Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac XT6 vs FORD F 150
How the Cadillac XT6 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 XT6 vs FORD F 150: The XT6 has 104 complaints over 6 years (about 17 per year) and 14 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (about 1,131 per year) and 145 recalls. The XT6 reports fewer issues per year, but both have serious electrical and power train complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac XT6 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac XT6
The Cadillac XT6 is a luxury mid-size SUV with a relatively low complaint volume: 104 complaints over six years, averaging about 17 per year. Owners most often report electrical and power train problems, including steering assist warnings that can disable air conditioning and reduce steering power. Back-over prevention issues also appear, with rear cameras failing or alarms not sounding. Recalls cover brakes, suspension, fuel tank, labels, and transmission.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume: 11,311 complaints over ten years, averaging about 1,131 per year. Power train and electrical system complaints dominate, with many owners describing hard or delayed transmission shifts and sudden power loss. Exterior lighting and engine issues are also common. Recalls address headlights, battery cables, engine, and seat recliners.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac XT6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 104 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 17.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 XT6
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM24
- 02POWER TRAIN21
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER17
- 04BACK OVER PREVENTION14
- 05ENGINE12
Owners report a 'steering assist reduced' warning that disables air conditioning and reduces power steering, plus audio systems that randomly blast all speakers while driving. These electrical glitches can affect control and comfort, and may be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
Complaints include sudden loss of power while driving and steering assist reduction, sometimes requiring a restart via a phone app. This can leave a driver without propulsion or full steering in traffic, which is a serious safety concern.
Owners report rear cameras that fail or show a white screen in sunlight, and backup alarms that do not sound, leading to collisions with objects or people behind the vehicle. This makes parking and reversing riskier, especially in driveways or lots.
Some owners describe repeated mechanical and electrical issues that keep the vehicle at the dealership for extended periods, including sudden loss of all power at normal roadway speeds. This suggests ongoing reliability problems that can disrupt daily use.
“There is a known problem, which Cadillac refuses to recall, regarding a steering assist reduced warning. The warning light disables the air conditioning system and steering assist. When the light comes on, reduced power to the steering system occurs. I took t…”
“2025 CADILLAC XT6 AWD SPORT, VIN [XXX] , PURCHASED NEW FROM [XXX] [XXX] ON FEBRUARY 20, 2026. THE VEHICLE'S AUDIO SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATES ALL SPEAKERS WITHOUT COMMAND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE CONDITION OCCURS UNPREDICTABLY AND PRODUCES A SU…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard, delayed, or jerky shifts from the 10-speed automatic transmission, and some experience sudden loss of power or the vehicle shutting off while driving. These transmission problems can cause drivability issues and potential safety hazards.
Complaints include loud bangs or popping sounds from the transmission area, as well as recurring warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on start-up. These electrical faults can disable driver-assist features and signal deeper issues.
With 1,164 complaints, exterior lighting is a top concern, often involving headlights. Poor or failing headlights reduce nighttime visibility, which is a basic safety function.
Engine-related complaints number 847, though specific patterns are not detailed in the sample. Engine problems can be costly and may lead to breakdowns or reduced 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 XT6 — 14 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may be missing the warning label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
The risk: Without a warning label, the brake fluid may be unintentionally contaminated by debris, which can affect brake performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the brake fluid reservoir cap and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this rec…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The left-rear suspension toe link may have been tightened improperly, which could result in a loose or separated toe link.
The risk: A loose toe link can separate and cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the left-rear suspension and replace the fastener if it is loose or missing, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 11, 2022. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC c…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles. The fuel tank rollover valve may not provide a proper seal in the event of a rollover crash.
The risk: A fuel tank rollover valve that does not properly seal can result in a fuel leak during a rollover crash, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and replace the fuel tank shell if the rollover valve is found to be dislodged or missing, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2022. Owners may contact Cadillac customer servic…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The certification label located on the driver's side B-pillar contains tire size information that may be illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Sa…
The risk: Illegible tire size information may result in the wrong tires being installed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the vehicle certification label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2022. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's n…
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 XT6 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Cadillac XT6 has far fewer complaints per year (about 17) than the Ford F-150 (about 1,131), meaning owners of the XT6 report fewer issues overall. However, the XT6's electrical and power train complaints include serious symptoms like steering assist loss and sudden power loss. The F-150's much higher volume suggests a wider range of problems, especially with the transmission.
Key differences
- The Cadillac XT6 averages about 17 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages about 1,131 per year, a huge difference in reported issue frequency.
- Cadillac XT6 owners frequently report steering assist loss and rear camera failures, while Ford F-150 owners often report transmission jerking and sudden power loss.
- The Ford F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, compared to 14 recalls for the Cadillac XT6 over 6 years, indicating more recall activity for the truck.
- The Ford F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries reported, while the Cadillac XT6 has 2 crash-related and 1 injury, though these numbers are not adjusted for the much larger F-150 population.
- Check for any history of 'steering assist reduced' warnings or power steering loss, as this can disable air conditioning and reduce steering control.
- Test the rear-view camera in bright sunlight and confirm that backup alarms sound; owners report white screens and silent alarms leading to collisions.
- Test drive at various speeds and watch for hard, delayed, or jerky shifts, especially between 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8 gears, which owners commonly report.
- Check for recurring dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' and ensure all driver-assist features work.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Cadillac's brake, suspension, and fuel tank recalls and the Ford's headlight, battery cable, and engine recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Cadillac XT6's electrical system, steering assist, and rear camera operation, and scan for stored fault codes.
- For the Ford F-150, have a transmission specialist check the 10-speed automatic for shift quality and any signs of internal damage.
- During a test drive, deliberately test the rear camera and backup alarms on the Cadillac, and on the Ford, test transmission behavior under light and heavy acceleration.
- Ask the seller for all service records and specifically ask if any steering, transmission, or electrical repairs have been attempted.
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 XT6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 329 |
| 2024 | 15 | 617 |
| 2023 | 13 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 14 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 18 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 36 | 33 |
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 XT6 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac XT6 vs FORD F 150
- Cadillac XT6 total complaints
- 104
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Cadillac XT6 total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Cadillac XT6 avg complaints/year
- 17.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac XT6
- Cadillac XT6 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN