Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet SS vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet SS 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 SS vs FORD F 150: The SS has 99 complaints over 4 years (avg 24.8/yr) with steering issues dominating, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (avg 1,131.1/yr) with powertrain problems leading. The SS's recalls focus on steering and seat belts, whereas the F-150 has 145 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet SS or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet SS
The Chevrolet SS is a low-volume, high-performance sedan that, in ownership terms, is a niche vehicle with a small but vocal owner base. Its complaint record is dominated by steering issues, with 62 of 99 complaints, many describing a loss of power steering assist at random times, often linked to a recall for the power steering rack. Owners also report seat belt tensioner cable problems, which can trigger air bag warning lights and are the subject of a recall. While the total complaint count is low, the concentration in steering and safety-related components makes it a car to inspect carefully.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a mass-market pickup with a much larger sample, averaging over 1,100 complaints per year over a decade. The dominant issue is the powertrain, with over 3,500 complaints, many focusing on the 10-speed automatic transmission's hard shifts, jerks, and occasional loss of power. Electrical system complaints are also frequent, including camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions. With 145 recalls and a history of crash and injury reports, the F-150's reliability picture is more complex, but its high volume means many issues are well-documented and often addressed by recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet SS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 99 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 23 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 24.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 SS
- 01STEERING62
- 02SEAT BELTS13
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
- 04AIR BAGS7
- 05SUSPENSION5
Owners report a loss of power steering assist at random times, often due to a faulty steering rack. Some vehicles are not included in the recall, leaving owners with an unfixed safety risk.
The seat belt tensioner cable can abrade against trim and cut, potentially failing to restrain the driver in a crash. This also triggers air bag warning lights, and some owners have been unable to get parts for months.
Infotainment issues like the MyLink system's Bluetooth app control are reported, but more critically, water intrusion can cause failure of detection systems, as noted in a recall for similar models.
Air bag warning lights often stem from seat belt tensioner cable problems or faulty passenger seat sensors, which may disable air bags in a collision.
“Collapsed lifter on cyl 6. Lifter tick / knock since 100,200 miles. Car has a warranty until 5/2026 or 171,000 miles and they refuse to honor it. Car has a steering issue. Two separate chevy dealerships unable to fix. vanderevere charged me 500-600 to fix NOT…”
“I OWN A 2016 CHEVROLET SS SEDAN, THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING RACK DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT RANDOM TIMES DUE TO THEIR CHOICE TO CUT COSTS IN THE INITIAL ASSEMBLY. MY VIN IS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL, MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN DEC…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a major sore point, with owners describing hard and delayed shifts, clunks, and even sudden loss of power while driving, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Many owners see warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available on startup, which may disable safety features. Some also report loud bangs from the transmission area, possibly linked to electrical gremlins.
Headlight issues are common enough to be a top complaint area, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample, they likely involve failures or poor visibility.
Engine-related complaints are numerous, but the sample text does not specify exact issues; however, the high count suggests problems like stalling, misfires, or excessive oil consumption.
“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 SS — 23 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS and Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicles (PPV) that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 16V-518. The repair may not have been performed properly. The driver's seat belt tensioner cable may be repeatedly bent over the seat…
The risk: If the tensioner cable separates, the driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to determine whether the new seat trim was installed and replace the trim as necessary. Dealers will also inspect and replace the pretensioner cable assembly, as necessary. Repai…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles (PPV) and SS vehicles. Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
The risk: A greater steering effort would be needed to control the vehicle if power steering is lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N192285350.
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS vehicles that previously received an inspect-only remedy under recall 17V-382. Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
The risk: A greater steering effort would be needed to control the vehicle if power steering is lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 27, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS vehicles that previously received an inspect-only remedy under recall 17V-382. Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
The risk: A greater steering effort would be needed to control the vehicle if power steering is lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 27, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's…
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 SS or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet SS has far fewer complaints per year (about 25) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), but its issues are concentrated in safety-critical areas like steering and seat belts. The F-150's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the transmission problems are widespread and can be severe. In practice, the SS may be less troublesome overall, but its specific failures are more alarming.
Key differences
- The SS has a steering rack recall that can cause sudden loss of power steering, while the F-150's most critical issue is the 10-speed transmission's harsh shifting and power loss.
- Seat belt tensioner cable failures on the SS can affect air bag deployment, whereas the F-150's electrical issues often disable driver-assist features like pre-collision assist.
- The SS averages 24.8 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1, but the SS's complaints are more likely to be safety-related.
- The F-150 has a much higher number of recalls (145) and crash/injury reports, reflecting its larger population and longer production run.
- Check if the power steering rack recall has been performed; if not, be aware of the risk of sudden loss of steering assist.
- Inspect the seat belt tensioner cables for abrasion or damage, and verify that any related recall has been completed.
- Test drive the F-150 at various speeds to feel for hard shifts or clunks from the transmission, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears.
- Check for any warning lights related to the front camera or pre-collision assist, as these may indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the SS: verify that all recalls, especially the steering rack and seat belt tensioner, have been completed and get documentation.
- For the SS: have a mechanic inspect the steering system for any signs of wear or previous repairs.
- For the F-150: research the specific model year's transmission issues and check if any software updates or TSBs have been applied.
- For the F-150: test all driver-assist features to ensure they function properly, and check for any stored diagnostic trouble codes.
- For both: obtain a vehicle history report to see if any complaints or recalls are outstanding.
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 SS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 7 | 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 SS or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet SS vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet SS total complaints
- 99
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chevrolet SS total recalls
- 23
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chevrolet SS avg complaints/year
- 24.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet SS
- Chevrolet SS top complaint area
- STEERING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN