Head-to-head reliability
Ferrari 296 vs FORD F 150
How the Ferrari 296 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
Ferrari 296 vs FORD F 150: The Ferrari 296 has 0 complaints and 2 recalls over 5 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints, 151 recalls, and 330 crash-related reports over 10 years. Ford owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures; Ferrari's only pattern is fuel system recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Ferrari 296 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Ferrari 296
The Ferrari 296 is a low-volume exotic car, so it has very few owner complaints on file—zero over five years. That doesn't mean it's trouble-free; it means problems may not get reported to NHTSA the way they are for mass-market vehicles. The only official pattern is two recalls for fuel system hoses and lines, which could cause a fuel leak. Living with one means relying on the dealer network and recall notices rather than a large pool of owner reports.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with a huge number of owner complaints—over 11,600 in ten years, or about 1,162 per year. The most common trouble spots are the power train, electrical system, exterior lighting, and engine. Owners describe serious, recurring issues like transmissions stuck in limp mode, lead frame failures, and even a rear window shattering. With 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints, this is a vehicle where you need to check for open recalls and known failure patterns before buying.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Ferrari 296 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Ferrari 296
No component data available.
Two recalls cover fuel delivery hoses, lines, piping, and fittings. A fuel leak can be a fire risk, so buyers should confirm both recalls were performed and look for any fuel smell or stains.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report the transmission suddenly going into limp mode and getting stuck in 5th gear, often daily. The 'lead frame' issue is described as never-ending, with one owner saying it nearly ended their life. This can leave you stranded or cause a loss of power on the highway.
The same lead frame problem also shows up as an electrical complaint, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. A separate report says the rear window defroster shorted and caused the back window to explode outward. These are not just annoyances—they can affect safety and visibility.
This category includes the rear window shattering after the defroster was turned off. Owners report the glass exploded outward with no impact, which is a serious safety concern for anyone in the back seat.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting is a top problem area. While the sample text doesn't detail specific failures, the high count suggests owners frequently deal with lights that stop working, which matters for nighttime visibility and being seen by others.
“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.
Ferrari 296 — 2 recalls
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Ferrari 296 vehicles. The fuel tank connecting pipe may corrode due to unintended contact between the fuel tank connecting pipe and the high-voltage battery protection cover, potentially resulting in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will install a new fuel tank connecting pipe reinforced with a protective sleeve, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Ferrari 296 vehicles. The fuel tank connecting pipe may corrode due to unintended contact between the fuel tank connecting pipe and the high-voltage battery protection cover, potentially resulting in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will install a new fuel tank connecting pipe reinforced with a protective sleeve, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2…
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
Ferrari 296 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Ferrari 296 has far fewer reported issues per year—0 complaints per year versus about 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, that means the F-150 has a much larger, well-documented pattern of recurring problems like transmission limp mode and electrical faults, while the Ferrari's main known issue is a fuel system recall. However, the Ferrari's low complaint count may reflect lower sales and different reporting habits, not necessarily better reliability.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, while the Ferrari 296 has 0 complaints over 5 years—a massive gap in reported problems.
- Ford F-150 owners repeatedly describe transmission limp mode and lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions; the Ferrari 296 has no such owner reports, only two fuel system recalls.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints, including 297 injuries and 1 death; the Ferrari 296 has 2 recalls and no crash, injury, or death reports.
- The F-150's top complaint areas are power train, electrical, and exterior lighting, while the Ferrari's only official issue is fuel delivery hoses and lines.
- Check for any fuel smell or visible leaks around the fuel lines and hoses, and confirm both fuel system recalls were completed by a Ferrari dealer.
- Ask for the full recall history and any dealer service records, since there are no owner complaints to reveal common failure points.
- Test drive at highway speed and watch for the transmission suddenly downshifting, sticking in 5th gear, or entering limp mode—common signs of the lead frame or output speed sensor issue.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster operation; ask if the window has ever shattered or been replaced, and check for any electrical gremlins like lights that flicker or fail.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall site and confirm all open recalls are closed, especially the fuel system recalls on the Ferrari and the engine, seat belt, door latch, and airbag recalls on the Ford.
- For the Ford F-150, get a pre-purchase inspection that includes a transmission scan for stored codes like P0722 and a test of the lead frame and output speed sensor.
- For the Ferrari 296, have a Ferrari specialist inspect the fuel system for leaks and verify the recall work was done with genuine parts.
- Ask for a complete service history and any repair invoices, focusing on transmission, electrical, and fuel system work.
- Test all lights, the rear defroster, and the transmission in stop-and-go and highway driving before buying.
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 | Ferrari 296 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
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 296 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Ferrari 296 vs FORD F 150
- Ferrari 296 total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Ferrari 296 total recalls
- 2
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Ferrari 296 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Ferrari 296
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN