Head-to-head reliability
AUDI RS 4 vs FORD F 150
How the AUDI RS 4 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 RS 4 vs FORD F 150: The Audi RS 4 has 4 complaints over 2 years (2.0/year) and 5 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162.1/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 330 crash-related incidents and 297 injuries; the Audi reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI RS 4 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI RS 4
The Audi RS 4 is a high-performance luxury car with a very small number of complaints—only 4 over 2 years—but those complaints point to serious and expensive issues. Owners report suspension failures, air bag problems, and electrical glitches. With 5 recalls, including multiple air bag inflator recalls, it's clear this car demands careful maintenance and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint volume: over 11,600 complaints in 10 years, including 330 crash-related reports and 297 injuries. The most common trouble spots are the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Recalls are frequent (151), covering engines, seat belts, and air bags. This truck is popular but has a long history of recurring safety and reliability problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI RS 4 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.0 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.
AUDI RS 4
- 01SUSPENSION2
- 02AIR BAGS1
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
Owners report leaking shock absorbers and a clunking noise, with Audi sometimes calling it 'sweating' and refusing to replace until failure. One owner said the car felt like it was going to fall apart, and after replacement it didn't track straight.
An owner was told there would never be a fix for the air bag issue due to the vehicle's limited edition status, leaving them unable to use the car as a family or work vehicle. This suggests potential air bag defects that may not be repairable.
Owners experienced hesitation, check engine lights, and repeated ignition coil failures—one coil replaced, then two more soon after. This points to ongoing electrical or ignition problems that can cause loss of power.
“SUSPENSION COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING TO LEAKING SHOCK ABSORBER. PROBLEM ACKNOWLEDGED BY AUDI AS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOCKS REPLACED UNDER THEIR CAMPAIGN, "43A9 DYNAMIC RIDE CONTROL SUSPENSION SERVICE". AFTER NEW SHOCKS THE CAR DOES NOT TRACK CENTER, PUL…”
“ALL SUSPENSION LEAKING OIL AND HAS A BAD CLUNKING NOISE. AUDI OF AMERICA CALLS IT ( SWEATING ). AND SAY ITS NORMAL. AND WOULD NOT REPLACE UNTIL COMPLETELY BROKEN.VEHICLE FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL APART. *TR”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe a 'lead frame' issue that has persisted for over a decade without a proper fix, leading to near collisions and limp mode. One 2017 F-150 with a 6-speed automatic got stuck in 5th gear almost daily, and another had an output speed sensor failure causing highway limp mode.
The same lead frame problem also appears under electrical complaints, and one owner reported a rear window defroster short that caused the back window to explode outward. These electrical faults can be dangerous and are often linked to safety recalls.
A rear window defroster short led to the back window shattering unexpectedly, with no external cause. This shows that even non-mechanical systems can fail in surprising and hazardous ways.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting is a top concern, though specific owner text isn't provided. Buyers should check all lights for intermittent failures or recalls.
“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 RS 4 — 5 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure m…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Vol…
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 RS 4 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Audi RS 4 has far fewer complaints per year (2.0) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,162.1), but the Audi's issues are often expensive and sometimes without a fix. The F-150's much higher volume means more frequent and varied problems, including many crash-related reports. In practice, the Audi may be less troublesome overall, but when it breaks, it can be costly; the Ford is more likely to leave you stranded or in a dangerous situation.
Key differences
- The Audi RS 4 has only 4 complaints over 2 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 over 10 years—a massive difference in reported problems.
- Ford F-150 complaints include 330 crash-related incidents and 297 injuries; the Audi RS 4 has zero crash-related complaints and zero injuries.
- Audi RS 4 owners report suspension leaks and air bag issues that may be unfixable; Ford F-150 owners report recurring power train 'lead frame' failures causing limp mode and near collisions.
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls, including engine and seat belt issues, while the Audi RS 4 has 5 recalls, mostly for air bag inflators.
- Check for leaking or clunking suspension—listen for noises over bumps and look for oil residue on shock absorbers.
- Ask if the air bag recall has been addressed; some owners were told no fix exists, so verify recall status and any open campaigns.
- Test drive at highway speeds and check for transmission shudder, limp mode, or getting stuck in gear—common with the lead frame issue.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and look for any signs of electrical shorts or previous window replacement due to shattering.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both vehicles, especially air bag and power train campaigns.
- For the Audi RS 4, have a mechanic inspect the suspension for leaks and clunking, and check ignition coils for recent replacements.
- For the Ford F-150, test drive extensively, including highway speeds, to feel for transmission issues or limp mode.
- Ask for service records to see if the lead frame or output speed sensor has been replaced on the F-150.
- On the Audi, confirm whether the air bag recall was performed and if any fix is available for the passenger side inflator.
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 RS 4 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI RS 4 vs FORD F 150
- AUDI RS 4 total complaints
- 4
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- AUDI RS 4 total recalls
- 5
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- AUDI RS 4 avg complaints/year
- 2.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- AUDI RS 4
- AUDI RS 4 top complaint area
- SUSPENSION
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN