Head-to-head reliability
Chrysler Concorde vs FORD F 150
How the Chrysler Concorde 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
Chrysler Concorde vs FORD F 150: The Concorde averaged 116 complaints per year with 14 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,131 complaints per year with 145 recalls. Both have serious engine, transmission, and electrical issues reported by owners. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chrysler Concorde or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chrysler Concorde
The Chrysler Concorde is a full-size sedan that averaged about 116 complaints per year over five years, with 14 recalls. The most common complaint area is engine and engine cooling, where owners report stalling and losing power while driving. Steering and air bag issues also appear, including tie rod noise and unexpected air bag deployment. These patterns suggest that living with a Concorde may involve persistent mechanical and safety concerns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averaged over 1,100 complaints per year over ten years, with 145 recalls. Power train complaints dominate, especially transmission problems like hard shifts and sudden loss of power. Electrical system issues, such as false warnings and camera malfunctions, are also frequently reported. While the F-150 is popular, the high volume of complaints indicates that many owners experience significant reliability problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chrysler Concorde | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 578 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 115.6 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 32 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
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.
Chrysler Concorde
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING326
- 02STEERING38
- 03AIR BAGS37
- 04STRUCTURE37
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30
Owners report the engine shutting off while driving, often with the check engine light on and a loss of power. Some have needed a second engine after the first failed, which is a major expense and safety risk.
Complaints include clunking and grinding noises when turning, sometimes diagnosed as worn tie rods. If ignored, this can lead to steering failure and loss of control.
The air bag warning light may illuminate intermittently, and in at least one case the passenger air bag deployed without a crash. This is dangerous because it can startle the driver and cause an accident.
The trunk lid can silently slam shut while open, hitting owners on the head and causing bruises. This is a physical injury risk when loading or unloading the trunk.
“MY 2003 CONCORDE SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON 695 EXPRESSWAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I STARED TO LOSE POWER. ON 06/30/08 QUICKLY I PUT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED BACK UP AND CONTINUE TO WORK BUT WOULD NOT GO PASS 60 MPH. LUCKY FOR ME…”
“ON OUR SECOND ENGINE NOW. THE SECOND ENGINE IS NOW DOING THE SAME AS THE FIRST BEFORE IT QUIT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW ON AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO TELL ME WHY THE CAR KEEPS STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. WHEN IT ST…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and sudden loss of power, often related to the 10-speed automatic transmission. This can leave a driver stranded or cause a crash if it happens in traffic.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission, popping sounds from the rear suspension, and false warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These can distract the driver and may indicate deeper electrical faults.
This category captures miscellaneous issues that don't fit elsewhere, but the high count suggests many owners experience problems that are hard to diagnose or resolve.
There are over 1,100 complaints about exterior lighting, which could include headlights failing or flickering. Poor lighting reduces visibility and increases accident risk at night.
“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.
Chrysler Concorde — 14 recalls
The defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES…
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
The defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES…
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AN INTERNAL HOOD LATCH COMPONENT MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A CRACK, WHICH COULD PROPAGATE AND BREAK, ALLOWING THE PRIMARY/SECONDARY LATCH SPRING TO DISENGAGE.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY HOOD LATCH FUNCTION, ALLOWING THE HOOD TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE LATCH ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
The risk: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD C…
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
Chrysler Concorde or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chrysler Concorde has far fewer complaints per year (about 116) than the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), but both have serious safety-related issues. In practice, the Concorde's lower volume may mean fewer overall problems, but the F-150's higher count reflects its much larger sales volume. Buyers should weigh the specific failure patterns against their needs.
Key differences
- The Concorde's top complaint is engine stalling, while the F-150's is transmission problems like hard shifts and power loss.
- The F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, compared to the Concorde's 578 in 5 years, but the F-150 sells in much higher numbers.
- Air bag issues on the Concorde include unexpected deployment, while the F-150 has more electrical warnings and lighting complaints.
- The Concorde has 2 deaths and 32 injuries reported, while the F-150 has 1 death and 287 injuries, though these figures are not adjusted for vehicle population.
- Check for engine stalling or hesitation during a test drive, and ask for maintenance records related to the engine and check engine light.
- Inspect the tie rods and steering components for clunking or grinding noises when turning, and test the air bag warning light.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between gears 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8.
- Check for electrical warnings on the dashboard, such as camera or pre-collision assist messages, and inspect exterior lights for proper function.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine and transmission for the specific issues reported by owners.
- Test drive at various speeds and conditions to feel for transmission problems or engine stalling.
- Check all electrical systems, including lights, cameras, and warning messages.
- Verify that any safety recalls have been repaired, especially for air bags and lighting.
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 Chrysler Concorde or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chrysler Concorde vs FORD F 150
- Chrysler Concorde total complaints
- 578
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chrysler Concorde total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chrysler Concorde avg complaints/year
- 115.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Chrysler Concorde
- Chrysler Concorde top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN