Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Hornet vs FORD F 150
How the Dodge Hornet 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
Dodge Hornet vs FORD F 150: The Hornet averages 16.7 complaints per year with 15 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1 complaints per year with 145 recalls. Hornet issues often involve electrical and collision avoidance systems; F-150 problems are mainly transmission and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Hornet or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Hornet
The Dodge Hornet is a compact SUV that has been on the road for about three years, with an average of 16.7 complaints per year. Owners frequently report electrical glitches, such as power steering failure and dashboard warnings, as well as issues with forward collision avoidance that can cause the car to brake unexpectedly. There are also complaints about back over prevention and brake performance. With 15 recalls in three years, it's a vehicle that may require frequent dealer visits.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a long history and a massive owner base, generating about 1,131 complaints per year over the past decade. The most common trouble spots are the power train—especially transmission shuddering, hard shifts, and loss of power—and the electrical system, including camera malfunctions and battery issues. Exterior lighting and engine problems also appear often. With 145 recalls and hundreds of crash-related complaints, it's a truck that demands careful maintenance.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Hornet | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 50 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.7 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.
Dodge Hornet
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE14
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 04BACK OVER PREVENTION6
- 05SERVICE BRAKES6
Owners report sudden power steering failure, multiple dashboard warnings (Service Power Steering, Drive Mode Unavailable), and dead batteries that affect heated mirrors and rear defrosters. These failures can happen shortly after purchase and may leave you without steering assist.
Sensors malfunction, causing warning lights or the car to slam on brakes when it thinks an obstacle is present. This unpredictable behavior can be dangerous in traffic and is a common complaint.
Some owners report that the rear camera or sensors fail, and recall repairs for back over prevention may be delayed due to parts unavailability. This can make parking and reversing riskier.
There are complaints of the brake pedal being depressed but the vehicle failing to stop as intended, sometimes rolling forward or backward. This is a serious safety concern that needs immediate attention.
“Date: April 1, 2026 Subject: FINAL NOTICE: Repeated Safety Failures and Demand for Buyback – 2024 Dodge Hornet (VIN: [XXX] ) To [XXX] Autoland, Management and Stellantis Customer Care, I am writing to formally document a persistent and life-threatening safe…”
“We Purchased the Dodge Hornet GT on 04/17/2024 drove it home and parked it. My Husband tried to drive it on 04/18/2024 and the steering failed and the dash board lit up with: Service Power steering, Drive mode unavailable, Park sense disabled, Service Engine,…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a frequent source of complaints: hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power while driving. These issues can strand you and may require costly repairs.
Owners report front camera malfunctions, pre-collision assist not available, and battery cable problems. These electrical gremlins can disable safety features and leave you with warning lights.
Headlight issues are common enough to be a top complaint category, with recalls for headlight problems. Poor lighting can reduce visibility and safety at night.
Engine-related complaints and recalls exist, though less frequent than transmission issues. Problems can include rough running or stalling, which may lead to expensive repairs.
“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.
Dodge Hornet — 15 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale and 2023-2024 Dodge Hornet plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The 12-volt battery positive cable and/or high voltage connector cable may not be tightened properly, which can overheat the electrical connections and result in a fi…
The risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and tighten the cable connections as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2023…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The pedestrian alert siren may be missing or disconnected and fail to alert pedestrians when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of F…
The risk: Failure to alert pedestrians when backing up increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rear pedestrian siren connection and, if necessary, secure and/or replace the connector or siren, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer se…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo Tonale vehicles. The maximum vehicle capacity weight value on the tire placard label is incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tir…
The risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will add an overlay label to the tire placard information, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this reca…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale and Dodge Hornet vehicles. The display module may not show the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software or replace the display as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 13, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's numbers for this r…
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
Dodge Hornet or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Dodge Hornet has far fewer complaints per year (16.7) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), but the Hornet's issues often involve critical safety systems like steering and brakes. The F-150's higher volume means more overall problems, but many are transmission-related and may be addressed with maintenance. In practice, the Hornet may have fewer visits but each could be more severe, while the F-150 may require more frequent attention.
Key differences
- The Dodge Hornet has 50 complaints over 3 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 over 10 years—far more per year.
- Hornet owners report electrical failures like power steering loss and forward collision braking; F-150 owners report transmission shuddering and loss of power.
- The Hornet has 15 recalls in 3 years; the F-150 has 145 recalls in 10 years, indicating ongoing issues.
- F-150 complaints include 287 injuries and 1 death, while Hornet has 0 injuries and 0 deaths in its data.
- Check for any signs of power steering failure or dashboard warnings like 'Service Power Steering'—test drive at low speeds and listen for unusual noises.
- Verify that the forward collision avoidance system works properly; look for warning lights and test the brakes in a safe area to ensure they respond correctly.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between gears 4-5 and 7-8; a smooth test drive is essential.
- Inspect the front camera and pre-collision assist system for malfunction warnings; ensure all electrical features like headlights and battery connections are functioning.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Take a lengthy test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission issues (F-150) or steering problems (Hornet).
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the electrical system and safety features.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and software updates on the Hornet.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed and get proof of repair before purchase.
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 | Dodge Hornet | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 329 |
| 2024 | 22 | 617 |
| 2023 | 26 | 1507 |
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 Dodge Hornet or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Hornet vs FORD F 150
- Dodge Hornet total complaints
- 50
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Dodge Hornet total recalls
- 15
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Dodge Hornet avg complaints/year
- 16.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Dodge Hornet
- Dodge Hornet top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN