Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin Vantage vs FORD F 150
How the Aston Martin Vantage 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 Vantage vs FORD F 150: The Vantage has 0 complaints and 5 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150 also has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries. The Vantage shows far fewer reported issues, but less data. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin Vantage or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin Vantage
The Aston Martin Vantage is a low-volume sports car, so it sees few miles and few complaints. Over 10 years, NHTSA logged 0 owner complaints, but 5 recalls—including air bags, backup camera display, and engine oil lines. With no complaint text, we can't describe real-world failure symptoms, but the recall subjects hint at potential issues with air bags, backup camera, and oil lines. For a buyer, this means less data to judge reliability, but also fewer reported problems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with many complaints and recalls. Over 10 years, NHTSA logged 11,621 complaints, 151 recalls, 330 crash-related, 297 injuries, and 1 death. The most common complaint areas are power train, electrical system, exterior lighting, and engine. Owners report serious issues like transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window shattering. This suggests that while the F-150 is popular, it has a higher rate of reported problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin Vantage | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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 Vantage
No component data available.
A recall covers engine oil pipes, hoses, and fittings. A failure could lead to oil leaks or engine damage, so buyers should check for leaks or recall completion.
A recall for backup prevention display function means the rearview camera may not show an image, increasing risk when reversing. Confirm the recall fix was done.
Three separate air bag recalls suggest potential issues with air bag deployment. Ensure all air bag recalls are addressed, as a faulty air bag may not protect in a crash.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmission problems like limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures. These can cause sudden loss of power or rough shifting, and some say it nearly caused a crash.
Complaints include lead frame issues and output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. Electrical glitches can leave you stranded or cause erratic driving.
Many complaints about exterior lighting, though specific symptoms aren't detailed. Faulty lights reduce visibility and can be a safety risk.
Engine complaints are common, but no specific text is given. Recalls for engine issues suggest potential problems that could lead to stalling or performance loss.
“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 Vantage — 5 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 2024-2025 DBX707, 2024-2025 DB12, and 2025 Vantage vehicles. The engine oil cooler hose may split during vehicle operation, resulting in a loss of oil and oil pressure.
The risk: A sudden loss of oil and oil pressure could lead to the engine stalling or seizing, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2024. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this recall is RA-03-1973.
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2024-2025 DB12, 2025 Vantage, and 2025 DBX707 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
The risk: An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: The head unit software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Ma…
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 — 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 Vantage or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin Vantage has far fewer issues per year (0 complaints/year vs. 1,162/year for the F-150). In practice, the Vantage is likely to have fewer reported problems, but it also has less data. The F-150's high complaint volume means you're more likely to encounter issues, especially with the transmission and electrical system.
Key differences
- The Vantage has 0 complaints over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,621, indicating a much higher reported problem rate for the F-150.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, while the Vantage has none reported.
- The F-150's top complaint areas are power train and electrical, with specific issues like limp mode and lead frame failures; the Vantage has no complaint text, only recalls for air bags, backup camera, and oil lines.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls vs. 5 for the Vantage, meaning more potential safety defects to track.
- Check for oil leaks around engine oil lines and confirm the recall for oil pipes/hoses/fittings was performed.
- Verify that air bag and backup camera recalls have been completed, as these are safety-related.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for transmission shudder, delayed engagement, or limp mode; ask if the lead frame or output speed sensor has been replaced.
- Inspect the rear window for cracks or signs of shattering, and check if the defroster recall was addressed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they are fixed.
- For the F-150, ask for transmission service records and scan for stored codes like P0722 (output speed sensor).
- For the Vantage, have a pre-purchase inspection focusing on oil lines, air bag system, and backup camera operation.
- Test drive the F-150 in stop-and-go traffic and on the highway to check for transmission issues.
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if the car has been in crashes or had repeated 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 Vantage | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 2019 | 0 | 52 |
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 Vantage or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin Vantage vs FORD F 150
- Aston Martin Vantage total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Aston Martin Vantage total recalls
- 5
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Aston Martin Vantage avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin Vantage
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN