Head-to-head reliability
Ferrari 360 vs FORD F 150
How the Ferrari 360 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 360 vs FORD F 150: The Ferrari has 8 complaints over 6 years (1.3/yr) and 1 recall, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1131.1/yr) and 145 recalls. Ferrari issues include engine power loss and electrical fires; F-150 issues are dominated by transmission failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Ferrari 360 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Ferrari 360
The Ferrari 360 is a high-performance exotic car that, in ownership terms, is a weekend or special-occasion vehicle. The complaint pattern shows a mix of serious engine and electrical issues, including a fire risk from a battery wiring harness and a fuel leak that was addressed by a recall. Owners also report sudden power loss and violent bucking, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous in traffic. Overall, it's a car that demands careful maintenance and attention to known trouble spots.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup truck used for daily driving, work, and towing. The complaint pattern is dominated by transmission problems, especially hard shifting and sudden power loss, which can be dangerous in traffic. Electrical issues, such as camera and sensor malfunctions, are also common. With a high volume of complaints and many recalls, the F-150 shows a pattern of recurring issues that owners must deal with, though the sheer number of vehicles on the road means many are trouble-free.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Ferrari 360 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 8 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.3 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.
Ferrari 360
- 01ENGINE3
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- 03FUEL SYSTEM2
- 04GASOLINE2
- 05STRUCTURE1
Owners report smoke coming from the rear while driving, and a false temperature sensor that triggers a 'slow down' mode, cutting power from 8 to 4 cylinders, which can be dangerous when passing.
There are reports of violent bucking and lurching in first gear, and a battery wiring harness overheating and causing a fire in the passenger footwell, which is a serious safety risk.
Fuel lines have leaked into the trunk and onto the muffler, creating a fire hazard. This issue was addressed by a recall, but it indicates a design flaw that could recur.
“ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON, I WAS GOING FOR A DRIVE ON THE 605 FREEWAY. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER ON THE FREEWAY, I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY TO HEAD TOWARDS THE BEACH. WHILE I WAS STUCK ON A RED LIGHT I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE REAR OF MY FERRARI. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIA…”
“WHILE PASSING A TRUCK ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY APPARENTLY THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR FALSELY EXECUTED A "SLOW DOWN" MODE THAT REDUCED 8 CYLINDERS TO 4 DEPOWERING THE CAR AND NEARLY GETTING ME KILLED AS I COULD NOT COMPLETE THE PASS. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND DEALE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is hard and delayed shifts, especially in the 10-speed automatic, with reports of jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power and vehicle shutdown, which is dangerous in traffic.
Owners report various electrical gremlins, including warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which can be distracting and may indicate underlying sensor issues.
There are numerous complaints about headlights, likely involving poor visibility or failure, which can compromise nighttime driving safety.
“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 360 — 1 recall
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE GROUND STRAP WAS MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPROPER "CRIMPING" OF THE GROUND STRAP CONNECTORS TO THE BRAIDED GROUND STRAP, THE ENGINE GROUND STRAP MAY NOT PROVIDE THE PROPER ELECTRICAL GROUND BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE CHASSIS.
The risk: IF THE STRAP FAILS TO PROVIDE THE PROPER GROUND TO THE CHASSIS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL SEEK A GROUND AT THE IGNITION COIL. THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION COIL GROUND CABLE COULD OVERHEAT AND COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP. IF THE ENGINE STOPPE…
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE EXISTING ENGINE GROUND STRAP AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STRAP WITH A NEW ONE WHICH HAS THE PROPER CONNECTOR CRIMPING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEA…
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
Ferrari 360 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Ferrari 360 has far fewer complaints per year (1.3) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), but the nature of the issues is different. The Ferrari's problems are typical of an exotic car with low volume, while the F-150's high complaint count reflects its massive sales and widespread transmission issues. In practice, the F-150's transmission problems are more likely to affect a buyer, but the Ferrari's fire risk is a serious concern.
Key differences
- The Ferrari 360 has a much lower complaint rate (1.3 per year) than the F-150 (1131.1 per year), but its issues include a fire risk from electrical and fuel system problems.
- The F-150's most common issue is transmission hard shifting and power loss, which can be dangerous in traffic, while the Ferrari's engine and electrical issues are more sporadic but severe.
- The Ferrari has only 1 recall, while the F-150 has 145 recalls, indicating a higher frequency of factory-acknowledged defects in the truck.
- The F-150 has a higher rate of crashes (328) and injuries (287) reported, but that is partly due to its much larger population on the road.
- Inspect the battery wiring harness and fuse block for signs of overheating or melting, as this has caused fires in the passenger footwell.
- Check for any fuel odor or leaks in the trunk area, and verify that the fuel line recall repair has been performed.
- Test drive the truck and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, for any hard jerks or clunks.
- Check if the truck has any outstanding recalls, especially those related to the transmission or electrical system, and ensure they have been addressed.
Before you buy
- For the Ferrari 360, obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a specialist who can check the engine, electrical system, and fuel lines for known issues.
- For the Ford F-150, review the vehicle's recall history and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially those for the transmission and electrical system.
- Ask for maintenance records for both vehicles to see if the Ferrari has had regular servicing and if the F-150 has had any transmission repairs.
- For the F-150, test drive at various speeds and conditions to feel for transmission hesitation or harsh shifts.
- For the Ferrari, check the condition of the battery and wiring, and look for any signs of previous fire damage or repairs.
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 360 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Ferrari 360 vs FORD F 150
- Ferrari 360 total complaints
- 8
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Ferrari 360 total recalls
- 1
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Ferrari 360 avg complaints/year
- 1.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Ferrari 360
- Ferrari 360 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN