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 85.7 complaints per year with 17 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1 complaints per year with 145 recalls. Both report transmission and electrical issues, but the F-150's volume is much higher. 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 86 complaints per year over the last decade, with electrical and powertrain issues dominating owner reports. Many complaints describe sudden engine shutdowns, transmission failures, and engine lifter problems that can be costly. While overall complaint volume is lower than the F-150, the severity of some issues—like complete transmission failure—can leave owners stranded. Buyers should expect a car that demands attention to its electrical and drivetrain health.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint rate—over 1,100 per year—largely due to its popularity and widespread use. Power train complaints, especially transmission problems, are the most common, with owners reporting hard shifts, loss of power, and transmission failures. Electrical glitches, such as camera malfunctions and battery cable issues, also appear frequently. This truck can be reliable but requires diligent maintenance and awareness of common failure points.
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 | 857 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 73 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 85.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 45 Better | 287 |
| 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 SYSTEM237
- 02POWER TRAIN191
- 03ENGINE166
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER148
- 05STEERING118
Owners report the engine shutting off unexpectedly while driving or after stopping, sometimes restarting after a few minutes. Others mention hill start assist failing on inclines with manual transmissions. These issues can be dangerous if they occur in traffic.
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a frequent trouble spot, with reports of rough shifting, complete transmission failure around 74,000 miles, and problems with the Transmission Control Valve even after recall repairs. This can lead to expensive repairs and loss of drive power.
Engine complaints include lifter failures that require replacing all 16 lifters and the camshaft, often costing thousands out of pocket. Owners also describe vibration, jerking, and metallic sounds at highway speeds, which may indicate internal engine damage.
Steering-related complaints appear in the data, though specific owner narratives are not provided. Buyers should be aware that steering issues can affect control and may require prompt attention.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 CHEVROLET CAMARO EQUIPPED WITH THE HILL START ASSIST FEATURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE HILL START ASSIST FEATURE…”
“WHEN OPERATING THE CAR IT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. ONCE I APPROACHED A STOP THE CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START AGAIN. AFTER I DROVE THROUGH THE LIGHT AND PROCEEDED HOME ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY FROM THE INITIAL STOP, THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN.…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a major concern, with owners reporting hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and sudden loss of power. Some experience complete transmission failure, which can strand the driver and create a safety hazard.
Owners frequently report warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing on startup. There are also reports of loud bangs from the transmission and popping sounds from the rear suspension, which may indicate electrical or mechanical faults.
With over 1,100 complaints, exterior lighting issues—particularly headlights—are common. This can reduce visibility and may not be covered by warranty, so buyers should check for recalls and proper function.
Engine complaints are less frequent than transmission issues but still notable. Problems may include rough running or stalling, though specific patterns are not detailed in the sample. Regular maintenance is key to avoiding major engine repairs.
“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 Camaro — 17 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts m…
The risk: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet cust…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles. The left or right axle shaft may be missing a retaining ring, which could allow the axle shaft to separate while driving.
The risk: A separated axle shaft can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left or right axle shaft as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N21…
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 — 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 Camaro or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Camaro has far fewer complaints per year (about 86) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), but the Camaro's issues often involve serious drivetrain and electrical failures. The F-150's higher volume reflects its massive sales numbers, yet its transmission problems are widespread and well-documented. In practice, the Camaro may have fewer overall problems, but the F-150's issues are more commonly reported and may be easier to find repair information for.
Key differences
- The Camaro averages about 86 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages over 1,100—largely due to sales volume, but the F-150 still has more reported issues per vehicle.
- Camaro owners frequently report engine shutdowns and transmission failures, whereas F-150 owners report hard shifting and loss of power from the 10R80 transmission.
- Electrical problems are top complaints for both, but the Camaro's include hill start assist failures, while the F-150's include camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls versus 17 for the Camaro, indicating more widespread safety-related fixes over the decade.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, rough shifting, or sudden loss of power—these could signal the transmission or engine issues owners report.
- Check for warning lights related to hill start assist or electrical glitches, and ask if the transmission control valve recall was performed and whether it resolved the problem.
- Test the transmission through all gears, especially 4-5 and 5-6 shifts, looking for jerks, clunks, or delayed engagement that owners describe.
- Start the truck and watch for warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available'—these are common electrical complaints.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on transmission and electrical systems.
- For the Camaro, ask about any engine lifter or camshaft repairs and request receipts.
- For the F-150, test drive at highway speeds to feel for transmission shudder or hard shifts.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been completed, especially those related to power train and electrical systems.
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 | 617 |
| 2023 | 105 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 13 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 16 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 31 | 33 |
| 2019 | 52 | 36 |
| 2018 | 80 | 56 |
| 2017 | 185 | 43 |
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.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Camaro vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Camaro total complaints
- 857
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chevrolet Camaro total recalls
- 17
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chevrolet Camaro avg complaints/year
- 85.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Camaro
- Chevrolet Camaro top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN