Head-to-head reliability
Buick Envision vs FORD F 150
How the Buick Envision 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 Envision vs FORD F 150: The Envision has 217 complaints over 10 years (avg 21.7/yr) with issues in brakes and electrical, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints (avg 1,131.1/yr) dominated by transmission problems. The F-150 also has 145 recalls vs 10 for the Envision. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Envision or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Envision
The Buick Envision is a compact luxury SUV that, in ownership terms, shows a moderate but concerning reliability record. Over the past decade, owners have filed 217 complaints, averaging about 22 per year, with a notable concentration in electrical and braking systems. The complaints describe real safety-relevant failures, such as sudden loss of engine power, brake assist failures, and electrical glitches that disable warning chimes. While not as numerous as some rivals, the nature of these issues suggests that a used Envision may require careful inspection and potentially costly repairs.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck with a massive ownership base, and its complaint volume is correspondingly high: 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging over 1,100 per year. The dominant issue is the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners report as shifting hard, jerking, and occasionally failing completely. Electrical problems, including camera and sensor malfunctions, also appear frequently. While the F-150's popularity means more complaints overall, the transmission issues are a clear pattern that buyers should investigate.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Envision | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 217 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 21.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 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 Envision
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63
- 02SERVICE BRAKES46
- 03ENGINE33
- 04POWER TRAIN29
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER28
Owners report sudden loss of audio, including safety belt chimes and turn signal sounds, often traced to a faulty amplifier. More seriously, some experience a total loss of power and engine stall while driving, accompanied by warning lights, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Several complaints describe a 'service brake assist' warning followed by a hard brake pedal and reduced stopping power, making it difficult to stop in time. One owner reported a complete loss of brakes, requiring extreme pedal pressure to stop.
Engine issues include sudden stalls and loss of power, as well as excessive oil consumption—one owner found no oil on the dipstick before the first recommended oil change. These problems can lead to engine damage if not addressed.
Transmission and drivetrain complaints mirror the engine stalls, with sudden loss of power and sluggish acceleration. Some owners also report whining noises and the need to replace a booster vacuum sensor, indicating potential transmission or vacuum system issues.
“We have two problems what we would call safety issues. First, all the sound in the vehicle was lost which included safety belt warning alarm, turn signal bells, door open alarms, etc. We were told by the dealership that it was a faulty amplifier. Secondly, th…”
“Description of Safety Defect: While operating the vehicle at approximately 25-30MPH and make a right turn, the vehicle experienced a sudden and total loss of power/engine stall, accompanied by a "Check Engine" light and a "Reduced Engine Power" notification.…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as shifting hard, jerking, or clunking between gears, especially 4-5 and 5-6. Some report sudden loss of power and vehicle shutdown, which is a serious safety concern.
Electrical complaints include loud bangs from the transmission area and popping sounds from the rear suspension, possibly related to sensor or module failures. Additionally, many owners see persistent warnings for 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' on startup.
Engine-related complaints are less frequent but include issues like rough running, stalling, and loss of power, which can be intermittent and hard to diagnose. These may be linked to the transmission or separate engine management problems.
“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 Envision — 10 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Buick Envision vehicles. The vehicles are missing the label that states the tire size, pressure, and the loading information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Se…
The risk: Missing tire and load rating information may result in driving with improperly inflated tires or an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install the label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2024. Owners may contact Buick Customer Service at 800-521-7300.
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM),…
The risk: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521…
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 Envision or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Buick Envision has far fewer complaints per year (about 22) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), but the Envision's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical areas like brakes and electrical systems. In practice, the F-150's transmission problems are widespread and well-documented, while the Envision's lower volume may mean less overall risk, but the severity of its reported failures warrants caution.
Key differences
- The F-150 has a much higher complaint rate (over 1,100 per year) than the Envision (about 22 per year), but that's partly due to its popularity.
- F-150 owners overwhelmingly report transmission problems (hard shifts, jerks, and failures), while Envision owners report a mix of electrical, brake, and engine issues.
- Envision complaints include sudden loss of power and brake assist failures, which are immediate safety hazards, whereas F-150 transmission issues often manifest as harsh shifting before more severe failures.
- The F-150 has more recalls (145) than the Envision (10), but recall counts don't directly reflect day-to-day reliability.
- Check for any history of brake assist warnings or brake pedal feel issues, as owners report sudden loss of braking power.
- Inspect the electrical system, especially the audio and warning chimes, for intermittent failures that could indicate a faulty amplifier or wiring.
- Test drive at various speeds and listen for hard shifts or clunks, especially between 4th and 6th gears, which are common transmission complaints.
- Look for warning messages about the front camera or pre-collision assist on startup, as these are frequent electrical issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission (F-150) and brakes/electrical (Envision).
- For the Envision, test all safety features including warning chimes, and check the oil level and consumption history.
- For the F-150, take an extended test drive that includes stop-and-go traffic and highway speeds to feel for transmission shifts.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes (F-150) and any electrical repairs (Envision).
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 | Buick Envision | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 8 | 329 |
| 2024 | 10 | 617 |
| 2023 | 24 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 25 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 23 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 10 | 33 |
| 2019 | 23 | 36 |
| 2018 | 13 | 56 |
| 2017 | 81 | 43 |
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 Envision or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Envision vs FORD F 150
- Buick Envision total complaints
- 217
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Buick Envision total recalls
- 10
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Buick Envision avg complaints/year
- 21.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Buick Envision
- Buick Envision top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN