Head-to-head reliability
AUDI RS 6 Avant vs FORD F 150
How the AUDI RS 6 Avant 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 6 Avant vs FORD F 150: The Audi averages 0.7 complaints per year with no crashes, while the Ford averages 2,755 complaints per year with 762 crashes and 10 deaths. Audi owners report electrical failures; Ford owners report powertrain and engine issues including unintended acceleration. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI RS 6 Avant or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI RS 6 Avant
The Audi RS 6 Avant is a high-performance wagon with a low complaint rate of 0.7 per year, but the issues reported are concerning. Owners describe sudden loss of electrical power at highway speeds, accompanied by warning messages for the sport differential and electric system. The rear camera frequently fails, and the instrument cluster can take minutes to turn on. While not crash-related, these electrical gremlins could leave you stranded or without critical visibility aids.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular pickup with a very high complaint rate of 2,755 per year, including 762 crashes, 714 injuries, and 10 deaths. Owners report the transmission failing to shift into park, sudden unintended acceleration, and total loss of power while driving, disabling brakes and steering. Engine and powertrain issues dominate, with many complaints about the truck shaking violently or losing power unexpectedly.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI RS 6 Avant | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4 Better | 27,552 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 141 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 762 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.7 Better | 2755.2 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 714 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 10 |
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 6 Avant
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- 02VISIBILITY/WIPER1
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1
- 04STEERING1
- 05POWER TRAIN1
Owners report sudden loss of electrical power while cruising at 65 mph, triggering yellow and red warning messages for the sport differential and electric system. The instrument cluster may take minutes to turn on, with flashing warning lights.
The rear camera repeatedly fails, often not working most days, and other cameras have also failed after multiple dealership visits for replacement.
The same camera failures affect the forward collision avoidance system, as the rear camera and other cameras are part of the sensing system, leading to repeated failures.
Loss of electrical power can also affect steering, as the same electrical system failure disables power steering, making the vehicle difficult to control.
“Loss of electrical power while cruising on the interstate at 65 mph. There was a series of warning messages, YELLOW colored malfunctions such as "Sport differential malfunction", "electric system malfunction". Then RED colored warning message "Electric system…”
“The last few times I've started my car, the instrument cluster takes multiple minutes before it turns on, while the yellow check engine and red warning lights flash repeatedly.”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN9,967
- 02ENGINE4,861
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,479
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,210
- 05STRUCTURE1,485
The transmission fails to automatically shift into park when the engine is shut off while in Drive, causing the shifter to stick and the truck to lock down. Turbo wastegate issues are also reported, with symptoms like loss of power.
Engine problems include the integrated park module failing to engage the park pawl, preventing the truck from locking into park. Sudden unintended acceleration has occurred at low speeds, with the vehicle accelerating on its own.
Total loss of power while driving has been reported, disabling all safety devices including hazards, brakes, airbags, and steering. ABS system noise after recall service is also common.
Sudden unintended acceleration and severe shake/vibration while driving are reported, even after repairs, indicating unresolved drivability issues.
“When I am parking the truck, I press and hold the brake pedal, While the truck shifter in in "Drive", I press the start/stop button to shut truck down, the shifter gets stuck in "drive" and doesn't automatically shift in to park. The truck locks down and will…”
“My truck is a 2025 Ford F150 STX with 5,900 miles on it. This truck was purchased new at River City Ford in Lavalette, WV The component in questions seems to be involved with the turbos and more specifically the wastegate that attached to the turbos. Also, ye…”
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 6 Avant — 8 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8 and S8, 2022 Audi A5 Sportback, A4 Sedan, E-Tron GT, Q3, Q5, RS6 Avant, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RSQ8, SQ7, SQ8, and S3 Sedan vehicles. A software error may prevent the rear-view image from initially dis…
The risk: A rear-view camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the infotainment unit parameters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 9, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91CR.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (V…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 SQ8, A6 SEDAN, A7, A8, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S6 SEDAN, S7, S8, A6 Allroad, and SQ7 vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90VC.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (V…
FORD F 150 — 141 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may los…
The risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
Buyer analysis
AUDI RS 6 Avant or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Audi RS 6 Avant has far fewer complaints per year (0.7 vs 2,755) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths, while the Ford F-150 has 762 crashes and 10 deaths. In practice, the Audi's issues are electrical annoyances that could leave you stranded, while the Ford's problems include sudden loss of control and unintended acceleration, posing a higher safety risk.
Key differences
- Audi RS 6 Avant has 0.7 complaints per year vs Ford F-150's 2,755 per year.
- Audi has 0 crash-related incidents; Ford has 762 crashes, 714 injuries, and 10 deaths.
- Audi's main issues are electrical system failures (loss of power, camera, cluster); Ford's are powertrain and engine failures (transmission park issue, unintended acceleration, total power loss).
- Audi has 8 recalls; Ford has 141 recalls, indicating more widespread problems.
- Check for intermittent electrical power loss: test drive at highway speeds and watch for warning messages.
- Verify rear camera and other cameras work consistently, especially after cold starts.
- Test the transmission park function: shut off engine while in Drive and see if it shifts to Park automatically.
- Check for any history of sudden unintended acceleration or total power loss, and ensure all recalls are performed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full service history and check for open recalls on both vehicles.
- For the Audi: test all cameras and the instrument cluster startup behavior multiple times.
- For the Ford: test the transmission park function and drive at low speeds to check for unintended acceleration.
- Review NHTSA complaint data for the specific model year you are considering.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on electrical and powertrain systems.
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 RS 6 Avant | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 9 |
| 2025 | 0 | 320 |
| 2024 | 0 | 597 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1448 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3285 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4942 |
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 6 Avant or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI RS 6 Avant vs FORD F 150
- AUDI RS 6 Avant total complaints
- 4
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 27,552
- AUDI RS 6 Avant total recalls
- 8
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 141
- AUDI RS 6 Avant avg complaints/year
- 0.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 2755.2
- More reliable overall
- AUDI RS 6 Avant
- AUDI RS 6 Avant top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN