Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin Virage vs FORD F 150
How the Aston Martin Virage 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 Virage vs FORD F 150: The Virage has 0 complaints per year and 5 recalls, while the F-150 has about 1,162 complaints per year and 151 recalls. The F-150 also has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries; the Virage has none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin Virage or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin Virage
The Aston Martin Virage is a low-volume luxury car, so it has very few owner complaints on file—zero over one year—but five recalls. That means you won't find a large pattern of repeated failures from drivers, but you should still check that recall work was done. Living with it is more about maintaining an exotic car than dealing with widespread breakdowns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with thousands of owner complaints and many recalls over a decade. The most common trouble spots are the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Owners report serious issues like transmissions stuck in limp mode and rear windows shattering, so a used F-150 needs a careful inspection.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin Virage | 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 Virage
No component data available.
A recall covers latch, lock, and linkage problems. Owners haven't filed complaints about this, but a recall means the factory identified a defect that could affect door or latch operation. Ask whether the fix was applied.
A recall targets the transmission control module. No owner complaints describe symptoms, but a faulty control module can cause shifting problems or leave you stranded. Confirm the recall repair was completed.
A recall involves the front seat heater or cooler. There are no owner reports of burns or failures, but the recall suggests a possible overheating or electrical risk. Check that the seat heating and cooling still work and that the recall was done.
Two separate recalls cover the accelerator pedal. No complaints describe unintended acceleration or sticking, but pedal issues can be dangerous. Verify both recalls were performed.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report the transmission suddenly going into limp mode and getting stuck in 5th gear, often daily. Some also mention a 'lead frame' issue that can cause near-collisions. These failures can leave you without power or control at speed.
Complaints include the same lead frame problem and an output speed sensor failure that triggers limp mode. One owner said the rear window defroster shorted and the back window exploded outward. Electrical faults can disable safety systems or cause sudden glass breakage.
A reported short in the rear window defroster led to the back window shattering within minutes of use. This is a serious safety concern because it can happen without warning and send glass into the cabin.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint area, though no sample text describes the exact failure. Lighting problems matter because they affect your ability to see and be seen, and they can be a recurring annoyance.
“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 Virage — 5 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 2006-2014 DB9, V12 Vantage, V8 Vantage, DBS, and Virage vehicles manufactured July 3, 2006, to November 5, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic control module for the driver and front passenger seat heate…
The risk: If the electronic control module fails, the seat heater could get hot enough that areas of the seat may overheat and smolder, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional module to the circuit that can interrupt the power to the seat heaters in case the electronic control module for the seat heaters fails, free of charge. The recall beg…
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…
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 Virage or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin Virage has far fewer issues per year—0 complaints per year versus about 1,162 per year for the Ford F-150. In practice, the F-150 has a much larger and more serious pattern of reported failures, including crashes and injuries, while the Virage has no owner complaints but several recalls. That doesn't mean the Virage is trouble-free, but the F-150's volume of complaints points to more frequent and potentially dangerous problems.
Key differences
- The Aston Martin Virage has 0 owner complaints and 5 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls over 10 years.
- Ford F-150 owners report transmission limp mode, stuck gears, lead frame failures, and a rear window that can shatter; the Virage has no owner complaint text on record.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the Virage has 0 in each category.
- Virage recalls cover latches, transmission control module, seat heater, and accelerator pedal; F-150 recalls include engine, seat belts, door latches, and air bag inflators.
- Check that all five recalls were completed, especially the two accelerator pedal recalls and the transmission control module recall.
- Test the front seat heater and cooler, and inspect door latches and locks for proper operation.
- Scan for transmission codes and test drive for limp mode, stuck gears, or delayed shifting—common owner complaints.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or signs of overheating, and check for any electrical gremlins.
Before you buy
- For either vehicle, ask for a written recall history and verify all open recalls were fixed by a dealer.
- On the Aston Martin Virage, test the accelerator pedal, transmission shifting, seat heaters, and door latches.
- On the Ford F-150, get a pre-purchase inspection focusing on transmission operation, electrical system, and rear window defroster.
- Check for any stored trouble codes, especially transmission codes like P0722 on the F-150.
- Review the NHTSA complaint and recall databases yourself using the VIN before buying.
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 Virage or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin Virage vs FORD F 150
- Aston Martin Virage total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Aston Martin Virage total recalls
- 5
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Aston Martin Virage avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin Virage
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN