Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac CT5 vs FORD F 150
How the Cadillac CT5 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
Cadillac CT5 vs FORD F 150: The CT5 averages about 17 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages over 1,100. The F-150 also has 151 recalls versus 12 for the CT5. Both have safety-related issues, but the F-150’s volume is far higher. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac CT5 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac CT5
The Cadillac CT5 is a luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume—118 over seven years, averaging about 17 per year. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins, especially with rear door handles that stop working, and transmission shuddering or jerking. While the overall complaint count is modest, the presence of 14 crash-related reports and 9 injuries suggests some issues can escalate quickly. For a used buyer, this means fewer reported problems overall, but the ones that exist can be safety-relevant and frustrating.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint volume—11,621 over ten years, averaging over 1,100 per year. Power train issues dominate, with recurring transmission problems like limp mode and lead frame failures, plus electrical glitches and even rear window explosions. The sheer number of complaints and 151 recalls indicates a wide range of potential problems. For a used buyer, this means a higher likelihood of encountering a known defect, though many are covered by recalls or service campaigns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac CT5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 118 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.9 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 297 |
| 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.
Cadillac CT5
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM27
- 02POWER TRAIN27
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE19
- 05STRUCTURE16
Owners report intermittent rear door failures where the exterior handles stop working, sometimes trapping children inside. This is a safety concern because it can prevent escape in an emergency.
Complaints describe transmission shuddering, jerking, and abnormal shaking at highway speeds, often linked to an internal control valve failure. This can make driving unpredictable and may require costly repairs.
Some owners say the automatic emergency braking does not stop the car before hitting an obstacle, and others report incorrect speed limit displays. These flaws could reduce confidence in driver-assist features.
While fewer complaints mention structure, any issue here can affect crash protection. Buyers should check for unusual noises or alignment problems that might indicate hidden damage.
“We own a 2021 Cadillac CT5 that we bought used in 2024 from Sewell Cadillac in Houston, Texas. During our first year of ownership, and while still under warranty, we started having intermittent issues with the rear doors. At times, one or the other rear doors…”
“I have experienced a serious and recurring safety issue with the door handles on my Cadillac CT5 vehicles. The exterior door handles have stopped working, preventing the doors from being opened normally. On one occasion, I was trying to get my child out of th…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The most common complaint is transmission problems, including limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues have been subject to recalls but persist for many owners.
Owners report electrical faults such as output speed sensor failures leading to limp mode, and even rear window defroster shorts that cause the glass to shatter. These can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
Engine-related complaints include abnormal grinding noises and sudden power loss, sometimes accompanied by a check engine light. Such symptoms may indicate internal damage requiring major repairs.
Lighting issues are frequently reported, though specific details are not provided in the sample. Faulty lights can reduce visibility and may fail safety inspections.
“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.
Cadillac CT5 — 12 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
The risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
The risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
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…
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
Cadillac CT5 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Cadillac CT5 has far fewer complaints per year (about 17 vs. over 1,100 for the Ford F-150), but both have safety-related issues. In practice, the F-150’s higher volume means a greater chance of encountering a known defect, while the CT5’s lower count suggests fewer overall problems but still some serious ones.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the Cadillac CT5 has only 118 in 7 years—a massive difference in reported problem volume.
- F-150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, whereas CT5 owners report door handle failures and transmission shuddering.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 12 for the CT5, indicating a broader range of potential safety defects.
- Both vehicles have crash-related complaints and injuries, but the F-150’s higher totals mean more owners have experienced serious incidents.
- Test all exterior door handles, especially the rear doors, for smooth operation—owners report they can stop working without warning.
- During a test drive, accelerate through 40–60 mph and feel for any shuddering or jerking that could indicate transmission issues.
- Check for transmission shuddering or delayed engagement, and ask if the lead frame or output speed sensor has been replaced.
- Inspect the rear window for cracks or signs of stress, as some owners report the glass shattering due to defroster shorts.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been completed, especially for the F-150’s transmission and the CT5’s transmission control valve.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on transmission and electrical systems.
- Test all electronic features, including door handles, lights, and driver-assist systems, during the test drive.
- For the F-150, specifically ask about and test the transmission for limp mode or harsh shifting.
- For the CT5, check that the forward collision warning and automatic braking function correctly in a safe environment.
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 | Cadillac CT5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 35 |
| 2025 | 9 | 345 |
| 2024 | 2 | 638 |
| 2023 | 13 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 11 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 29 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 39 | 44 |
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 Cadillac CT5 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac CT5 vs FORD F 150
- Cadillac CT5 total complaints
- 118
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Cadillac CT5 total recalls
- 12
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Cadillac CT5 avg complaints/year
- 16.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac CT5
- Cadillac CT5 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN