Head-to-head reliability
Buick PARK Avenue vs FORD F 150
How the Buick PARK Avenue 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 PARK Avenue vs FORD F 150: The Park Avenue averages 41 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1131. The F-150's top issue is transmission failures causing hard shifts and power loss, whereas the Park Avenue's top issue is electrical problems like window regulators. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick PARK Avenue or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick PARK Avenue
The Buick PARK Avenue is a full-size sedan that, in used form, shows its age through a steady stream of electrical and engine-related complaints. Owners report window regulators failing, engine mounts wearing out, and steering issues that can lead to loss of control. While not as numerous as the F-150's complaints, the Park Avenue's issues are spread across many systems, suggesting a car that needs attentive maintenance.
FORD F 150
The FORD F 150 is a popular pickup with a high volume of complaints, dominated by transmission problems. Owners describe hard shifts, jerking, and even sudden loss of power, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous. Electrical issues, including camera and sensor malfunctions, add to the ownership burden. The sheer number of complaints and recalls indicates a vehicle with significant reliability concerns, especially in the powertrain.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick PARK Avenue | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 247 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 41.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 13 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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 PARK Avenue
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM43
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING35
- 03VISIBILITY25
- 04STEERING21
- 05ENGINE20
Owners report power window regulators failing, causing windows to fall into the door, and other electrical glitches like chimes and loss of acceleration with a burning odor, which could indicate a serious electrical fault.
Complaints include engine knocking noises traced to worn motor mounts, and issues with A/C and seat memory systems that appear soon after purchase, pointing to overall cooling and accessory reliability problems.
There are reports of the steering wheel moving independently, leading to a crash, and noise from front wheel bearings that needed replacement, indicating steering and suspension components can wear and compromise control.
“BOTH OF THE REGULATORS IN THE FRONT DOORS OF MY VEHICLE HAVE FAILED. THIS HAS CAUSE THE PANE IN THE WINDOW TO SLIDE INSIDE OF THE DOOR. THE FIRST ONE DID IT WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE VACATIONING IN OHIO IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. THE SECOND WHEN I ARRIV…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME TWICE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most frequent issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners reporting hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power while driving, which is a major safety and drivability concern.
Beyond transmission-related electrical glitches, owners report persistent warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' that appear every time the truck is started, indicating sensor or software problems.
With over a thousand complaints, headlight issues are common, though specific symptoms aren't detailed in the sample, but they likely involve failures or poor visibility, which is critical for night driving.
“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 PARK Avenue — 7 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE MAY BE INSTALLED OR FORCED OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION.
The risk: IF THE CABLE IS OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION, IT COULD INCREASE THE FORCE REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE AND A PERSON TRAPPED IN THE TRUNK MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE TRUNK LATCH USING THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE…
The fix: DEALERS WILL SECURE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE CABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE OPERATES PROPERLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE MAY BE INSTALLED OR FORCED OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION.
The risk: IF THE CABLE IS OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION, IT COULD INCREASE THE FORCE REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE AND A PERSON TRAPPED IN THE TRUNK MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE TRUNK LATCH USING THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE…
The fix: DEALERS WILL SECURE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE CABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE OPERATES PROPERLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON…
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 104, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A WIPER SYSTEM MICROPROCESSOR THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO VOLTAGE TRANSIENTS, WHICH CAN CAUSE A "LATCH-UP" CONDITION IN THE SYST…
The risk: IF MICROPROCESSOR "LATCH-UP" OCCURS, THE CUSTOMER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM IN BOTH THE LOWER AND HIGH-SPEED MODES REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER WHICH CONTAINS THE MICROPROCESSOR.
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKS IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT.
The risk: WHEN THE REAR BRAKE PROPORTIONING, ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE IS ACTIVATED IN SOME DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE FEATURE MAY NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR UNIT AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR.
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 PARK Avenue or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Buick PARK Avenue has far fewer complaints per year (41.2 vs 1131.1) and fewer recalls, suggesting a lower likelihood of encountering major issues. However, the F-150's problems are concentrated in the transmission, which can be expensive to fix, while the Park Avenue's issues are more varied but less frequent. In practice, the Park Avenue may offer a more predictable ownership experience, but the F-150's issues are more severe when they occur.
Key differences
- The F-150 has a dominant transmission problem (hard shifts, loss of power) that can be dangerous, while the Park Avenue's issues are more spread out and less severe on average.
- The Park Avenue has a higher proportion of electrical and visibility complaints (window regulators), whereas the F-150's electrical issues are often tied to advanced driver-assist systems.
- The F-150 has a much higher complaint rate per year (1131 vs 41), indicating a greater likelihood of encountering problems.
- The Park Avenue has a recall for trunk lock and windshield wipers, while the F-150 has recalls for headlights, battery cables, and engine components, reflecting different safety concerns.
- Test all power windows and regulators; listen for unusual engine noises that could indicate worn motor mounts.
- Check steering for any play or noise, and have the front wheel bearings inspected.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears, for any hard jerks or delays.
- Look for warning messages on the dash like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' that may appear on startup.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for open recalls and prior accident damage.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
- For the F-150, ask for service records related to transmission repairs or software updates.
- For the Park Avenue, check the operation of all windows, A/C, and seat memory functions.
- Take an extended test drive that includes highway speeds to feel for transmission or steering issues.
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 PARK Avenue or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick PARK Avenue vs FORD F 150
- Buick PARK Avenue total complaints
- 247
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Buick PARK Avenue total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Buick PARK Avenue avg complaints/year
- 41.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Buick PARK Avenue
- Buick PARK Avenue top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN