Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Lumina vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet Lumina 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 Lumina vs FORD F 150: The Lumina has 67 complaints over 2 years (33.5/year) and 10 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/year) and 145 recalls. The F-150's higher volume reflects its popularity, but both show transmission and brake issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Lumina or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Lumina
The Chevrolet Lumina is a sedan that, based on owner complaints, can be a mixed bag as it ages. With 67 complaints over 2 years (about 33.5 per year) and 10 recalls, it has a moderate complaint rate. Owners report issues with the power train, engine cooling, and brakes, including transmission shifting problems and brake failures. It may require more frequent attention to maintenance and repairs than some buyers expect.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume: 11,311 complaints over 10 years (about 1,131 per year) and 145 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Owners describe hard or delayed transmission shifts, sudden loss of power, and electrical glitches. This suggests that while popular, the F-150 can have significant reliability concerns, especially in certain model years.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Lumina | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 67 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 33.5 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 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 Lumina
- 01POWER TRAIN13
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING12
- 03SERVICE BRAKES8
- 04HYDRAULIC8
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
Owners report transmission shifting issues, such as delayed or harsh shifts, and in some cases the car may not move when expected. One complaint mentions the transmission is programmed to shift at certain speeds, but as the car ages, shifts become less smooth. This can affect drivability and may lead to costly repairs.
There are reports of the engine dying while driving, such as at highway speeds, and then failing to restart immediately. This can be dangerous if it happens in traffic. The cause may be related to ignition or cooling system components, requiring diagnosis and repair.
Some owners experienced brake failure due to rusted backer plates, which can cause the parking brake to fail or reduce braking performance. This is a safety concern because it can lead to longer stopping distances or inability to hold the vehicle on a hill.
Complaints about hydraulic brake issues include malfunctioning antilock brakes that can cost over $800 to repair. If the ABS fails, the vehicle may not stop as expected in emergency situations, increasing crash risk.
“NUMEROUS THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG WITH MY 2001 MONTE CARLO. 5 OR 6 TIMES THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WHERE IT CONTINUALLY POPS OUT. I AM REALLY CONCERNED WHEN IT MIGHT EXPLODE W/O A CRASH OR IF THERE IS A DRIVER SIDE CRASH IF IT WILL COME…”
“HAD TO CHANGE BATTERY, THIS CAUSES THE ON BOARD COMPUTER TO RESET TO ORIGINAL SETTING. THE TRANSMISSION (4T65E) IS PROGRAMMED TO MAKE SHIFTS AT CERTAIN SPEEDS IN AN ALLOTTED TIME SPAN. BECAUSE NOW, THE CAR (2000 LUMINA) IS OLDER AND THE SHIFTS ARE A LITTLE LO…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and clunking from the 10-speed automatic transmission. In some cases, the truck loses power and shuts off while driving, which is a serious safety issue. These problems can appear at relatively low mileage and may require transmission repairs.
Electrical complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as strange noises from the transmission or rear suspension. These glitches can be annoying and may indicate underlying wiring or sensor problems that are hard to diagnose.
There are recalls and complaints about headlights, which may fail or not provide adequate illumination. Poor lighting can reduce visibility at night, making it harder to see the road and other vehicles.
Engine-related complaints are less frequent than transmission issues but still present. Some owners report engine problems that may cause stalling or reduced performance. Recalls exist for engine components, so buyers should check if recall work has been done.
“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 Lumina — 10 recalls
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE IS INCORRECTLY ROUTED BEHIND THE BRAKE PIPE BRACKET RESTRICTING BRAKE HOSE MOVEMENT THAT COULD CAUSE THE HOSE TO EITHER BE CUT BY THE BRACKET OR SEPARATED AT THE CALIPER.
The risk: IF THE HOSE BECOMES DISCONNECTED OR DAMAGED, THERE CAN BE A LOSS OF PRESSURE IN ONE HALF OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP MAY BE ON, THE PEDAL WILL BE LOWER THAN NORMAL, AND STOPPING DISTANCES WILL BE LONGER, INCREASING THE RISK…
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE AND CORRECTLY ROUTE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY.
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE CLAMP THAT SECURES THE FLEXIBLE FUEL FILL HOSE TO THE METAL FILL TUBE MAY BE LOOSE AND COULD SEPARATE.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE EXCEEDING THE PERMISSIBLE AMOUNT.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL HOSE FILL NECK CLAMP AND, IF NECESSARY, REPOSITION AND TIGHTEN THE CLAMP.
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
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 Lumina or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Lumina has far fewer complaints per year (about 33.5) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131). This means that, on average, a Lumina owner is less likely to report a problem. However, the F-150 is a different class of vehicle with many more units on the road, so the higher count is partly due to popularity. In practice, the Lumina may be simpler and less troublesome, but both have notable issues.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has a much higher annual complaint rate (1,131 vs. 33.5 for the Lumina), but it also sells in far greater numbers.
- Transmission problems are a major theme for the F-150, with reports of hard shifts and sudden power loss, while the Lumina's transmission issues are less severe but still present.
- The Lumina has brake-related complaints including rusted backer plates and ABS failures, whereas the F-150 has more electrical and lighting complaints.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, compared to 10 for the Lumina over 2 years, indicating more potential safety fixes.
- Check for transmission shifting quality: test drive at various speeds and listen for clunks or delayed engagement.
- Inspect brake system for rusted backer plates and ensure the parking brake holds; also test ABS function if possible.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: look for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between gears 4-5 and 5-6.
- Check for electrical gremlins: ensure all warning lights are off and that driver-assist features like pre-collision assist work properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if all recalls have been addressed.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission for both models, paying attention to shift quality and any stored codes.
- For the Lumina, check brake components for rust and proper operation, including the parking brake.
- For the F-150, test all electrical systems, including lights, cameras, and driver-assist features.
- Ask for maintenance records to see if regular servicing was done, especially transmission fluid changes.
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 Lumina or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Lumina vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Lumina total complaints
- 67
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chevrolet Lumina total recalls
- 10
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chevrolet Lumina avg complaints/year
- 33.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Lumina
- Chevrolet Lumina top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN