Head-to-head reliability
Bugatti Chiron vs FORD F 150
How the Bugatti Chiron 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
Bugatti Chiron vs FORD F 150: The Chiron has 0 complaints over 7 years and 13 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, 151 recalls, and 330 crash-related reports. The F-150's owner complaints describe real power train and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Bugatti Chiron or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Bugatti Chiron
The Bugatti Chiron is a low-volume hypercar, so owner-reported data is extremely sparse: zero complaints over seven years. That doesn't mean flawless, but it means you won't find a pattern of recurring failures from drivers. Instead, the 13 recalls point to potential safety defects in electronic stability control software, the driveshaft, seat belts, side air bags, and seat recliners. Living with one means relying on recall notices rather than complaint trends to know what might go wrong.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a mass-market pickup with a huge owner base, generating 11,621 complaints over ten years—about 1,162 per year. The most common trouble spots are the power train, electrical system, exterior lighting, and engine. Owners describe serious, recurring problems like transmissions stuck in limp mode, lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions, and rear windows shattering. With 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death reported, the data shows real safety consequences tied to these failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Bugatti Chiron | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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.
Bugatti Chiron
No component data available.
A recall covers the ESC control module software. If the software malfunctions, stability control may not intervene correctly in a skid, which matters because it's a key safety net in a high-performance car.
The driveshaft is subject to a recall. A failing driveshaft can cause loss of power or dangerous vibration, and on a car with this much torque, that's a serious concern for any buyer.
Front seat belts are recalled. If a belt doesn't restrain properly in a crash, it increases injury risk, so buyers should confirm the recall repair was done.
Side/window air bags are recalled. These are designed to protect occupants in a side impact; a defective one may not deploy, leaving occupants less protected.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmissions that go into limp mode and get stuck in 5th gear, often daily. They also describe 'lead frame' failures that cause sudden downshifts or near-collisions, and some say the issue has persisted for over a decade without a proper fix.
The same lead frame problem appears here, with owners saying it nearly ended their life. Another owner reported a 2017 F-150 entering highway limp mode due to an output speed sensor failure, even after a software recall was performed.
One owner described the rear window defroster shorting and the back window exploding outward and shattering shortly after use. That's a sudden, dangerous failure that could happen with no warning.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint area, though no specific sample text was provided. Lighting failures matter because they affect your ability to see and be seen, especially at night.
“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.
Bugatti Chiron — 13 recalls
The defect: Bugatti is recalling certain 2016-2023 Bugatti Chiron vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts, and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occu…
The risk: The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 1, 2024. Owners may contact Bugatti customer service at 1-703-826-7545. Bugatti's number for this recall is BUGCR036.
The defect: Bugatti is recalling certain 2016-2023 Bugatti Chiron vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts, and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occu…
The risk: The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 1, 2024. Owners may contact Bugatti customer service at 1-703-826-7545. Bugatti's number for this recall is BUGCR036.
The defect: Bugatti (Bugatti) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Chiron, 2018-2020 Chiron Sport and 2020-2021 DIVO vehicles. After an ignition cycle, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) does not automatically default back to the full-function original mode if the Handling Mode is selected on the Drive Mode swit…
The risk: If the Handling Mode is activated, the ESC System goes into Sport mode. After an ignition cycle, the ESC does not default to the original default mode (ESC Normal Mode). After restarting the car, the Drive Mode remains in Handling mode aff…
The fix: Bugatti will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the software of the affected control units, free of charge. Owners may contact Bugatti customer service at 1-703-826-7545. Bugatti's number for this recall is BUGCR033.
The defect: Bugatti is recalling certain 2016-2023 Bugatti Chiron vehicles. The audible chime may not activate when the vehicle starts, and the driver has not buckled their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occu…
The risk: The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 1, 2024. Owners may contact Bugatti customer service at 1-703-826-7545. Bugatti's number for this recall is BUGCR036.
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
Bugatti Chiron or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Bugatti Chiron has far fewer issues per year—0 complaints annually versus about 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, that means an F-150 buyer is much more likely to encounter a reported problem, especially with the power train or electrical system. The Chiron's low complaint count reflects its tiny owner population, not necessarily better build quality.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, while the Bugatti Chiron has 0 over 7 years—but the Chiron's owner pool is tiny, so the comparison is not apples-to-apples.
- F-150 owners repeatedly report power train failures like limp mode and lead frame issues that can cause near-collisions; the Chiron has no owner complaint text on record.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the Chiron has 0 in each category.
- Both have recalls, but the F-150 has 151 versus 13 for the Chiron, and the F-150's recalls include engine, seat belt pretensioner, door latch, and air bag inflator issues.
- Check whether the ESC control module software recall has been applied—if not, stability control may not work as intended.
- Inspect the driveshaft and front seat belts for any signs of the recalled defects, and confirm the side air bag recall was completed.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for sudden downshifts, limp mode, or getting stuck in 5th gear—classic signs of the lead frame or transmission problem.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or prior shattering, and ask if the output speed sensor recall software was installed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were fixed.
- For the F-150, ask for service records showing any transmission, lead frame, or output speed sensor repairs.
- For the Chiron, verify the ESC software, driveshaft, seat belt, and air bag recalls were completed by an authorized dealer.
- During a test drive of the F-150, deliberately accelerate and decelerate to check for harsh shifting or limp mode.
- Have a mechanic inspect the F-150's rear window defroster and electrical system for shorts or prior damage.
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 | Bugatti Chiron | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 2019 | 0 | 52 |
| 2018 | 0 | 79 |
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 Bugatti Chiron or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Bugatti Chiron vs FORD F 150
- Bugatti Chiron total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Bugatti Chiron total recalls
- 13
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Bugatti Chiron avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Bugatti Chiron
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN