Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac Lyriq vs FORD F 150
How the Cadillac Lyriq 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 Lyriq vs FORD F 150: The Lyriq averages 42 complaints per year with 17 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,131 complaints per year with 145 recalls. The Lyriq has 0 deaths reported, the F-150 has 1. Both have electrical and brake/transmission issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac Lyriq or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac Lyriq
The Cadillac Lyriq is an electric SUV that has been on the road for about four years, averaging roughly 42 complaints per year. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins, especially sudden loss of power and 12-volt battery failures that can lock them out. Forward collision avoidance and brake issues also appear, with some describing phantom braking. These patterns suggest that while the Lyriq offers modern features, it may require more frequent attention to electrical and safety systems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a long history and a massive number of complaints—over 11,000 in ten years, averaging about 1,131 per year. The most common trouble spots are the power train (transmission) and electrical system, with owners reporting hard shifts, loss of power, and various warning lights. Recalls are also frequent, covering engines, lights, and batteries. This volume of complaints means that many F-150s have had issues, but the truck remains popular and parts are widely available.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac Lyriq | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 169 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 42.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 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.
Cadillac Lyriq
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM52
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE51
- 03SERVICE BRAKES36
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING33
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER21
Owners report the vehicle suddenly losing all propulsion while driving, leaving it disabled on the road. Another common issue is the 12-volt battery dying even when the main battery is charged, which can lock owners out of the car. These failures can strand you and require a tow.
Drivers describe phantom braking, where the car brakes unexpectedly without any obstacle, sometimes at speeds of 20-40 mph. There are also messages about a blocked camera that may lead to the system not working. This can be startling and potentially dangerous if it happens in traffic.
Complaints mention issues with the anti-lock braking system and the transition between regenerative and friction braking, which can cause inconsistent braking feel. Some owners also report phantom braking tied to this system. Braking problems are a serious safety concern.
The low beam headlights have poor throw and can point downward after 30 minutes of driving, reducing visibility to about one car length. Also, the instrument panel uses the wrong icon for headlights, which could confuse drivers about whether their lights are on. Poor lighting affects nighttime safety.
“On August 9, 2026, at approximately 3:40 a.m., while driving, the vehicle suddenly lost all propulsion and became completely disabled on the roadway. The vehicle remained powered on but would not move forward or backward. At approximately the time of the fail…”
“The 12 volt battery of my 2023 Lyriq died even though the main battery was at 79% charge. The car had sat unused for three days. The 12 volt battery controls the opening of doors, charging ports, and all other accessories. I was effectively locked out of my c…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard or delayed shifts, especially between 7th and 8th gear, and sometimes a complete loss of power while driving. The transmission may jerk or clunk, and in some cases, the truck shuts off and drifts. These issues can leave you stranded and are expensive to fix.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing frequently. There are also reports of loud bangs from the transmission and popping sounds from the rear suspension. Electrical glitches can affect safety features and be hard to diagnose.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, engine problems are among the top components with 847 complaints. Recalls also cover engine issues. Engine trouble can lead to costly repairs and downtime.
With 1,164 complaints, exterior lighting is a common problem area, and there is a recall for headlights. Faulty lights reduce visibility and increase accident risk. Owners may need to replace bulbs or entire assemblies.
“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.
Cadillac Lyriq — 17 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025 Cadillac LYRIQ vehicles. The owner's manual inaccurately describes the rear outboard head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202, "Head Restraints."
The risk: Incorrect head restraint information may lead to improperly adjusted head restraints, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: GM will mail owner's manual inserts with the correct illustrations and descriptions for rear outboard head restraints, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 30, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Cadillac LYRIQ vehicles. The left or right front stabilizer bar bracket bolts may have been improperly tightened, which can allow the bolts to loosen and separate from the vehicle frame. A detached stabilizer bar or bracket can damage the vehic…
The risk: Damaged cables or coolant lines can result in a vehicle shutdown, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the left and/or right stabilizer bar bracket bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 8, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's numb…
The defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac VISTIQ vehicles and 2025 Cadillac LYRIQ vehicles. The bolts attaching the high voltage battery to the interior floor may be missing or loose.
The risk: An improperly secured battery may become damaged in a crash, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the high-voltage battery bolts and replace or re-tighten the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed September 8, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ vehicles. A software error in the driver video display control module may cause the instrument panel to go blank.
The risk: A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will update the video display control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 15, 2022. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222379510.
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
Cadillac Lyriq or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Cadillac Lyriq has far fewer complaints per year (about 42) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131). This means that on average, a Lyriq owner is less likely to experience a reported problem. However, the Lyriq's issues often involve critical systems like power loss and braking, while the F-150's higher volume reflects its popularity and longer production run.
Key differences
- The Lyriq has about 42 complaints per year, while the F-150 has about 1,131 per year, indicating a much higher reported issue rate for the F-150.
- Lyriq owners frequently report sudden loss of propulsion and 12-volt battery failures, whereas F-150 owners commonly report transmission hard shifts and loss of power.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, compared to 17 for the Lyriq over 4 years, but the Lyriq's recalls include high-voltage battery issues.
- Phantom braking is a notable complaint for the Lyriq, while the F-150 has more complaints about electrical warnings and engine problems.
- Check for any history of sudden loss of propulsion or 12-volt battery failure; ask if the battery has been replaced and if any software updates address these issues.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and braking systems for phantom braking; ensure the camera is clean and no warning messages appear.
- Test drive the truck extensively, especially at highway speeds, to feel for hard or delayed shifts in the transmission, particularly between 7th and 8th gears.
- Check for any electrical warning messages on the dashboard, such as front camera malfunction or pre-collision assist not available, and have the battery and charging system inspected.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas for each model.
- For the Lyriq, test the 12-volt battery and ensure all electrical systems function, including doors, charging port, and infotainment.
- For the F-150, test drive in various conditions and gears to detect transmission issues, and check for any stored error codes.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether any software updates or repairs have been done for known issues.
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 Lyriq | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 24 |
| 2025 | 18 | 329 |
| 2024 | 113 | 617 |
| 2023 | 24 | 1507 |
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 Lyriq or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac Lyriq vs FORD F 150
- Cadillac Lyriq total complaints
- 169
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Cadillac Lyriq total recalls
- 17
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Cadillac Lyriq avg complaints/year
- 42.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac Lyriq
- Cadillac Lyriq top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN