakes and latches.
Watch on Aston Martin Vanquish
  • Check the plastic intake pipe for cracks or collapse, especially if the car has been driven hard.
  • Ask for service records related to the engine and any recall work on brakes or latches.
Watch on FORD F 150
  • Test drive at various speeds to feel for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement from the transmission.
  • Check for warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard.

Before you buy

  • Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been addressed.
  • For the F-150, have a mechanic inspect the transmission and electrical system, especially the 10-speed automatic.
  • For the Vanquish, inspect the engine intake and check for any signs of power loss under acceleration.
  • Test drive both vehicles in conditions that mimic your daily driving, including highway merges and stop-and-go traffic.
  • Ask the seller for maintenance records and be wary of any vehicle with unresolved safety recalls.

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.

YearAston Martin VanquishFORD F 150
2026024
20251329
2018056
2017043
Years to scrutinize: the 2021 FORD F 150 drew the most (5,234). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Vanquish or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Aston Martin Vanquish vs FORD F 150 — comparison facts
Comparison
Aston Martin Vanquish vs FORD F 150
Aston Martin Vanquish total complaints
1
FORD F 150 total complaints
11,311
Aston Martin Vanquish total recalls
6
FORD F 150 total recalls
145
Aston Martin Vanquish avg complaints/year
0.1
FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
1131.1
More reliable overall
Aston Martin Vanquish
Aston Martin Vanquish top complaint area
ENGINE
FORD F 150 top complaint area
POWER TRAIN