Head-to-head reliability
AUDI S7 vs FORD F 150
How the AUDI S7 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 S7 vs FORD F 150: The Audi S7 has 28 complaints and 30 recalls over 10 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, versus 0 crashes and 1 injury for the S7. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI S7 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI S7
The Audi S7 is a high-performance luxury car that demands careful maintenance. Over 10 years, it has 28 complaints (2.8 per year) and 30 recalls, with no crashes or deaths but 1 injury reported. Owners frequently report engine and electrical problems, including turbo failures and sudden warning lights, which can be costly and stressful.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup with a huge number of complaints: 11,621 over 10 years (1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. It has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death. Common issues include transmission problems, electrical glitches, and rear window shattering, indicating widespread reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI S7 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 28 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 S7
- 01ENGINE15
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
- 03POWER TRAIN6
- 04STEERING4
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE2
Owners report turbocharger failures, often after highway driving, causing shuddering, hesitation, and engine shutdown. This can leave you stranded and lead to expensive repairs.
Multiple warnings like 'electrical failure, ABS failure, start stop failure' appear suddenly, sometimes while driving. This can be distracting and may indicate deeper electrical faults.
The 7-speed DSG transmission can jerk, hesitate, or fail completely, with one owner reporting the car died on the highway. This poses a safety risk and costly repairs.
Some owners link steering issues to turbo failures, but complaints also mention sudden warnings that affect steering. This could compromise control if it occurs while driving.
“The car drove normally at highway speed for approximately 4 hours. Upon leaving the highway and attempting to accelerate onto a secondary road into oncoming traffic, the engine shuttered. The car drove erratically for about a mile with hesitation and shutteri…”
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? blown turbos with new oil strainer from dealer. They said that they replaced it but who knows if they did. My audi had all those symptoms that pull up for this…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Transmission problems are rampant: owners report limp mode, stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause near collisions. This is a major safety and reliability concern.
Lead frame issues and output speed sensor failures trigger limp mode and warnings. These electrical faults can disable the truck unexpectedly, increasing crash risk.
Rear window defroster shorts can cause the back window to shatter explosively. This is a shocking safety hazard that owners have experienced firsthand.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting problems are common, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Faulty lights reduce visibility and can lead to accidents.
“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 S7 — 30 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occ…
The risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2013-2017 A8, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, and 2014-2017 RS7 vehicles. The turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked, causing wear to the bearings due to lack of lubrication.
The risk: Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattr…
The risk: A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, RS7, 2020-2021 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, S7, 2019-2021 A6 Sedan, and A7 vehicles. The score line on the passenger air bag may not have been manufactured correctly.
The risk: An incorrectly manufactured air bag may not deploy properly, and could also eject plastic debris into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the passenger air bag score line, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall begin March 26, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for…
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 S7 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Audi S7 has far fewer issues per year (2.8 vs. 1,162 for the F-150), but both have serious problems. The F-150's massive complaint volume and crash-related reports suggest a higher risk of safety defects, while the S7's lower volume still includes costly engine and transmission failures.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints vs. 28 for the Audi S7, indicating a much higher reported failure rate.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, while the S7 has 0 crashes and 1 injury.
- Audi S7 owners report turbo and DSG transmission failures; F-150 owners report lead frame and limp mode issues.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls vs. 30 for the S7, covering air bags, seat belts, and engine problems.
- Listen for turbo whine or loss of power during test drive, especially after highway driving.
- Check for transmission jerking or hesitation when accelerating from a stop.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for sudden limp mode or stuck gears.
- Inspect rear window for cracks or signs of defroster damage; ask if it has ever shattered.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Audi S7 for turbo and transmission issues, including error codes.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for transmission codes and test the lead frame and output speed sensor.
- Ask owners about any electrical warnings or limp mode incidents during test drives.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been performed, especially air bags and seat belts.
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 S7 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 3 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 3 | 44 |
| 2018 | 0 | 79 |
| 2017 | 6 | 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 S7 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI S7 vs FORD F 150
- AUDI S7 total complaints
- 28
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- AUDI S7 total recalls
- 30
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- AUDI S7 avg complaints/year
- 2.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- AUDI S7
- AUDI S7 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN