Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac XLR vs FORD F 150
How the Cadillac XLR 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 XLR vs FORD F 150: The XLR has 49 complaints over 7 years (7/yr) with roof and electrical issues, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/yr) with transmission and electrical problems. The XLR's roof can detach, and the F-150's transmission can fail. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac XLR or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac XLR
The Cadillac XLR is a low-volume luxury roadster with a retractable hardtop, and its complaint history suggests a car that can be finicky in daily use. Owners report structural issues with the roof panel separating at speed, electrical gremlins that can lock you in or out, and fuel system problems causing strong gasoline odors. With only 49 complaints over 7 years, it's not a high-volume problem vehicle, but the nature of the issues points to potential safety and convenience concerns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with a massive complaint count—over 11,000 in 10 years—reflecting its popularity and widespread use. The dominant issues are transmission problems (hard shifts, loss of power) and electrical system glitches (camera malfunctions, warning lights). While the sheer number of complaints is large, it's important to consider the vehicle's sales volume; still, the reported failures can affect drivability and safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac XLR | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 49 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 XLR
- 01STRUCTURE13
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
- 03POWER TRAIN6
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING5
Owners report the retractable fiberglass roof panel can separate and fly off at highway speeds, sometimes preceded by a whistling noise. This is a serious safety hazard and a costly repair.
Key fob issues can prevent the car from starting and even lock the driver inside. Another report describes the car moving rearward in all gears, including Park, indicating a serious electronic or transmission control problem.
Strong gasoline vapors inside and outside the car, often from a gas tank leak, can be overwhelming and pose a fire risk. The check engine light may come on due to a loose gas cap, but the problem can worsen over time.
“SEVERAL XLR OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THEIR ROOF PANEL HAS SEPARATED AND FLOWN OFF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MY TOP BEGAN EMITTING A WHISTLING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN INSPECTING IT, THE CENTER FRONT OF THE TOP HAS BEGUN TO SEPARATE. THESE TOPS WERE APP…”
“The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac XLR. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was an abnormal sound like a shotgun being fired overhead. The contact pulled over and observed that the retractable fiberglass roof panel had detached fro…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major sore point, with owners reporting hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power while driving. These issues can be unpredictable and dangerous in traffic.
Many owners see warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on startup, indicating problems with driver-assistance systems that may disable safety features.
While not as detailed in the samples, engine-related complaints are numerous and could include issues like stalling, misfires, or excessive oil consumption, affecting reliability and performance.
“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 XLR — 12 recalls
The defect: TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION.
The risk: A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.
The fix: TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WITH A NEW OR REWORKED FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-866-867-3759 OR LOG ON…
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH ONE OR BOTH REAR BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINES THAT CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH OR BE AFFECTED BY HEAT FROM THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE LEFT EXHAUST PIPE. THE BRAKE FLUID COULD REACH ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND BOIL.
The risk: IF THE BRAKE FLUID BOILS IN A REAR BRAKE LINE, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD BE REDUCED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A BRAKE LINE LEAK AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. IF ENOUGH FLUID LEAKS FROM THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM SO THAT BRAKE PEDA…
The fix: DEALERS WILL (1) INSPECT THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CLIP FOR PROPER ALIGNMENT AND PLACEMENT ON THE BODY-MOUNTED STUD. IF INCORRECT, THEY WILL REPOSITION THE CLIP ON THE BRAKE LINES AND REINSTALL THE CLIP ON THE STUD; (2) THE DEALER W…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL), TURN SIGNAL, AND PARKING LAMPS USE THE SAME BULB. THE BULB MAY BECOME DAMAGED FROM VIBRATION WITHIN A LOOSE FITTING SOCKET OR AIR ENTERING THE BULB DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SEAL. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS WILL CAUSE THE BULB TO BURN OUT P…
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD NOTICE THAT THE ARROW IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD FLASH FASTER THAN NORMAL WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. THE LOSS OF THE DRL AND TURN SIGNALS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S PRESENCE…
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SOCKET AND BULB IN BOTH LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
The defect: TI AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN FUEL PUMPS, PART NUMBERS TU456 AND TU303, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AS AFTERMARKET AND REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MAY SEIZE, STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE CREATING A STALLING CONDITION.
The risk: A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE IN USE.
The fix: TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WITH A NEW OR REWORKED FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-866-867-3759 OR LOG ON…
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 XLR or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Cadillac XLR has far fewer complaints per year (7.0) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), but the XLR's issues are more severe in nature, like roof detachment. The F-150's high volume means more absolute problems, but its failure modes are more typical of a mass-market vehicle. In practice, the XLR may be more of a niche risk, while the F-150's transmission issues are widespread and well-documented.
Key differences
- The XLR's roof can detach at speed, a rare but catastrophic failure; the F-150's transmission can fail without warning, causing loss of power.
- The XLR has electrical issues that can lock you in or out; the F-150 has sensor and camera malfunctions that disable safety features.
- The XLR has fuel vapor leaks that create strong odors and fire risk; the F-150 has more engine-related complaints but not as specific in the samples.
- The XLR's low complaint count suggests it's less common, but the F-150's high count is partly due to its popularity.
- Inspect the roof panel for any signs of separation, cracks, or unusual noises at speed.
- Check for fuel odors inside and outside the car, and have the fuel system inspected for leaks.
- Test drive the truck and pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears, for any harshness or delay.
- Check if any warning lights appear on startup, such as camera or pre-collision assist messages.
Before you buy
- For the XLR, have a mechanic inspect the roof mechanism and seals for wear or damage.
- For the XLR, ask for service records related to fuel system repairs or recalls.
- For the F-150, research the specific model year's transmission issues and check for any open recalls.
- For the F-150, test the transmission in stop-and-go traffic and on the highway to feel for shifts.
- For both, get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic familiar with these vehicles.
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 XLR or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac XLR vs FORD F 150
- Cadillac XLR total complaints
- 49
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Cadillac XLR total recalls
- 12
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Cadillac XLR avg complaints/year
- 7.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac XLR
- Cadillac XLR top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN