Head-to-head reliability
Bugatti Veyron vs FORD F 150
How the Bugatti Veyron 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 Veyron vs FORD F 150: The Veyron has 0 complaints and 7 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150 also has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries. The Veyron shows no owner complaint text, so recall checks are key. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Bugatti Veyron or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Bugatti Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron is a low-volume hypercar, so it has no owner complaint text on record and zero complaints over ten years. That silence doesn't mean flawless; it means very few owners report problems to NHTSA. Instead, it has seven recalls covering body structure, fuel system, and battery cables, so any purchase should be checked against those campaigns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a mass-market pickup with 11,621 complaints over ten years, about 1,162 per year. Owners report serious, recurring problems with the transmission and electrical system, including limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures. There are also 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and one death, so a pre-purchase inspection and recall check are essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Bugatti Veyron | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 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 Veyron
No component data available.
Recalls exist for body structure issues, but no owner complaint text is available. A buyer should verify that any open body-related recall has been repaired, since structural problems can affect crash protection.
There are fuel system recalls on record, though no specific owner complaints are listed. Fuel leaks or delivery faults can create fire risks, so confirming recall completion is critical.
A recall covers battery cables, which can cause power loss or starting problems. Without complaint text, the exact failure pattern is unknown, but cable issues can strand a driver.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report the transmission going into limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions. These are daily-driving problems that may require expensive repairs and can leave you stranded.
Complaints include lead frame issues and output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. A rear window defroster short has also been reported to shatter the back window, which is a safety concern.
One owner reported the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster. This suggests electrical or thermal faults that can cause sudden glass failure, posing injury risk.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting problems are common. While details are not provided, lighting failures can reduce visibility and may not be covered by 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.
Bugatti Veyron — 7 recalls
The defect: Bugatti is recalling certain 2006-2010 Veyron vehicles manufactured March 10, 2006, to March 9, 2012, 2010-2012 Veyron Grand Sport vehicles manufactured September 29, 2009, to October 14, 2014, and 2011-2013 Veyron Super Sport vehicles manufactured February 18, 2011, to August 17, 2012. In the affe…
The risk: If these jacking plates separate from the vehicle while driving, they may be a road hazard, potentially striking another vehicle, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bugatti will notify owners, and dealers will rivet and seal the underbody aluminum reference plates, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bugatti at (805) 557-1050.
The defect: Bugatti is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Veyron vehicles manufactured March 10, 2006, to January 17, 2010 and 2010-2011 Veyron Grand Sport vehicles manufactured September 29, 2009, to June 30, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the fuel tank gauge may indicate that there is more fuel in the t…
The risk: The inaccurate gauge may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bugatti will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank control unit and upgrade the software, free of charge. The recall began on May 23, 2016. Owners may contact Bugatti at 1-805-557-1050.
The defect: Bugatti is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Veyron vehicles manufactured March 10, 2006, to January 17, 2010 and 2010-2011 Veyron Grand Sport vehicles manufactured September 29, 2009, to June 30, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the fuel tank gauge may indicate that there is more fuel in the t…
The risk: The inaccurate gauge may cause a driver to unexpectedly run out of fuel and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bugatti will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank control unit and upgrade the software, free of charge. The recall began on May 23, 2016. Owners may contact Bugatti at 1-805-557-1050.
The defect: Bugatti is recalling certain 2006-2010 Veyron vehicles manufactured March 10, 2006, to March 9, 2012, 2010-2012 Veyron Grand Sport vehicles manufactured September 29, 2009, to October 14, 2014, and 2011-2013 Veyron Super Sport vehicles manufactured February 18, 2011, to August 17, 2012. In the affe…
The risk: If these jacking plates separate from the vehicle while driving, they may be a road hazard, potentially striking another vehicle, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bugatti will notify owners, and dealers will rivet and seal the underbody aluminum reference plates, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bugatti at (805) 557-1050.
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 Veyron or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Bugatti Veyron has far fewer issues per year: 0 complaints per year versus about 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, the F-150 is a high-volume truck with many reported failures, while the Veyron's low complaint count reflects its rarity and limited owner reporting. The F-150's complaints include crash-related outcomes, so buyers should weigh safety and repair frequency heavily.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, while the Bugatti Veyron has 0, but the Veyron has 7 recalls and the F-150 has 151.
- F-150 owners report transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures; the Veyron has no complaint text, only recall subjects like fuel system and battery cables.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the Veyron has 0 in each category.
- The F-150's top complaint areas are power train and electrical system, while the Veyron's recalls cover body, fuel, and electrical cables.
- Check for open recalls on body structure and fuel system, as these could affect safety and may not have been fixed.
- Inspect battery cables and electrical connections, since a recall exists for 12V/24V/48V battery cables that could cause power loss.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for limp mode, stuck gears, or delayed engagement, especially on 2017 V8 models with the 6-speed automatic.
- Check the rear window and defroster operation, as a short in the defroster has been reported to shatter the back glass.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they have been repaired.
- For the F-150, ask for transmission service records and test-drive at highway speeds to check for limp mode or harsh shifting.
- For the Veyron, verify that fuel system and body structure recalls were completed by an authorized dealer.
- Inspect the F-150's electrical system, including battery cables and the rear window defroster, for signs of overheating or prior repairs.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on the complaint areas listed above.
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 Veyron | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Bugatti Veyron or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Bugatti Veyron vs FORD F 150
- Bugatti Veyron total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Bugatti Veyron total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Bugatti Veyron avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Bugatti Veyron
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN