Head-to-head reliability
AUDI A5 vs FORD F 150
How the AUDI A5 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
AUDI A5 vs FORD F 150: Over 10 years, the Audi A5 averaged 10.9 complaints per year and had 24 recalls, while the Ford F-150 averaged 1,162.1 complaints per year and had 151 recalls. The F-150 also reported 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, versus 2 and 0 for the A5. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI A5 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI A5
The Audi A5 is a luxury coupe or sedan that, over 10 years, has averaged about 11 complaints per year and 24 recalls. The most common owner complaints involve the electrical system, especially the MMI infotainment screen rebooting or shutting down, which can also blank the backup camera. There are also reports of transmission errors and unexpected brake hold, but overall the volume of complaints is relatively low for a luxury vehicle.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that has generated over 11,600 complaints in 10 years, averaging more than 1,100 per year, along with 151 recalls. The dominant issue is the power train, with many owners reporting transmission problems like limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures. Electrical issues, including a rear window defroster short that can shatter the back glass, are also frequently reported.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI A5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 109 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 10.9 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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.
AUDI A5
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER30
- 03BACK OVER PREVENTION17
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE8
- 05ENGINE8
Owners report the MMI infotainment system randomly shuts down or reboots while driving, sometimes every few minutes. This can cause the backup camera to go blank, making reversing less safe, and the radio may turn on unexpectedly.
Complaints include transmission failure warnings and MMI resets that affect navigation, CarPlay, and radio. These issues can be intermittent and startling, and may require dealer visits to diagnose.
The MMI rebooting can cause the backup camera to fail, leaving a blank screen when reversing. This is a safety concern because the driver loses rear visibility.
Some owners report unexpected and forceful brake hold that interferes with normal driving, such as when changing lanes in traffic. This can be alarming and potentially dangerous if it activates unexpectedly.
“The vehicle's Multi-Media Interface (MMI) system is reportedly shutting down randomly while the vehicle is in operation. This issue occurs without warning and is intermittent, making it unpredictable. Observed Symptoms/Events: Complete Loss of MMI Functionali…”
“13 Jun 25 2100 hrs - Auto went thru multiple of errors and transmission would not go into gear, electric door locks released all emergency pull handles and car was not able to move. Called Audi Emergency Service. Tried to get out of vehicle and door could not…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues can lead to near collisions and expensive repairs.
Electrical complaints include the same lead frame issue and a rear window defroster short that can cause the back window to shatter. These problems can be dangerous and costly to fix.
Owners report a rear window defroster short that causes the back window to explode outward, posing a risk of injury or property damage. This is a serious safety concern.
There are over 1,200 complaints about exterior lighting, which may include headlights, taillights, or turn signals failing. Poor lighting can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
“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.
AUDI A5 — 24 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7…
The risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe,…
The risk: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 4…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passen…
The risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number fo…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that ca…
The risk: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall i…
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
AUDI A5 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Audi A5 has far fewer complaints per year (about 11) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), meaning you are statistically less likely to encounter frequent problems with the Audi. However, the F-150's issues are often more severe, involving transmission failures that can cause sudden power loss, while the Audi's are more often electronic annoyances. In practice, the Audi may require fewer repair visits, but the Ford's problems can be more dangerous and expensive when they occur.
Key differences
- The Audi A5 averages about 11 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages over 1,100, a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- Ford F-150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures that can cause sudden power loss, whereas Audi A5 complaints center on MMI infotainment reboots and backup camera failures.
- The Ford F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries reported, compared to 2 crash-related and 0 injuries for the Audi A5, indicating more severe outcomes in reported incidents.
- Both vehicles have recalls, but the Ford F-150 has 151 recalls versus 24 for the Audi A5, covering issues like seat belts, air bags, and engine components.
- Check the MMI infotainment system for random reboots or shutdowns; test the backup camera and navigation to ensure they work consistently.
- Listen for transmission warnings or rough shifting during a test drive, and ask if any software updates or repairs have been done for the transmission.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for limp mode, delayed engagement, or getting stuck in gear; scan for stored trouble codes like P0722.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and look for any signs of overheating or previous shattering; check for recalls related to the lead frame and ensure they have been addressed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who specializes in the brand, focusing on the transmission (Ford) or electrical system (Audi).
- During a test drive, operate all electronics: infotainment, backup camera, lights, and climate control, and note any warnings or odd behavior.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission repairs or software updates for the Ford, or MMI repairs for the Audi.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been completed by checking with a dealership or the NHTSA recall lookup.
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 | AUDI A5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 35 |
| 2025 | 9 | 345 |
| 2024 | 8 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 8 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 60 | 44 |
| 2019 | 12 | 52 |
| 2018 | 9 | 79 |
| 2017 | 2 | 59 |
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 AUDI A5 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI A5 vs FORD F 150
- AUDI A5 total complaints
- 109
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- AUDI A5 total recalls
- 24
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- AUDI A5 avg complaints/year
- 10.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- AUDI A5
- AUDI A5 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN