Head-to-head reliability
Buick Rendezvous vs FORD F 150
How the Buick Rendezvous 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 Rendezvous vs FORD F 150: The Rendezvous averaged 179 complaints per year over 7 years, while the F-150 averaged 1,131 per year over 10 years. The F-150 has 145 recalls versus 18 for the Rendezvous. Both have reported stalling and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Rendezvous or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Rendezvous
The Buick Rendezvous is a mid-size SUV that averaged about 179 complaints per year over seven years, with electrical and engine issues dominating owner reports. Many complaints describe stalling, hesitation, and dashboard lights flickering, which can be unsettling. Fuel system problems, including strong fuel odors and inaccurate gauges, also appear frequently. With 18 recalls and 3 deaths reported, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averaged roughly 1,131 complaints per year over ten years, with power train and electrical problems leading the list. Owners often report hard or delayed transmission shifts, sudden loss of power, and warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction.' With 145 recalls and 1 death reported, it's a complex machine with many potential trouble spots. Buyers should expect to check transmission and electrical health closely.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Rendezvous | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,256 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 68 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 179.4 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 76 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 1 Better |
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 Rendezvous
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM298
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING209
- 03FUEL SYSTEM165
- 04GASOLINE143
- 05SERVICE BRAKES141
Owners report instrument panel lights flickering, doors locking by themselves, and the engine shutting off while driving. These electrical glitches can leave you without control, making it a serious safety concern.
Complaints include hesitation, stalling, and a recall for contaminated ignition relay contacts that can cause intermittent stalls. This means the engine may cut out unexpectedly, especially at low speeds.
Drivers notice strong fuel odors and fuel lines under the driver's side that may leak. The fuel gauge can also wander by a quarter tank, making it hard to know how much gas you have.
With 141 complaints, brake issues are a common owner concern. While specific symptoms aren't detailed in the sample, the volume suggests you should have the braking system thoroughly checked.
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN ACCELERATED. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL WHE…”
“I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE LIGHTS ON PANEL WENT CRAZY, DOORS LOCKING BY THEMSELVES, AC LOCKED, RADIO LOCKED, AND THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND I DIN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVERTHE CAR, IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND TR…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners describe hard, delayed, or jerky shifts from the 10-speed automatic transmission, and some experience sudden loss of power. These transmission problems can leave you stranded or cause dangerous hesitation in traffic.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs from the transmission area. Electrical gremlins can disable safety features and are often hard to diagnose.
With 1,164 complaints, headlight issues are frequent. Owners may face dim or failing lights, which reduce visibility and can be a safety risk at night.
Engine-related complaints number 847, though specific symptoms aren't in the sample. Given the volume, it's wise to check for recalls and have a mechanic inspect the engine thoroughly.
“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 Rendezvous — 18 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYST…
The risk: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMEN…
The fix: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEG…
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: CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYST…
The risk: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMEN…
The fix: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEG…
The defect: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION ON IGNITION RELAY CONTACTS CAN CAUSE HIGH RESISTANCE. THIS CAN AFFECT SIGNALS TO THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND, COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME.
The risk: THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, IT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION RELAY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.
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 Rendezvous or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Buick Rendezvous has far fewer complaints per year (about 179) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131), but the Rendezvous has a higher rate of deaths per complaint. In practice, the F-150's higher volume means more potential issues to manage, while the Rendezvous's lower volume doesn't guarantee fewer serious problems.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the Buick Rendezvous has about 1,250 in 7 years, meaning the F-150 generates far more owner-reported issues per year.
- Buick Rendezvous owners frequently report stalling and electrical shutdowns, while Ford F-150 owners report transmission jerking and loss of power.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls versus 18 for the Rendezvous, indicating more widespread safety fixes over its lifetime.
- Fuel system odors and gauge inaccuracy are common Rendezvous complaints, whereas F-150 complaints center on power train and electrical warnings.
- Check for fuel odors around the driver's side fuel lines and under the hood, as owners report strong gasoline smells and potential leaks.
- Test all electrical functions, including dashboard lights, door locks, and radio, and look for any signs of intermittent stalling or hesitation during a test drive.
- During a test drive, pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th and 5th or 7th and 8th gears, for jerking or delayed engagement.
- Check for warning messages on the dashboard such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available,' and have the electrical system scanned for stored codes.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the Buick Rendezvous for fuel line leaks, electrical grounds, and ignition relay condition.
- For the Ford F-150, ask a mechanic to test the transmission's shifting behavior and scan for any transmission or electrical fault codes.
- Test drive each vehicle for at least 20 minutes, including highway speeds, to replicate the conditions where owners report stalling or hard shifts.
- Review the NHTSA complaint database for the specific model year you're considering to see if the issues described here are more or less frequent.
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 Rendezvous or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Rendezvous vs FORD F 150
- Buick Rendezvous total complaints
- 1,256
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Buick Rendezvous total recalls
- 18
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Buick Rendezvous avg complaints/year
- 179.4
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Buick Rendezvous
- Buick Rendezvous top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN