Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet B7 vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet B7 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
Chevrolet B7 vs FORD F 150: the B7 has 0 complaints over 3 years and 3 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, 151 recalls, and 330 crash-related complaints. The F-150's owner reports center on transmission limp mode and electrical faults. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet B7 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet B7
The Chevrolet B7 is a low-volume vehicle with no owner complaints filed over the three years covered, so there is no real-world pattern of failures to describe. Its record shows three recalls, two for antilock brakes and one for the automatic transmission, but no crashes, injuries, or deaths are tied to it. In ownership terms, it looks like a vehicle with very little public feedback, which means you are relying on recall history rather than owner experience.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume truck with a long, detailed complaint history: over 11,600 complaints across ten years, averaging about 1,162 per year. Owners repeatedly describe transmission problems, including limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures, plus electrical issues such as a rear window defroster short that shattered the glass. There are also 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and one death on record, so the reported failures are not just annoyances.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet B7 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Chevrolet B7
No component data available.
Two of the three recalls on the Chevrolet B7 involve the antilock brake system. No owner complaint text is on record, so the exact symptom is unknown, but a buyer should confirm the recall work was completed because brake faults affect stopping.
One recall covers the automatic transmission. With zero complaints, there is no described failure pattern, but the recall itself signals a potential transmission defect that should be checked and remedied before purchase.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report the truck going into limp mode and getting stuck in 5th gear, often daily, and describe a recurring lead frame issue that has gone unresolved for years. One owner said a near collision prompted them to replace the lead frame. These failures can leave you with reduced power or a stranded truck.
Complaints include the same lead frame problem filed under electrical, plus an output speed sensor failure that triggered highway limp mode. Another owner reported a short in the rear window defroster that caused the back window to shatter outward. Electrical faults here can affect both driving and basic safety.
This category includes the rear window defroster short that led to the back window exploding outward with no impact. It is a sudden, unexpected failure that a buyer should inspect for, especially on trucks with rear defrost.
Exterior lighting is one of the top complaint areas, with 1,224 complaints. The sample text does not describe the specific symptom, but lighting failures matter because they affect visibility and your ability to signal other drivers.
“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.
Chevrolet B7 — 3 recalls
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD LEAK FROM A HEAT DEGRADED TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER HOSE ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER INLET HOSE AND OUTLET HOSE DESIGNED WITH A HEAT SLEEVE AND ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM TAKE-DOWN PIPE. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE RIGHT-HAND EXHAUST MANIFOLD SEAL…
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES, MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS AND TRACTORS BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONE…
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES, MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS AND TRACTORS BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONE…
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.
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
Chevrolet B7 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet B7 has far fewer issues per year: zero complaints versus about 1,162 per year for the Ford F-150. In practice, the F-150 has a well-documented pattern of transmission and electrical failures that owners describe as recurring, while the B7 has only recalls and no owner-reported failure pattern to evaluate.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, while the Chevrolet B7 has 0 complaints over 3 years, so the F-150 has a much larger real-world failure record.
- Ford F-150 owners specifically describe transmission limp mode, stuck 5th gear, and lead frame failures; the B7 has no complaint text describing actual failures.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death on record; the B7 has 0 in each of those categories.
- The B7 has 3 recalls (two for antilock brakes, one for the automatic transmission), while the F-150 has 151 recalls covering engine, seat belts, door latches, and air bags.
- Confirm both antilock brake recalls and the automatic transmission recall were performed, and ask for proof; unresolved brake or transmission recalls are the main known risk on this vehicle.
- Since there are no owner complaints to learn from, test the brakes and transmission carefully on a test drive and check for warning lights.
- Test for transmission limp mode, delayed or harsh shifting, and stuck gears, especially on 2017 V8 models with the 6-speed automatic; owners describe these as daily occurrences.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and look for any signs of a short or shattered rear glass, and check that the lead frame and output speed sensor recalls or software updates were completed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN through NHTSA to confirm all recalls are closed on the specific vehicle, especially the B7 brake and transmission recalls and the F-150 powertrain recalls.
- On the F-150, test drive long enough to reach highway speed and watch for limp mode, stuck gears, or delayed shifts.
- On the B7, ask for service records showing the antilock brake and transmission recalls were repaired, since there are no owner complaints to reveal symptoms.
- Inspect the F-150 rear window and defroster operation, and check for any signs of electrical shorts or prior glass replacement.
- Have a mechanic scan for stored transmission and electrical codes on the F-150, and check brake function on the B7.
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 Chevrolet B7 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet B7 vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet B7 total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Chevrolet B7 total recalls
- 3
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Chevrolet B7 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet B7
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN