Head-to-head reliability
Chrysler PT Cruiser vs FORD F 150
How the Chrysler PT Cruiser 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 PT Cruiser vs FORD F 150: The PT Cruiser averaged 261.8 complaints per year with 25 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,162.1 complaints per year with 151 recalls. The PT Cruiser had 8 deaths and 219 injuries in crash-related complaints; the F-150 had 1 death and 297 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chrysler PT Cruiser or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a compact retro-styled car that averaged about 262 complaints per year over a decade, with 25 recalls. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins like stalling and burning smells, plus suspension and air bag problems. With 219 injuries and 8 deaths reported in crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averaged about 1,162 complaints per year over a decade, with 151 recalls. Power train issues dominate, especially transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, along with electrical and lighting problems. Despite 297 injuries and 1 death in crash-related complaints, the sheer volume of trucks on the road means many issues are widespread but not necessarily universal.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chrysler PT Cruiser | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,618 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 25 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 199 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 261.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 219 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 8 | 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 PT Cruiser
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM580
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING259
- 03SUSPENSION240
- 04AIR BAGS234
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING229
Owners report stalling while driving, often when slowing down, and burning smells with smoke from under the hood. These electrical faults can leave you stranded or lead to a fire, making them a serious safety concern.
Complaints include overheating and head gasket failures, sometimes noticed during cold weather. A failed head gasket can cause costly engine damage and may be preceded by coolant loss or white exhaust smoke.
Front lower control arm bushings fail on both sides, requiring complete control arm replacement. This can affect steering and handling, and owners often discover it while repairing other issues like a head gasket.
Owners report air bags not deploying in crashes, as well as air bag warning lights staying on. Non-deployment in a collision increases the risk of injury, and a persistent light means the system may be disabled.
“THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THEY MAY BE RELATED. STALLING WHILE DRIVING: THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS. FIRST TIME I WAS ON A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP SLOWING TO STOP. NOT SURE OF MY SPEED, BUT I NOTICED IT STALLED AS I WA…”
“I DROVE 15 MILES AN PULLED AT 55 MPH INTO OSKALOOSA IA REDUCED SPEED TO 35 DOWN TO 25 AN THOUGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE WIRES AN ANTIFREEZE ,BLACK SMOKE ROLLED OUT FROM UNDER NEATH MY HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE PUT IN PARK POPPED HOOD OPENED HOOD FLAMES…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Transmission problems are common, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues can happen daily and may lead to dangerous situations on the highway.
The lead frame issue also appears here, causing transmission malfunctions and limp mode. Additionally, rear window defroster shorts can cause the back window to shatter unexpectedly, posing a safety risk.
Complaints include rear window defroster shorts leading to shattered glass, which can happen without warning. This is a safety hazard and a costly repair if not addressed.
Lighting issues are frequently reported, though specific failure patterns are not detailed in the sample. Faulty lights can reduce visibility and may fail inspections, so check all lights regularly.
“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.
Chrysler PT Cruiser — 25 recalls
The defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS…
The risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE B…
The fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
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 EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L NON-TURBOCHARGED ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, POTENTIALLY DAMAGING THE HOSE.
The risk: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RELOCATE, OR REPLACE AS NECESSARY, THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND CONFIRM TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-85…
The defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS…
The risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE B…
The fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
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
Chrysler PT Cruiser or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chrysler PT Cruiser has far fewer complaints per year (about 262) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but the PT Cruiser's issues often involve stalling, air bag non-deployment, and suspension failures that can be immediately dangerous. The F-150's higher volume reflects its popularity, but its transmission and electrical problems can also be severe. In practice, the PT Cruiser may have fewer overall problems, but each one can be critical.
Key differences
- The PT Cruiser has about 262 complaints per year, while the F-150 has about 1,162 per year, but the F-150 is far more common on the road.
- PT Cruiser owners report stalling, burning smells, and air bag non-deployment; F-150 owners report transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and shattering rear windows.
- The PT Cruiser has 8 deaths and 219 injuries in crash-related complaints; the F-150 has 1 death and 297 injuries, though these numbers don't account for vehicle population.
- Both have electrical issues, but the PT Cruiser's can cause fires, while the F-150's can cause transmission failure and window shattering.
- Check for signs of electrical burning smells or smoke under the hood, and test drive at various speeds to see if it stalls when slowing down.
- Inspect front lower control arm bushings for cracks or wear, and ask if the head gasket has been replaced, as these are common failure points.
- Test drive the truck and pay attention to transmission shifting; if it goes into limp mode or gets stuck in 5th gear, that's a major red flag.
- Check the rear window defroster for proper function and look for any cracks or signs of shattering, as shorts can cause the glass to break.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to check for open recalls on both vehicles, especially the PT Cruiser's suspension and lighting recalls and the F-150's engine and air bag recalls.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission issues in the F-150 and stalling in the PT Cruiser.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the PT Cruiser's electrical system, suspension bushings, and air bag function, and the F-150's transmission, lead frame, and rear window defroster.
- Ask for maintenance records to see if common failures like head gaskets (PT Cruiser) or transmission repairs (F-150) have been addressed.
- Check the air bag warning light on the PT Cruiser and ensure it comes on and goes off as expected; a constant light could mean a disabled air bag.
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 PT Cruiser or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chrysler PT Cruiser vs FORD F 150
- Chrysler PT Cruiser total complaints
- 2,618
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Chrysler PT Cruiser total recalls
- 25
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Chrysler PT Cruiser avg complaints/year
- 261.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Chrysler PT Cruiser
- Chrysler PT Cruiser top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN