Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Tracker vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet Tracker 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 Tracker vs FORD F 150: The Tracker averaged 38.6 complaints per year with 0 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,162.1 complaints per year with 151 recalls. Tracker issues often involve rust and suspension, while F-150 issues are more about power train and electrical systems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Tracker or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Tracker
The Chevrolet Tracker is a small SUV that, based on owner complaints, can suffer from serious rust and suspension problems as it ages. Over 10 years, it averaged about 39 complaints per year, with no recalls on record. The most common issues involve the suspension and structure, often due to corrosion. This suggests that living with a Tracker means being vigilant about rust, especially in older models.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that, according to owner complaints, can have a range of issues, especially with the power train and electrical system. It averaged about 1,162 complaints per year over 10 years, with 151 recalls. Many complaints involve transmission problems and electrical glitches. This indicates that while popular, the F-150 may require more frequent attention to certain systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Tracker | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 386 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 63 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 38.6 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 58 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 Tracker
- 01SUSPENSION93
- 02STRUCTURE70
- 03AIR BAGS43
- 04SERVICE BRAKES41
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING39
Owners report the front crossmember rusting and breaking, causing the lower control arm to disconnect and leading to uncontrollable shaking. This is a critical safety issue that can make the vehicle undrivable.
Complaints describe the front suspension crossmember corroding and cracking in half, often making the car not drivable. This rust-related failure is a common and dangerous problem.
Some owners report air bag issues, such as the driver side airbag popping out repeatedly or deploying unexpectedly. This raises concerns about air bag reliability in a crash.
Owners mention brake lines and other undercarriage components rotting, leading to brake failure. Corroded brake dust shields that are obsolete can also be a problem.
“2001 CHEVY TRACKER WITH RUSTED FRONT CROSS MEMBER. THE CROSS MEMBER RUSTED AND BROKE LEAVING THE LOWER A ARM DISCONNECT FROM THE FRAME ON ONE END. THIS CAUSES AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKE AND TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHW…”
“MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IS RUSTED TO THE POINT THE IT WILL SNAP OFF. WHEN I MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN OR GO OVER BUMPS I CAN HEAR CRACKING NOISES. CONTACTED CHEVY (GM) WAS ADVISED THAT I AM 4 YEARS TOO LATE IN CONTACTING THE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission problems, such as the truck going into limp mode and getting stuck in 5th gear, or lead frame issues causing sudden downshifts. These can lead to loss of power and near collisions.
Complaints include lead frame issues affecting the transmission and rear window defroster shorts causing the back window to shatter. Electrical glitches can be unpredictable and costly.
Some owners report unusual issues like the rear window exploding due to a defroster short. These are rare but alarming.
While not detailed in the sample, exterior lighting complaints are among the top components, suggesting issues with lights that could affect visibility and safety.
“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 Tracker
No recalls on record.
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 Tracker or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Tracker has far fewer complaints per year (about 39) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but the Tracker's complaints often involve severe rust and suspension failures that can be life-threatening. The F-150 has more frequent issues, but many are addressed through recalls. In practice, the Tracker may be more prone to catastrophic rust, while the F-150 may require more ongoing repairs.
Key differences
- The Tracker has no recalls on record, while the F-150 has 151 recalls, indicating more manufacturer attention to safety defects.
- Tracker complaints often involve rust-related suspension and structure failures, which can be catastrophic, whereas F-150 complaints frequently involve transmission and electrical problems that may be repairable.
- The F-150 has a much higher complaint rate per year, but many issues are covered by recalls, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs.
- The Tracker's air bag complaints include unexpected deployment or popping out, while the F-150's air bag recalls are for inflator modules, suggesting different safety concerns.
- Check the front suspension crossmember for rust or cracks, as owners report it can break and cause loss of control.
- Inspect brake lines and undercarriage for corrosion, as rotted brake lines can lead to brake failure.
- Test drive and check for transmission shuddering, harsh shifting, or limp mode, especially in 2017 models with the 6-speed automatic.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and look for any signs of electrical shorts, as some owners report the window shattering.
Before you buy
- For the Tracker, have a mechanic inspect the frame and suspension for rust, especially if the vehicle has been in a salt-belt state.
- For the F-150, check for open recalls by VIN and ensure any transmission-related recalls have been performed.
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if the Tracker has been in a rust-prone area or if the F-150 has had transmission repairs.
- Test drive the F-150 extensively, including highway speeds, to check for transmission issues like limp mode or rough shifting.
- For both vehicles, ask for maintenance records and consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.
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 Tracker | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 2019 | 0 | 52 |
| 2018 | 0 | 79 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Tracker or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Tracker vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Tracker total complaints
- 386
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Chevrolet Tracker total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Chevrolet Tracker avg complaints/year
- 38.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Tracker
- Chevrolet Tracker top complaint area
- SUSPENSION
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN