Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet SSR vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet SSR 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 SSR vs FORD F 150: The SSR has 101 complaints over 4 years (25.3/yr) with 1 recall, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131.1/yr) with 145 recalls. SSR owners report door handle and electrical failures; F-150 owners report transmission hard shifts and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet SSR or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet SSR
The Chevrolet SSR is a niche retro-styled pickup with a low production volume, and its complaint history reflects a vehicle that can be finicky in daily use. Owners report a mix of electrical gremlins, structural issues with door handles, and engine cooling problems. While the total number of complaints is modest, the pattern suggests that certain components, especially door handles and electrical systems, may need attention as the vehicle ages.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume, mainstream pickup with a much larger complaint database, reflecting its popularity and long production run. The dominant issue is transmission performance, particularly hard shifts and jerking, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous. Electrical system complaints are also common, including camera and sensor malfunctions. The sheer number of recalls (145) indicates that the F-150 has had many safety-related campaigns over the years, but the high complaint volume also means many owners have experienced issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet SSR | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 101 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 25.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 5 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 SSR
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM29
- 02STRUCTURE21
- 03LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES20
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7
- 05POWER TRAIN6
Owners report the truck shutting off while driving and failing to restart, often linked to a plastic transmission cable that cracks from catalytic converter heat, and an underhood fuse block failure. This can leave you stranded and is a serious safety concern.
Door handles, especially on the passenger side, are prone to breaking, making it difficult or impossible to open the door from inside or outside. Owners mention a known TSB, indicating a recognized defect that may recur.
Inside door handles can break, forcing owners to exit through the window or use the key fob to unlock. This is a convenience and safety issue, especially in an emergency.
Catalytic converter failures are reported, often accompanied by a check engine light and unusual odors. This can be a costly repair and may affect emissions and performance.
“I BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVROLET SSR IN FEB.11, 2010 WAS A USED VEHICLE NO WARRANTY. TEST DRIVE WAS OK EVERYTHING WORKED AS EXPECTED. I STARTED NOTICING THAT I WAS GOING SLOWER THAN MOST CARS AROUND ME. I CHECKED WITH A FRIEND WHO DROVE BESIDE ME. IT WAS DETERMINED…”
“PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION CABLE BROKE. IT IS PLASTIC AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HEATS THE PLASTIC AND CRACKS IT. THE UNDERHOOD FUSE BLOCK WENT WHILE DRIVING. THE TRUCK SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER S…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is hard and delayed shifts, particularly in the 10-speed automatic transmission, with reports of jerking, clunking, and even loss of power while driving. This can be dangerous in traffic and may require transmission service or replacement.
Owners report warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which can disable safety features. These issues may be intermittent but are annoying and could affect driver assistance systems.
Headlight problems are common enough to be a top complaint area, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample. Given the recall on headlights, this is a known trouble spot.
Engine-related complaints are numerous, but the sample text focuses on transmission issues. However, the recall on engine components suggests potential reliability concerns that buyers should investigate.
“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 SSR — 1 recall
The defect: CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABELS LISTING AN INACCCURATE VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT.
The risk: A MISPRINTED LABEL COULD LEAD TO IMPROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC 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 SSR or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet SSR has far fewer complaints per year (25.3) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), but the SSR's issues are more likely to leave you stranded or unable to open a door. The F-150's transmission problems are widespread and can be severe, but the vehicle's popularity means more data and potentially more fixes. In practice, the SSR may be less troublesome overall, but its issues are more safety-critical.
Key differences
- The SSR has a much lower complaint rate (25.3/yr) than the F-150 (1,131.1/yr), but its issues are more likely to cause sudden breakdowns or lock you out.
- The F-150's dominant problem is transmission harshness and failure, which can be dangerous and expensive, while the SSR's main issues are door handles and electrical glitches.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls, indicating many safety campaigns, whereas the SSR has only 1 recall, suggesting fewer factory-recognized defects.
- The SSR's door handle failures are a known defect with a TSB, meaning you might face repeated repairs, while the F-150's transmission issues may require major work.
- Inspect the door handles (inside and out) for signs of weakness or breakage; test them multiple times.
- Check for any electrical issues like intermittent shutdowns or fuse block problems; have a mechanic scan for codes.
- Test drive at various speeds and listen for hard shifts or clunks, especially between 4th-6th gears; check for any warning lights.
- Verify that all camera and sensor systems (front camera, pre-collision) are functioning properly; ask for service records.
Before you buy
- For the SSR: Check door handles for smooth operation and ask if they've been replaced; inspect the transmission cable for heat damage.
- For the F-150: Get a transmission fluid analysis and check for any pending recalls; test all driver assistance features.
- For both: Obtain a vehicle history report to see if recalls were addressed and if there are repeated complaints.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
- Consider an extended warranty if buying either vehicle, given the potential for costly repairs.
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 SSR or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet SSR vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet SSR total complaints
- 101
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chevrolet SSR total recalls
- 1
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chevrolet SSR avg complaints/year
- 25.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet SSR
- Chevrolet SSR top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN