Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac XTS vs FORD F 150
How the Cadillac XTS 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 XTS vs FORD F 150: The XTS averages 31 complaints per year with 15 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162 complaints per year with 151 recalls. The XTS has fewer reported issues, but both have notable electrical and mechanical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac XTS or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac XTS
The Cadillac XTS is a luxury sedan that averages about 31 complaints per year over seven years, with 15 recalls. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins like the trunk opening on its own and suspension failures where the rear air system drops unexpectedly. These issues can be unsettling and costly, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is wise.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averages over 1,100 complaints per year across ten years, with 151 recalls. Power train problems, especially transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, dominate owner reports and can leave drivers stranded. Electrical issues like rear window defroster shorts that shatter glass are also concerning. With such high complaint volume, expect more frequent shop visits.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac XTS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 218 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 31.1 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 297 |
| 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 XTS
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM79
- 02SUSPENSION41
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER39
- 04SERVICE BRAKES17
- 05ENGINE16
Owners report the trunk opening by itself while parked or driving, and some experience the car refusing to move or turn off. These glitches can be unpredictable and may require dealer diagnostics.
Rear air suspension failures cause the back end to drop suddenly, leading to bouncing and loss of control. This often happens without warning and can be dangerous at highway speeds.
Complaints include brakes failing to fully stop the vehicle when backing out or pulling into a spot. Such failures could lead to low-speed collisions.
Some owners report the engine dying while driving, which can be frightening and may indicate electrical or fuel system issues. This can leave you stranded.
“PROBLEM #1 - TRUNK OPENS BY ITSELF (SOMETIMES WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY & LOCKED (I.E., PARKED FOR THE NIGHT - ENGINE OFF); OTHER TIMES THE TRUNK OPENS BY ITSELF WHILE I AM DRIVING/MOVING (ENGINE OBVIOUSLY ON); OTHER TIMES WHILE THE ENGINE IS ON AND THE VEH…”
“PURCHASED MY 2017XT5 9/13/2017. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAIN STREET, I STOPPED FOR A LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. COULD NOT TURN IT OFF NOR COULD I TRY TO PUT IT IN ANOTHER GEAR. A KIND GENTLEMAN, WHO WAS BEHIND ME, GOT OUT OF HIS…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Transmission problems are common, with trucks going into limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and failing to shift. The lead frame issue is a recurring defect that can cause sudden loss of power.
Owners report rear window defroster shorts that cause the back window to shatter, and other electrical faults that can trigger limp mode. These issues can be dangerous and expensive.
Frequent complaints about lighting malfunctions, which can affect visibility and safety. This is a common trouble spot for the F-150.
Some engine issues are reported, though less frequently than power train problems. These can include stalling or poor performance.
“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 XTS — 15 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insu…
The risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrole…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Cadillac XTS vehicles. The front seat belt buckles may be missing a rivet that secures the buckle head to the cable mounting strap.
The risk: If the securing rivet is missing, the buckle may separate from the cable mounting strap in the event of a crash, preventing the occupant from being properly restrained, thereby increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat buckle assemblies, replacing them if the rivets are missing, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006.…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupan…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-102…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 22, 2014, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actu…
The risk: Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic parking brake software, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-…
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 XTS or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Cadillac XTS has far fewer complaints per year (about 31) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100). In practice, this means the XTS owner may face fewer trips to the shop, but the F-150's issues are more often related to power train and can be severe. The F-150 also has many more recalls and crash-related complaints.
Key differences
- The Cadillac XTS averages about 31 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages over 1,100, indicating a much higher reported issue rate for the F-150.
- The XTS's top complaints are electrical (trunk opening) and suspension (rear air bags failing), which can cause sudden drops and control issues.
- The F-150's top complaints are power train (transmission limp mode, lead frame) and electrical (rear window shattering), which can lead to loss of power and safety risks.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints, versus 15 recalls and 5 crash-related for the XTS, suggesting more safety-related actions for the truck.
- Check the rear air suspension for sagging or unusual noises, as failures can cause the rear to drop suddenly.
- Test the trunk release and electrical system for spontaneous opening or other glitches, especially when parked.
- Test drive the truck and watch for transmission shuddering, delayed engagement, or limp mode, especially around 5th gear.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and look for any signs of shorting or previous shattering, as this is a reported issue.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Cadillac XTS's suspension and electrical systems, including the trunk latch and air suspension.
- For the Ford F-150, have a mechanic check the transmission and lead frame, and test the rear window defroster.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or shifting problems.
- Review NHTSA complaints for the specific model year you are considering to see if issues persist.
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 XTS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 | 52 |
| 2018 | 0 | 79 |
| 2017 | 24 | 59 |
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 XTS or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac XTS vs FORD F 150
- Cadillac XTS total complaints
- 218
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Cadillac XTS total recalls
- 15
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Cadillac XTS avg complaints/year
- 31.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac XTS
- Cadillac XTS top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN