Head-to-head reliability
Buick Century vs FORD F 150
How the Buick Century 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
Buick Century vs FORD F 150: The Century has 121 complaints per year vs 1131 for the F-150, and 20 recalls vs 145. Century owners report brake line failures and headlight outages; F-150 owners report transmission hard shifts and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Century or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Century
The Buick Century is an older, budget-friendly sedan that owners report having issues with headlights turning off or dimming, brake lines corroding and failing, and electrical gremlins. These problems tend to appear gradually and can affect visibility and stopping power, making them important to address for safety.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup that owners report has significant transmission problems, especially hard shifts and loss of power, along with electrical issues like camera malfunctions. These issues can be unpredictable and may leave you stranded, so they're a major consideration for reliability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Century | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 726 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 38 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 121.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 36 Better | 287 |
| 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.
Buick Century
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING109
- 02SERVICE BRAKES103
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM100
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING92
- 05POWER TRAIN86
Owners report headlights turning off while driving or low beams failing, often due to bulbs overheating the plastic lens or electrical issues. This can suddenly reduce visibility at night, which is a safety hazard.
Brake lines are prone to rust and corrosion, leading to sudden loss of braking power with the pedal going to the floor. This is a critical failure that can cause accidents, especially at low speeds.
Electrical problems often manifest as headlight failures, but also include issues with window switches and other components. These can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, causing frustration and potential safety risks.
“WE HAVE HAD OUR 2005 BUICK LACROSSE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS NOW AND WANT TO REPORT THIS LIGHTING SAFETY CONCERN. THIS HEADLIGHT INCIDENT WITH OUR BUICK HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO US, THREE TIMES SINCE MID APRIL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, WE WERE DRIVING ONE EVEN…”
“A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. ONCE WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR WITH A FRIEND WHO ALSO OWNS A BUICK THE ISSUE OCCURRED AND HE TOLD ME HIS CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED BUICK, WHO…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners reporting hard shifts, clunks, and even sudden loss of power while driving. This can be dangerous in traffic and may require costly repairs.
Electrical issues include false warnings for front camera and pre-collision assist, which can be annoying and may indicate deeper problems. These malfunctions can affect driver assistance features that are meant to improve safety.
Headlight problems are also reported, but less frequently than transmission issues. Owners may experience flickering or failure, which can reduce visibility at night.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
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.
Buick Century — 20 recalls
The defect: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN…
The risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-24…
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
The defect: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN…
The risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-24…
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
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 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Buick Century or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Buick Century has far fewer complaints per year (121 vs 1131) and fewer recalls, suggesting it is less troublesome overall. However, its brake and lighting issues are serious, while the F-150's transmission problems are more frequent and can be catastrophic.
Key differences
- The F-150 has over 9 times more complaints per year than the Century, indicating a much higher rate of reported problems.
- Century owners frequently report brake line failures due to rust, a critical safety issue, while F-150 owners report transmission failures that can cause sudden loss of power.
- The F-150 has more recalls (145 vs 20), suggesting more widespread manufacturing issues.
- The Century's lighting problems are a common theme, with headlights turning off, while the F-150's electrical issues are more about driver assistance systems.
- Inspect the brake lines for rust and corrosion, as they are prone to failure and can cause complete brake loss.
- Check the headlights for fogging or flickering, and ask if the bulbs have been replaced recently, as they may overheat the lens.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts or clunks, especially between 4th and 8th gears, and ask for service records.
- Look for warning lights related to the front camera or pre-collision assist, as these are common electrical issues.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the brake system on the Century, including lines and calipers, for rust or leaks.
- Test all headlight functions on the Century, including high and low beams, and check for any flickering.
- Take the F-150 for a thorough test drive, including highway speeds, to feel for transmission shifts.
- Check the F-150's electrical system by starting it multiple times and noting any warning messages.
- Review the vehicle history for recalls and whether they were addressed.
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 Buick Century or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Century vs FORD F 150
- Buick Century total complaints
- 726
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Buick Century total recalls
- 20
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Buick Century avg complaints/year
- 121.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Buick Century
- Buick Century top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN