Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Camaro vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet Camaro 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 Camaro vs FORD F 150: The Camaro averages 86.8 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1, with power train issues dominating both. The F-150 also has 151 recalls versus 17 for the Camaro. These numbers suggest the Camaro may have fewer problems overall, but both require careful inspection. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Camaro or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is a sports coupe that sees about 87 complaints per year over a 10-year span, with electrical and power train issues dominating owner reports. Many complaints describe serious problems like the car not staying in park, sudden loss of engine power, and transmission failures that can leave you stranded. With 73 crash-related complaints and 45 injuries reported, these aren't just annoyances—they can affect your safety. If you're considering a used Camaro, be prepared for potentially frequent shop visits and a higher risk of costly repairs.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that generates a staggering 1,162 complaints per year on average, with power train and electrical problems leading the list. Owners frequently report transmission issues like limp mode and stuck gears, as well as electrical gremlins such as the notorious lead frame failure. With 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, the volume of problems is much higher than the Camaro's. While the F-150 is popular, the sheer number of complaints suggests that many owners experience significant reliability headaches.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Camaro | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 868 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 73 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 86.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 45 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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 Camaro
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM238
- 02POWER TRAIN195
- 03ENGINE166
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER150
- 05STEERING120
Owners report the car saying 'shift to park' when it's already in park, which can let it roll away, and random 'engine power reduced' messages that cut power while driving. These electrical glitches can leave you stranded or cause a crash.
Complaints include the steering wheel failing to steer, wheels locking, and the transmission not responding when shifting into gear. These failures can happen suddenly and lead to loss of control or being unable to move.
The engine can stop while driving uphill, roll backwards in Drive, or vibrate and make whining noises with the check engine light on. Such issues mean unexpected breakdowns and expensive repairs.
Steering problems appear in 120 complaints, with reports of the wheel not responding as intended. This is a critical safety concern because it directly affects your ability to control the car.
“When shifting the vehicle into park and attempting to turn off car, vehicle will give a message on dash “shift to park” when the vehicle is already in park. This issue can cause possible rolling of vehicle for not properly being in park. Power draining due to…”
“At random times the car will get the check engine light (Code P2138 when scanned) & show a message on the dash saying “engine power reduced”. This happened to me twice while driving on the highway & 4 other times while driving on city streets. When this happe…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The most common complaint area, with reports of the truck going into limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions. These transmission problems can leave you unable to accelerate or shift properly.
Owners describe the lead frame issue causing sudden power loss and limp mode, as well as rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the back window. Electrical faults can disable safety features and lead to dangerous situations.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting problems are a major concern, though specific failure details aren't provided in the sample. Faulty lights reduce visibility and can make you a hazard on the road.
Engine issues appear in 880 complaints, often tied to the same limp mode and power loss symptoms. These can cause the truck to stall or lose power unexpectedly, especially at highway speeds.
“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 Camaro — 17 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
The risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.
The risk: Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC custome…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles. The plastic "Camaro" emblem, located on the steering wheel air bag cover, may separate during deployment of the frontal driver air bag.
The risk: In the event of a crash, plastic pieces of emblem may act as projectiles from deployment of the driver air bag can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the frontal driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N21232…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
The risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
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 Camaro or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Camaro has far fewer complaints per year (about 87) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,160), meaning you're statistically less likely to face frequent problems with the Camaro. However, both have serious safety-related complaints, so the difference is mainly in volume—the F-150's issues are more widespread and may be more costly to manage over time.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 13 times more complaints per year than the Chevrolet Camaro, with power train issues being the most frequent.
- Camaro owners report 'shift to park' errors and sudden power reduction, while F-150 owners describe transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 17 for the Camaro, indicating more widespread safety fixes over the years.
- Both vehicles have 1 death reported, but the F-150 has 297 injuries compared to 45 for the Camaro, reflecting its higher complaint volume.
- Check for 'shift to park' messages and ensure the car actually engages park—test by shifting into park on a slope and seeing if it rolls.
- Scan for stored codes like P2138 and test drive at highway speeds to see if 'engine power reduced' appears or if the transmission hesitates.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: look for delayed engagement, slipping, or getting stuck in gears, especially after warming up.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for signs of shorts or cracks, and check for any electrical gremlins like flickering lights or random warnings.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and electrical system, focusing on the specific issues reported for each model.
- During a test drive, simulate stop-and-go traffic and highway driving to provoke limp mode or power reduction symptoms.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission or electrical repairs.
- For the F-150, check if the lead frame has been replaced; for the Camaro, verify the park position sensor and throttle body.
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 Camaro | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28 | 638 |
| 2023 | 105 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 14 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 20 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 31 | 44 |
| 2019 | 53 | 52 |
| 2018 | 81 | 79 |
| 2017 | 189 | 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 Chevrolet Camaro or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
No VIN yet? Ask the seller.
A genuine seller should be happy to share it. Send this, then paste the VIN into the box above when it comes back.
Going to see one?
Get the Chevrolet Camaro inspection checklist by email, so you know what to look for when you're standing next to it.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Camaro vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Camaro total complaints
- 868
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Chevrolet Camaro total recalls
- 17
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Chevrolet Camaro avg complaints/year
- 86.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Camaro
- Chevrolet Camaro top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN