Head-to-head reliability
Buick Lesabre vs FORD F 150
How the Buick Lesabre 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 Lesabre vs FORD F 150: The Lesabre averages 294.5 complaints per year over 6 years, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 over 10 years. The F-150 has 151 recalls and 297 injuries; the Lesabre has 8 recalls and 83 injuries. Both have electrical and structural concerns. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Lesabre or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Lesabre
The Buick Lesabre is a full-size sedan that tends to have a lower complaint rate per year than many vehicles, but owners still report recurring issues. The most common complaints involve visibility, electrical problems like burning out instrument lights and speedometers, and structural concerns such as brake pedal failure. With 1,767 complaints over six years and 83 injuries but no deaths, it's a car that may need attention to aging electrical and safety systems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume—11,621 over ten years—and a wide range of reported problems. Power train issues, especially transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, dominate owner complaints, along with electrical glitches and rear window explosions. With 297 injuries and one death reported, it's a truck that demands careful inspection of its transmission and electrical systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Lesabre | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,767 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 70 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 294.5 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 83 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.
Buick Lesabre
- 01VISIBILITY492
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM260
- 03STRUCTURE206
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING148
- 05AIR BAGS138
Owners report issues with visibility components, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. This is the top complaint area, so buyers should check for proper operation of windows, mirrors, and defrosters.
Owners describe instrument lights on the radio, heat/air controls, and steering wheel controls burning out one by one, and speedometers becoming inoperable. These failures can be costly to diagnose and fix, and may affect safety features.
Complaints include brake pedal going to the floor and ignition switch breaking, which can lead to loss of braking or unintended key position. These are serious safety concerns that require immediate attention.
A reported premature failure of both front wheel bearings at 65,500 miles, discovered during routine service. While not an engine issue per se, this component falls under this category and indicates potential wear on front-end parts.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report recurring transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame issues that can cause sudden loss of power. These failures can be dangerous and expensive to repair.
The same lead frame issue often appears under electrical complaints, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. A rear window defroster short can cause the back window to shatter unexpectedly.
Complaints include rear window defroster shorts leading to exploding back windows, which poses a risk of injury and costly glass replacement. This is a less common but alarming issue.
While specific details are not in the sample, this is a top complaint area, so buyers should check all lights for proper function and look for signs of water intrusion or wiring issues.
“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.
Buick Lesabre — 8 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
The risk: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT R…
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
The risk: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT R…
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH MISSING OR UNDER-TORQUED STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT BOLTS. IF A BOLT IS MISSING, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE UNEVEN STEERING RESPONSE OR UNUSUAL NOISES DURING TURNS.
The risk: IF THE LEFT BOLT IS MISSING AND THE RIGHT MOUNTING STRAP FAILS, STEERING CONTROL IS LOST AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PRESENCE AND PROPER TORQUE OF BOTH STEERING GEAR BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 5, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE…
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE HEAD LAMP ADJUSTMENT DEVICE HORIZONTAL ADJUSTER MAY NOT MOVE THE HEAD LAMP REFLECTOR WHEN THE SHAFT IS ROTATED IN A NORMAL MANNER D…
The risk: DRIVER VISIBILITY MAY BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: AN INSERT CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTICALLY AIMING THE HEADLAMPS WILL BE PROVIDED TO OWNERS FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNERS SHOULD FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE IN THE INSERT FOR HEADLAMP AIM ADJUSTMENT, RATHER THAN USING THE HORIZONTAL VHAD IND…
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
Buick Lesabre or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Buick Lesabre has far fewer complaints per year (about 295) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), meaning you're likely to encounter fewer reported problems overall. However, the F-150's issues are more frequently tied to power train and electrical failures that can be severe, while the Lesabre's complaints often involve aging electrical and structural components. In practice, the Lesabre may be simpler to own, but both require thorough pre-purchase inspections.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over six times as many complaints per year as the Buick Lesabre, with power train issues like transmission limp mode and lead frame failures being the most common.
- Buick Lesabre owners frequently report electrical gremlins such as burning out instrument lights and inoperable speedometers, while F-150 owners face similar electrical problems plus rear window explosions.
- Structural complaints on the Lesabre include brake pedal failure and ignition switch breakage, whereas the F-150's structural complaints are less prominent in the sample but include seat belt and door latch recalls.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 8 for the Lesabre, indicating a much higher rate of safety-related fixes over its ten-year span.
- Check all instrument panel lights, radio, heat/air controls, and steering wheel buttons for proper function—burnouts are common and can be costly to repair.
- Test the brake pedal for firmness and any sinking feeling; a pedal going to the floor has been reported and is a critical safety issue.
- During a test drive, watch for transmission shuddering, delayed engagement, or sudden limp mode; these are signs of the notorious lead frame or speed sensor failures.
- Inspect the rear window for cracks or signs of stress, and test the defroster; a short can cause the glass to shatter unexpectedly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the F-150's many power train and air bag recalls.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on the Buick's electrical system and brakes, and the Ford's transmission and rear window.
- Test drive extensively, including highway speeds, to reproduce any limp mode or transmission issues in the F-150, and check all electrical accessories in the Lesabre.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and electrical repairs on the Lesabre.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed, as some issues like the F-150's lead frame may have extended coverage or required software updates.
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 Lesabre or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Lesabre vs FORD F 150
- Buick Lesabre total complaints
- 1,767
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Buick Lesabre total recalls
- 8
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Buick Lesabre avg complaints/year
- 294.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Buick Lesabre
- Buick Lesabre top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN