Head-to-head reliability
Ferrari 456M vs FORD F 150
How the Ferrari 456M 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 456M vs FORD F 150: The 456M has 0 complaints and 0 recalls over 4 years, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls over 10 years. F-150 owners report hard shifts, power loss, and electrical warnings; the 456M has no NHTSA complaint text. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Ferrari 456M or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Ferrari 456M
The Ferrari 456M is a rare, low-volume grand tourer, and its NHTSA record shows zero complaints and zero recalls over four years. That absence of data doesn't prove it's trouble-free; it likely reflects very few owners reporting to NHTSA rather than a perfect car. For a buyer, living with a 456M means relying on specialist inspections and maintenance history, not government complaint counts.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls over ten years, averaging about 1,131 complaints per year. Owner reports cluster around the power train, electrical system, exterior lighting, and engine, with real symptoms like hard shifts, loss of power, and warning messages. The volume of reports means many trucks are on the road, but it also means common failure patterns are well documented.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Ferrari 456M | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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 456M
No component data available.
NHTSA has no owner complaints or recalls on record for the Ferrari 456M, so there is no data-backed failure pattern to describe. Buyers should treat this as missing information, not as proof of reliability.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power, often linked to the 10R80 automatic transmission. These symptoms can leave a driver stranded or cause a dangerous loss of momentum in traffic.
Complaints include loud bangs or popping sounds during downshifts and recurring dashboard warnings such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These electrical glitches can disable driver-assist features and point to deeper wiring or module issues.
The F-150 has a recall for headlights, and exterior lighting is one of the top complaint categories. Headlight failures or malfunctions matter because they directly affect nighttime visibility and being seen by other drivers.
Engine-related complaints appear among the top categories, and there are multiple engine recalls on record. While the sample complaint text does not detail specific engine symptoms, the volume of reports suggests buyers should check for rough running, stalling, or warning lights.
“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 456M
No recalls on record.
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 456M or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Ferrari 456M shows 0 complaints per year and 0 recalls, while the Ford F-150 shows about 1,131 complaints per year and 145 recalls. In practice, the F-150 has a far higher reported issue rate, but that is partly because many more are on the road. The 456M's clean record is not a guarantee of fewer problems; it simply means owners have not reported them to NHTSA.
Key differences
- The Ferrari 456M has 0 complaints and 0 recalls over 4 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls over 10 years.
- Ford F-150 owners report real power train symptoms like hard shifts, jerking, and sudden loss of power, often tied to the 10R80 transmission; the 456M has no such reports on file.
- The F-150 has documented electrical complaints including dashboard warnings and popping sounds during downshifts, plus a headlight recall; the 456M has no recall subjects listed.
- The F-150's 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries show that some reported issues have been linked to crashes, while the 456M has 0 crash-related reports.
- Because there are no NHTSA complaints or recalls, there are no data-backed red flags; instead, insist on a full mechanical inspection by a Ferrari specialist.
- Check for any signs of deferred maintenance, as the lack of reported issues may simply mean owners did not report them to NHTSA.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for hard or delayed shifts, jerking, or clunking from the transmission, especially between 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8 gears.
- Start the truck and check for recurring dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' and verify all exterior lights work.
Before you buy
- For the Ferrari 456M, obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a marque specialist and review all service records, since NHTSA data is absent.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for stored transmission and electrical fault codes and ask for any software updates or transmission repairs.
- On the F-150, test the headlights, camera, and pre-collision assist systems, and confirm any open recalls have been completed.
- On both vehicles, verify the VIN against NHTSA recall databases and ask the seller for a complete history report.
- Budget for a professional inspection on either vehicle before purchase, as complaint counts alone do not reveal a specific car's condition.
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 456M or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Ferrari 456M vs FORD F 150
- Ferrari 456M total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Ferrari 456M total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Ferrari 456M avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Ferrari 456M
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN