Head-to-head reliability

Ferrari 12cilindri vs FORD F 150

How the Ferrari 12cilindri and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Ferrari 12cilindri0 complaints · 2 recalls Fewer issues per year
FORD F 15011,311 complaints · 145 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Ferrari 12cilindri vs FORD F 150: The Ferrari has 0 complaints over 2 years, while the F-150 averages 1,131 per year, with 3,553 powertrain complaints. The F-150 also has 145 recalls, including transmission and electrical issues. Ferrari's only recalls are for glass visibility. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The picture

Is the Ferrari 12cilindri or FORD F 150 more reliable?

A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.

Ferrari 12cilindri

The Ferrari 12cilindri is a low-volume exotic with a clean complaint record over its first two model years. With zero owner complaints on file, there is no documented pattern of mechanical or electrical failures to warn against. Its two recalls address side/rear glass visibility, which is a minor concern compared to powertrain or safety issues. For a buyer, this suggests a car that is either very reliable or too new for issues to surface, but the lack of data means you're relying on the brand's reputation rather than real-world evidence.

FORD F 150

The Ford F-150 is a high-volume workhorse with a decade of data showing frequent issues, averaging over 1,100 complaints per year. The dominant problem is the powertrain, specifically the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as hard shifting, jerking, and occasionally losing power. Electrical system complaints are also common, including camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions. With 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, this truck demands careful inspection and a service history review before purchase.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryFerrari 12cilindriFORD F 150
Total complaintsAll model years combined0 Better11,311
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns2 Better145
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints0 Better328
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years0.0 Better1131.1
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better287
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better1

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.

Ferrari 12cilindri

No component data available.

What these mean
Visibility (side/rear glass)

The only documented issues are two recalls for side/rear glass visibility. Owners may experience reduced visibility or glass defects, but no specific failure symptoms are reported. This is a minor concern compared to mechanical failures.

FORD F 150

  1. 01POWER TRAIN3,553
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
  4. 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
  5. 05ENGINE847
What these mean
Powertrain

Owners report hard and delayed shifts, especially between 7th-8th and 4th-5th gears, with jerking, clunking, and occasional loss of power. Some describe the transmission shutting off the vehicle while driving, which is a serious safety risk.

Electrical System

Common complaints include dashboard warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, appearing every time the truck starts. Some also report loud bangs from the transmission accompanied by popping sounds from the rear suspension, which may be electrical or sensor-related.

Exterior Lighting

With over 1,100 complaints, headlight issues are frequent. Owners likely experience headlight failures or poor visibility, which can be a safety hazard at night.

Engine

Engine-related complaints are less frequent but still notable. Specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample, but they may include stalling, misfires, or other performance issues.

In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

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.

Ferrari 12cilindri — 2 recalls

Visibility — Glass, Side/Rear
#26V152000

The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2025-2026 12Cilindri vehicles. The rear and side windows have less than 70% light transmittance which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…

The risk: Windows with insufficient light transmittance can impair the driver’s visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Ferrari will replace the black rear and side windows, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 1, 2026. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. The manufacturer's number for this recall is RC 95.

Visibility — Glass, Side/Rear
#26V152000

The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2025-2026 12Cilindri vehicles. The rear and side windows have less than 70% light transmittance which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…

The risk: Windows with insufficient light transmittance can impair the driver’s visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Ferrari will replace the black rear and side windows, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 1, 2026. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. The manufacturer's number for this recall is RC 95.

FORD F 150 — 145 recalls

Exterior Lighting — Headlights
#20V097000

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.

Electrical System — 12v/24v/48v Battery — Cables
#19V805000Dec 2019

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…

Engine
#18V894000

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…

Seats — Front Assembly — Recliner
#19V633000

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

Ferrari 12cilindri or FORD F 150: which should you buy?

The Ferrari 12cilindri has far fewer issues per year (0 complaints vs. 1,131 for the F-150), making it the more reliable choice on paper. However, the F-150's high volume and decade of data reveal real, safety-relevant transmission and electrical problems that a buyer must address. In practice, the Ferrari offers peace of mind but with limited real-world data, while the F-150 requires thorough inspection and a service history check.

Recommendation. If you prioritize a trouble-free ownership experience and can afford the exotic maintenance costs, choose the Ferrari 12cilindri. If you need a practical truck and are willing to invest in a pre-purchase inspection and potential transmission repairs, the F-150 can still be a good value, but only if you verify its transmission and electrical systems are in good shape.

Key differences

  • The Ferrari has zero owner complaints, while the F-150 averages over 1,100 per year, with powertrain issues dominating.
  • F-150 owners report dangerous transmission failures, including loss of power and hard jerks, which are absent in Ferrari data.
  • F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, including headlights and engine issues, whereas Ferrari has only 2 recalls for glass visibility.
  • Electrical system problems in the F-150, like camera malfunctions, are common, but Ferrari shows no such issues.
Watch on Ferrari 12cilindri
  • Inspect the side and rear glass for any signs of defects or poor visibility, as two recalls were issued for this area.
Watch on FORD F 150
  • Test drive the F-150 and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears, for any jerking or clunking.
  • Check for dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' on startup, and ensure the electrical system is fully functional.

Before you buy

  • For the Ferrari: verify that both glass-related recalls have been performed by a dealer.
  • For the F-150: obtain a full service history and check for any transmission-related repairs or software updates.
  • For the F-150: have a trusted mechanic inspect the transmission and electrical system, including the camera and sensors.
  • For the F-150: check for any open recalls and ensure they are completed before purchase.
  • For both: consider a professional pre-purchase inspection to identify any hidden issues.

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.

YearFerrari 12cilindriFORD F 150
2026024
20250329
Years to scrutinize: the 2021 FORD F 150 drew the most (5,234). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Ferrari 12cilindri or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Ferrari 12cilindri vs FORD F 150 — comparison facts
Comparison
Ferrari 12cilindri vs FORD F 150
Ferrari 12cilindri total complaints
0
FORD F 150 total complaints
11,311
Ferrari 12cilindri total recalls
2
FORD F 150 total recalls
145
Ferrari 12cilindri avg complaints/year
0.0
FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
1131.1
More reliable overall
Ferrari 12cilindri
FORD F 150 top complaint area
POWER TRAIN