Head-to-head reliability
AUDI A8 vs FORD F 150
How the AUDI A8 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 A8 vs FORD F 150: The Audi A8 has 162 complaints over 10 years (16.2/yr) with engine stalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints (1,131.1/yr) with transmission and electrical issues. The A8's problems are more severe but less frequent. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI A8 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI A8
The Audi A8, a luxury sedan, shows a reliability picture dominated by engine troubles. Owners report sudden stalls and misfires, often without warning lights, which can be alarming and dangerous in traffic. While the complaint count is relatively low, the nature of these failures suggests potential for serious, unexpected breakdowns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a popular pickup, has a much higher complaint volume, but this is partly due to its widespread use. The main issues revolve around the transmission, with reports of hard shifts and jerking, and electrical problems like camera malfunctions. These issues are more about drivability and convenience than sudden, catastrophic failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI A8 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 162 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 35 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
AUDI A8
- 01ENGINE93
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER21
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM13
- 05POWER TRAIN11
Owners report sudden stalling and misfiring, sometimes without any warning lights, which can leave you stranded in traffic. This is the most common complaint, indicating a potential for unexpected power loss.
Problems include malfunctioning adaptive cruise control and navigation inaccuracies, which can be frustrating and may indicate deeper electrical gremlins.
High-pressure fuel pumps and cam followers have failed, sometimes outside of warranty coverage, leading to costly repairs and potential stalling.
“WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED (4 LANE STREET -- 2 GOING, TO COMING). THERE WAS VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AS IT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON, NOR COULD I SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE WAY. AS A RESULT…”
“WHILE DRIVING AND GETTING OFF A HIGHWAY EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT NOTICE STARTED TO STALL AS IF MISFIRING AND RUNNING ERRATIC WITHOUT NO ENGINE TROUBLE CODES OR WARNING LIGHTS AT A RED LIGHT STOP. I MANAGED TO GET HOME ABOUT HALF MILE AND ONCE PARKED COULDN'T…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard shifts, jerking, and even sudden power loss. This can affect drivability and safety, especially in traffic.
Owners report issues with front camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions, which can disable safety features and be annoying to have reset.
Headlight problems are common, which can reduce visibility at night and increase the risk of accidents.
“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.
AUDI A8 — 35 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous over time, resulting in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began July 20, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AV.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous and leak fuel.
The risk: Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of fire.
The fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will install a fuel pressure damper, free of charge. The recall began February 21, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BM.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles equipped with a standard sunroof, manufactured March 12, 2013, through July 15, 2013. These vehicles are equipped with a standard sunroof glass panel that may shatter.
The risk: Should the sunroof's glass break while the vehicle is in use, the falling glass could injure the driver or passengers. It could also distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass panel, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2013. Owners may contact Audi of America at 1-800-822-2834. Volkwagen's number for this campaign is 60B6/1L.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The seal around the engine compartment may come loose and contact hot engine components.
The risk: If the seal contacts hot engine components, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install a retaining plate to prevent the engine compartment seal from loosening. The recall began September 4, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number…
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
AUDI A8 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Audi A8 has far fewer complaints per year (16.2) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), but the A8's issues are more severe in nature, involving sudden engine stalls. The F-150's problems are more numerous but often less immediately dangerous, focusing on transmission and electrical glitches.
Key differences
- The Audi A8's engine can stall without warning, while the Ford F-150's transmission issues are more predictable (hard shifts).
- The Ford F-150 has a much higher complaint rate, but many are about electrical glitches like camera malfunctions, not safety-critical.
- The Audi A8 has recalls for fuel system and turbo issues, while the Ford F-150 has recalls for headlights and battery cables.
- The Audi A8's fuel pump failures can be costly, whereas the Ford F-150's transmission problems may be covered under extended warranties.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or misfiring, and have the fuel pump and cam followers inspected.
- Verify that all software updates for the engine and electrical systems have been applied.
- Test drive to feel for hard shifts or jerking, especially between 4th and 6th gears.
- Check if the front camera and pre-collision assist warnings appear on startup, indicating a recurring electrical issue.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full service history and check for any open recalls on both vehicles.
- For the Audi A8, have a mechanic inspect the high-pressure fuel pump and cam followers for wear.
- For the Ford F-150, perform a thorough test drive including highway speeds to assess transmission behavior.
- Check the operation of all safety features, including adaptive cruise control and pre-collision assist, on both.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with these models.
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 A8 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 33 |
| 2019 | 12 | 36 |
| 2018 | 0 | 56 |
| 2017 | 6 | 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 AUDI A8 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI A8 vs FORD F 150
- AUDI A8 total complaints
- 162
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- AUDI A8 total recalls
- 35
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- AUDI A8 avg complaints/year
- 16.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- AUDI A8
- AUDI A8 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN