Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet T Series vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet T Series 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 T Series vs FORD F 150: The T Series has 5 complaints and 5 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls, including 328 crash-related reports. The T Series shows fewer reported issues, but the F-150 is far more common. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet T Series or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet T Series
The Chevrolet T Series is a medium-duty truck, often used as a tilt flatbed or road service vehicle, based on the sample complaint. Over 10 years, it has only 5 complaints and 5 recalls, with no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported. Owners report rust-related brake failures and transmission hesitation, but the low complaint volume suggests fewer reported issues overall.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls over 10 years, including 328 crash-related reports, 287 injuries, and 1 death. Owners frequently report transmission problems like hard shifts and loss of power, as well as electrical issues such as camera malfunctions. The high volume of complaints indicates many reported problems, though it's a popular vehicle with many units on the road.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet T Series | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.5 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 T Series
- 01POWER TRAIN2
- 02STRUCTURE2
- 03AIR BAGS1
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1
- 05FUEL SYSTEM1
Owners report hesitation when shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear and a knocking sound, with acceleration feeling sluggish, especially when pulling a trailer or boat. This could mean costly transmission repairs and reduced towing capability.
Water leaks into the truck behind the dashboard when the A/C is running, soaking the carpet and potentially damaging interior electrical wiring. This can lead to mold, electrical shorts, and expensive fixes.
Brake lines, hoses, rotors, and calipers fail due to rust and poor quality, requiring repeated replacements. This is a safety concern and a recurring maintenance expense.
A Takata airbag recall was reported, with owners told replacement parts were unavailable, leaving a potential safety risk unresolved. Buyers should confirm the recall was completed.
“MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT BRAKE PART FAILURES DUE TO RUST,AND POOR QUALITY I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES, BRAKE HOSES, ROTORS, & CALIPERS ON THIS UNIT. THIS IS A MEDIUM DUTY ROAD SERVICE TRUCK, OR TILT FLATBED. WHEN IT COMES TO POWER TRAIN ISSUES, I HAVE HAD…”
“HAVE NOTICED HESITATION WHEN XSMN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND ALSO A KNOCK. ONCE VEHICLE FINALLY GETS INTO HIGH EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE, BUT TAKES LONGER THAN NORMALLY EXPECTED TO ACCELERATE. PROBLEM GETS EVEN WORSE WHEN PULLING A SMALL TRAILER OR BOAT. *TR”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunks, and even sudden loss of power and vehicle shut-off, often with the 10R80 transmission. This can be dangerous and lead to expensive repairs.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission, popping sounds from the rear suspension, and warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These electrical glitches can affect safety features and be hard to diagnose.
Engine issues are among the top components, though specific sample complaints are not provided. Given the high complaint count, buyers should be aware of potential engine problems.
Exterior lighting, especially headlights, is a frequent complaint area. Faulty lighting can reduce visibility and may fail inspections.
“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 T Series — 5 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED SR-7 BENDIX BRAKE VALVES, THE CHECK VALVE INSIDE THE VALVE CAVITY MAY NOT PROPERLY SET, CAUSING INTERNAL AIR LEAKAGE. IF THE CHECK VALVE DOES NOT PROPERLY SEAT, THE RESULTING LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE A DELAY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES TO PARK THE VEHICLE AF…
The risk: THE DELAYED PARKING BRAKE APPLICATION CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING, LEADING TO UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VALVES AND REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
The defect: CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." AN INTERNAL CONTROL AND CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE AIR BRAKE APPLICATION VALVE ASSEMBLY WAS CONFIGURED IMPROPERLY, PREVENTING AIR FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AS DESIGNED.…
The risk: IF STOPPING DISTANCE WAS LIMITED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BRAKE APPLICATION VALVE ASSEMBLY ON C-SERIES OR REROUTE THE AIR BRAKE LINES ON T-SERIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9…
The defect: GM IS RECALLING 1,880 MODEL YEAR 2007 CHEVROLET KODIAK AND T-SERIES, GMC TOPKICK AND T-SERIES, AND ISUZU F-SERIES AND H-SERIES PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 7.8L DIESEL ENGINE. THE AIR COMPRESSOR IN SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BUILD ENOUGH AIR PRESSURE TO SUPPORT THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM. IF THIS…
The risk: IF THE DRIVER IGNORES THESE WARNINGS AND CONTINUES TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND IF THERE WAS A CONTINUED LOSS OF PRESSURE, THE REAR SPRING PARKING BRAKES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY APPLY, PREVENTING THE TRUCK FROM BEING DRIVEN.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR COMPRESSOR FOR ITS ABILITY TO BUILD AIR PRESSURE, AND EITHER MODIFY THE AIR COMPRESSOR BY ELIMINATION OF THE SUPPRESSION VALVE OR REPLACE THE AIR COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BE…
The defect: ON CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY CONVENTIONAL AND TILT CAB TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.8L DIESEL ENGINES AND AIR BRAKES, THE AIR COMPRESSOR MAY NOT BUILD ENOUGH AIR PRESSURE TO SUPPORT THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM.
The risk: IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (BRAKES APPLIED) THE AIR BRAKES WOULD REMAIN APPLIED AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE DUAL SYSTEM AIR…
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR COMPRESSOR HEAD. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 23, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
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 T Series or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet T Series has far fewer issues per year (0.5 complaints/year) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1 complaints/year). In practice, this means the T Series owner reports fewer problems, but the F-150's higher numbers may reflect its much larger sales volume. Both have recalls, but the F-150 has many more.
Key differences
- The Chevrolet T Series has 5 complaints and 5 recalls over 10 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls.
- Ford F-150 complaints include 328 crash-related reports, 287 injuries, and 1 death; the T Series has none reported.
- T Series owners report rust-related brake failures and transmission hesitation; F-150 owners report transmission jerking, loss of power, and electrical warnings.
- The T Series is a medium-duty truck (e.g., tilt flatbed), while the F-150 is a full-size pickup, so they serve different needs.
- Check brake lines, hoses, rotors, and calipers for rust or corrosion, as owners report premature failure.
- Test drive and listen for transmission hesitation or knocking when shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear, especially under load.
- During test drive, watch for hard or delayed shifts, jerking, or clunking from the transmission, and any sudden loss of power.
- Check for dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' and ensure all electrical features work.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are completed, especially the Takata airbag recall on the Chevrolet T Series and any Ford F-150 recalls.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection focusing on transmission, brakes, and electrical systems for both vehicles.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for stored trouble codes and test all driver-assist features.
- For the Chevrolet T Series, inspect undercarriage for rust and check for water leaks under the dashboard.
- Review the NHTSA complaint history for the specific model year you are considering.
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 T Series or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet T Series vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet T Series total complaints
- 5
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chevrolet T Series total recalls
- 5
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chevrolet T Series avg complaints/year
- 0.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet T Series
- Chevrolet T Series top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN