Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet CITY Express vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet CITY Express 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 CITY Express vs FORD F 150: The CITY Express has 14 complaints over 4 years (3.5/year) and 7 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150's complaints often involve power train and electrical failures; the CITY Express's few complaints include air bag and fuel system issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet CITY Express or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet CITY Express
The Chevrolet CITY Express is a small commercial van with a relatively low complaint volume—14 over four years—but the pattern is concerning for a buyer. Air bag sensor problems dominate, with owners reporting blinking readiness lights and a passenger presence module that is discontinued and unrepairable. Fuel system issues, including a recall for the fuel pump control module, also appear, and some owners report gasoline odors and loss of power. Overall, the van's reliability picture is mixed: few complaints, but the ones that exist often involve safety systems with no clear fix.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint count—over 11,600 in ten years—and the pattern is dominated by power train and electrical problems. Owners repeatedly describe transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. Electrical issues include rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the glass. While the F-150 is widely used, the volume and severity of complaints suggest a higher risk of costly and potentially dangerous failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet CITY Express | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 14 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.5 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.
Chevrolet CITY Express
- 01AIR BAGS6
- 02FUEL SYSTEM2
- 03GASOLINE2
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
Owners report the airbag readiness light blinking and the passenger presence module failing, which can incorrectly classify an adult passenger. The part is discontinued, so repairs may be impossible, leaving the airbag system compromised.
Complaints include gasoline odors inside the cabin, especially during turns, and loss of motivation. A recall for the fuel pump control module exists, but parts may not be available, so the defect can persist.
The fuel pump relay can fail at low mileage (e.g., 19,900 miles), causing the engine to stop running. This is a sudden failure that can leave you stranded or cause a crash if it happens at speed.
“My vehicle was never corrected for the Recall described below, from my recollection. My understanding is that the 2015 Chevrolet City Express van was recalled due to an issue with the passenger-side airbag sensor, which could incorrectly classify an adult pas…”
“My Airbag Readiness Light started blinking. I took vehicle to dealer for service. No trouble codes were found. Issue was found with Passenger Presence Module. Dealer advised that this is part of the seat that has been discontinued and that no repairs are avai…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe recurring transmission problems: limp mode, stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues are often unresolved and can be dangerous.
The lead frame issue also appears under electrical, and owners report rear window defroster shorts that can cause the back window to shatter. These electrical faults can lead to unexpected and costly repairs.
Complaints include the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster, with no external cause. This is a safety hazard that may not be covered by a recall.
“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 CITY Express — 7 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Muran…
The risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra veh…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2021 NV200 Van, 2014-2017, 2019 NV200 Taxi, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet City Express vehicles. The Fuel Tank Temperature (FTT) sensor harness may have been incorrectly routed, damaging wires and causing a short circuit in the fuel pump fuse.
The risk: A blown fuel pump fuse can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reroute the FTT sensor harness or replace the fuel pump assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbe…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over t…
The risk: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2021 NV200 Van, 2014-2017, 2019 NV200 Taxi, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet City Express vehicles. The Fuel Tank Temperature (FTT) sensor harness may have been incorrectly routed, damaging wires and causing a short circuit in the fuel pump fuse.
The risk: A blown fuel pump fuse can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reroute the FTT sensor harness or replace the fuel pump assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbe…
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 CITY Express or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet CITY Express has far fewer complaints per year (3.5 vs. 1,162 for the F-150), but its issues often involve safety systems with no available fix. The F-150's higher volume means more frequent problems, especially with the transmission, which can be expensive and dangerous. In practice, the CITY Express may have fewer breakdowns, but the ones it has can be harder to resolve.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: CITY Express averages 3.5 per year; F-150 averages 1,162 per year, a massive difference in reported problems.
- Air bag issues: CITY Express has 6 air bag complaints, including a discontinued passenger presence module; F-150 has air bag recalls but fewer specific complaints in the sample.
- Transmission problems: F-150 owners report frequent limp mode and lead frame failures; CITY Express has no transmission complaints in the top components.
- Fuel system: CITY Express has fuel pump control module recalls and gasoline odor complaints; F-150's top issues are power train and electrical, not fuel.
- Check for a blinking airbag readiness light and confirm whether the passenger presence module has been replaced; if not, the part may be unavailable.
- Inspect for gasoline odors, especially after turning, and verify that the fuel pump control module recall (25V676000) has been performed.
- Test drive for transmission shudder, limp mode, or stuck gears; ask for service records related to the lead frame and output speed sensor.
- Check the rear window defroster operation and look for any signs of overheating or previous window replacement due to shattering.
Before you buy
- For the CITY Express, run the VIN to confirm all recalls (air bag sensor, fuel pump control module) are completed and parts are available.
- For the F-150, obtain a pre-purchase inspection focusing on transmission codes and lead frame condition.
- Ask for a detailed service history for either vehicle, paying attention to recurring electrical or power train repairs.
- Test drive the F-150 on the highway to check for limp mode or unusual shifting.
- Inspect the CITY Express for airbag light function and any fuel odors during and after the test drive.
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 CITY Express | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 79 |
| 2017 | 3 | 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 CITY Express or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet CITY Express vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet CITY Express total complaints
- 14
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Chevrolet CITY Express total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Chevrolet CITY Express avg complaints/year
- 3.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet CITY Express
- Chevrolet CITY Express top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN