Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac XT4 vs FORD F 150
How the Cadillac XT4 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 XT4 vs FORD F 150: The XT4 has 104 complaints over 7 years (about 15 per year), while the F-150 has 11,311 over 10 years (over 1,100 per year). The F-150 also has 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, versus 12 and 4 for the XT4. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac XT4 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac XT4
The Cadillac XT4 is a compact luxury SUV with a relatively low complaint volume: 104 complaints over 7 years, averaging about 15 per year. Owners most often report engine and electrical gremlins, including check engine lights that dealers sometimes cannot diagnose, oil leaks, and no-start conditions. Brake squeaks and transmission quirks also appear. With 12 recalls and 4 crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle that demands a careful pre-purchase inspection, especially of the engine and electrical systems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint volume: 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging over 1,100 per year. The dominant issue is the power train, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, with reports of hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden loss of power. Electrical problems, including camera and pre-collision assist failures, are also common. With 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, this truck has a well-documented pattern of serious reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac XT4 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 104 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 14.9 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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 XT4
- 01ENGINE24
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23
- 03SERVICE BRAKES20
- 04POWER TRAIN17
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE16
Owners report check engine lights, unusual noises, and oil leaks, sometimes requiring multiple dealer visits. One owner had oil leaking down the side of the motor and needed numerous gaskets replaced. These issues can be frustrating and costly if not resolved under warranty.
Complaints include no-start conditions where boosting works temporarily but fails later, as well as check engine lights with no stored codes. This can leave you stranded and make diagnosis difficult.
Owners describe brake squeaking, often when backing out in the morning, which persists despite dealer visits. While not necessarily a safety defect, it's an annoyance that can indicate premature wear.
Some owners report transmission or drivetrain issues that trigger check engine lights and abnormal behavior. These can affect driveability and may require dealer attention.
“I took my suv in for diagnostics to a certified GM dealership at least twice while still under warranty. The check engine light was on, the car was behaving abnormally as well as making unusual concerning noises. The dealership sent me away saying no codes sh…”
“2019 CADILLAC XT-4 [XXX] MILEAGE IN FIRST SERVICE ATTEMPT 27500 4/28/2023 BROUGHT THE XT-4 IN FOR SERVICE IN WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA AND FOR AN OIL DRIP PROBLEM. OIL LEAKING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE MOTOR FACING THE PASSENGER SIDE. DEALER REPLACED NUMEROUOS GASKETS…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a major pain point: owners report hard, jerky shifts between gears, delayed engagement, and even sudden loss of power while driving. One owner experienced the truck shutting off and drifting in traffic. This is a serious safety concern.
Common complaints include front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available warnings appearing every time the truck starts. These failures can disable driver-assist features and are often difficult to fix.
Engine-related complaints include various issues, though less frequent than transmission problems. Some owners report engine noises or performance problems that require dealer diagnosis.
With 1,164 complaints, exterior lighting issues are notable, potentially affecting headlights or other lights. This can reduce visibility and may be a safety risk if lights fail.
“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 XT4 — 12 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.
The risk: An improperly welded seat frame may not adequately restrain the driver in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the cushion frame, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. Th…
The risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increa…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267,…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
The risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac custom…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac XT4 vehicles equipped with the optional Surround Vision feature. The video processing module (VPM) may lose communication with the rearview camera, causing a loss of the rearview camera image.
The risk: Failure of the rearview camera image to display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the VPM software or replace the VPM, as necessary, free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing owners of the safety defect was mailed January 17, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed February…
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 XT4 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Cadillac XT4 has far fewer complaints per year (about 15) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100). In practice, this means the XT4 is likely to have fewer reported problems overall, but the F-150's issues are more frequently severe, especially transmission failures that can cause loss of power. Buyers prioritizing lower complaint volume might lean toward the XT4, while those needing a truck should be aware of the F-150's significant reliability concerns.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Cadillac XT4 averages ~15 complaints/year; Ford F-150 averages ~1,131/year, a massive difference.
- Transmission troubles: F-150 owners frequently report hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden power loss; XT4 power train complaints are less common and less severe.
- Electrical issues: Both have electrical complaints, but F-150 reports often involve driver-assist features like cameras and pre-collision alerts, while XT4 reports include no-start conditions and check engine lights.
- Recalls: F-150 has 145 recalls vs. 12 for the XT4, indicating a broader range of potential safety fixes.
- Check for oil leaks around the engine, especially on the passenger side, as owners report gasket failures.
- Test all electrical functions, including starting, and look for any check engine lights or stored codes, as no-start and diagnostic issues are reported.
- Test drive the truck extensively, focusing on transmission behavior: look for hard shifts, jerks, or delayed engagement between gears, especially 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8.
- Verify that all driver-assist features (front camera, pre-collision assist) work without warnings, as these are common failure points.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for outstanding recalls on both models.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, specifically checking the transmission on the F-150 and the engine/electrical systems on the XT4.
- During the test drive, pay attention to transmission smoothness (F-150) and any unusual noises or warning lights (both).
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission repairs or software updates on the F-150.
- Consider an extended warranty, particularly for the F-150, given the high cost of transmission repairs.
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 XT4 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 329 |
| 2024 | 29 | 617 |
| 2023 | 12 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 4 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 12 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 17 | 33 |
| 2019 | 20 | 36 |
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 XT4 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac XT4 vs FORD F 150
- Cadillac XT4 total complaints
- 104
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Cadillac XT4 total recalls
- 12
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Cadillac XT4 avg complaints/year
- 14.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac XT4
- Cadillac XT4 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN