Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Blazer vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet Blazer 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 Blazer vs FORD F 150: The Blazer averages 75.6 complaints per year over 10 years, while the F-150 averages 1131.1. The F-150's transmission issues are prominent, with hard shifts and power loss, whereas the Blazer shows electrical and engine problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Blazer or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Blazer
The Chevrolet Blazer, in its various generations, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 75 per year over the last decade. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins, such as smoking turn signal switches and ignition switch concerns, as well as powertrain issues like knocking noises and vibrations. These problems can surface in both older models and the latest 2024 versions, suggesting ongoing reliability challenges that could affect daily usability and peace of mind.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a best-selling pickup, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year, reflecting its large sales base. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners describing hard shifts, jerks, and even sudden power loss. Electrical problems, including camera malfunctions, and exterior lighting issues also appear frequently. While the F-150's popularity skews raw numbers, the transmission complaints are a clear pattern that buyers should investigate.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Blazer | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 756 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 31 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 75.6 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 35 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.
Chevrolet Blazer
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM218
- 02POWER TRAIN185
- 03ENGINE181
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER157
- 05STEERING102
Owners report smoking turn signal switches and ignition switch concerns, which can lead to smoke inside the cabin and potential fire risk. These issues may require switch replacement and highlight a broader electrical vulnerability.
Complaints include knocking noises from the engine area and vibrations/wobbling at speed, which could indicate driveline or transmission problems. Such symptoms can affect drivability and may lead to costly repairs.
Engine-related complaints include knocking noises and low oil pressure due to leaks, as seen in 2024 models. These issues can cause engine damage if not addressed promptly, emphasizing the need for regular oil checks.
Some owners report complete heating system failure in sub-zero temperatures, which is a safety and comfort concern, especially in cold climates. Others mention recurring mechanical noises that dealerships struggle to fix, indicating potential unresolved defects.
“I WAS RETURNING FROM LAS VEGAS ON A RUFF PAVED DESERT HWY IN MY 2005 5 SPEED 2 DOOR CHEVY BLAZER WHEN I NOTICE A SLIGHT SMELL OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE. I TURNED ON THE DOME LIGHT AND NOTICE THE TURNING SIGNAL SWITCH ARM BOUNCING A LOT WITH SOME SMOKE COMING OUT TH…”
“AS OF OCTOBER 20,2014 I HAVE YET TO SEE THE 1999 CHEVORLET S_10 LS OR THE 2005 CHEVORLET BLAZER S-T 4X4 MY HUSBAND HAS TESTED BOTH OF THESE IGNITION SWITCHES AND THEY ARE THE SAME. HE THEN CALLED A GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HIM TO NOT PUT ANYTHING HEAVY ON…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is the 10R80 transmission, with hard and delayed shifts, jerks, clunks, and even sudden power loss. These symptoms can be alarming and may require transmission reprogramming or replacement, affecting reliability and safety.
Owners report loud bangs from the transmission accompanied by popping sounds from the rear suspension, which may be linked to electrical or sensor issues. Additionally, frequent warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist unavailability indicate sensor or software problems.
While specific complaints are not detailed, the high number of exterior lighting complaints suggests issues with headlights or other lights, which can reduce visibility and increase accident risk.
Engine complaints are less frequent but still present, possibly including performance or reliability issues. Given the transmission's prominence, buyers should also check for any engine-related recalls or service bulletins.
“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.
Chevrolet Blazer — 12 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, Blazer EV, Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The door strikers may fracture, resulting in the door opening unexpectedly.
The risk: A door opening while the vehicle is being driven can increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace all four door strikers and attaching bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462…
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 2025 Chevrolet Blazer, Blazer EV, and Equinox vehicles. The door strikers were not properly heat-treated, which can cause them to break.
The risk: A broken door striker can cause the door to open unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace all four side door strikers and attachment bolts, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still in dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters are expected to be mailed. Owners may call Chevrolet…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse vehicles. The left-side half-shaft assemblies may be missing a retaining ring.
The risk: A missing retaining ring on the half-shaft can cause half-shaft inner joint separation, resulting in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left-side half-shaft assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222390180.
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
Chevrolet Blazer or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Blazer has significantly fewer complaints per year (about 75) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131), but the F-150's numbers are inflated by its much higher sales volume. In practice, the Blazer's issues are more varied but less concentrated, while the F-150's transmission problems are a well-known and widespread concern that could lead to expensive repairs.
Key differences
- The F-150 has a dominant transmission problem (10R80) causing hard shifts and power loss, while the Blazer's issues are more spread across electrical, engine, and powertrain.
- The Blazer has a higher proportion of electrical complaints (218 out of 756) including smoking switches, whereas the F-150's electrical issues often relate to camera and sensor malfunctions.
- The F-150 has a much higher absolute number of complaints, but that's partly due to its popularity; the Blazer's complaint rate per year is far lower.
- The Blazer's 2024 model shows heating failures and oil leaks, while the F-150's 2020 model is frequently cited for transmission problems.
- Inspect the turn signal switch and ignition switch for signs of melting or smoke damage, as these are reported electrical failures.
- Listen for knocking noises from the engine and check for oil leaks, especially on 2024 models, which have had low oil pressure issues.
- Test drive the F-150 through all gears, especially 4-5 and 5-6 upshifts, to feel for hard shifts or jerks, and watch for any sudden power loss.
- Check for any warning lights related to front camera or pre-collision assist, as these are common electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the Blazer: have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including the turn signal switch and ignition switch, for any signs of overheating.
- For the Blazer: check engine oil level and look for leaks, and listen for any unusual engine noises during a test drive.
- For the F-150: perform a thorough transmission test, including highway speeds, to ensure smooth shifting and no clunks.
- For the F-150: verify that all exterior lights work properly and check for any stored diagnostic trouble codes related to the transmission or cameras.
- For both: review the vehicle's recall history and ensure all outstanding recalls have been addressed.
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 | Chevrolet Blazer | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 24 |
| 2025 | 28 | 329 |
| 2024 | 43 | 617 |
| 2023 | 42 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 49 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 129 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 213 | 33 |
| 2019 | 186 | 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 Chevrolet Blazer or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Blazer vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Blazer total complaints
- 756
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chevrolet Blazer total recalls
- 12
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chevrolet Blazer avg complaints/year
- 75.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Blazer
- Chevrolet Blazer top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN