Head-to-head reliability
Ferrari 458 Italia vs FORD F 150
How the Ferrari 458 Italia 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 458 Italia vs FORD F 150: The Ferrari has only 6 complaints over 8 years (0.8/yr) with no crashes, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/yr) and 328 crashes. Ferrari issues are mainly airbag recalls and fuel filler problems; F-150 issues are transmission and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Ferrari 458 Italia or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Ferrari 458 Italia
The Ferrari 458 Italia is a high-performance exotic car that, in ownership terms, is a weekend or special-use vehicle. Its complaint history is very light, averaging less than one per year, and centers on airbag recalls and fuel system quirks rather than mechanical breakdowns. Owners report frustration with recall parts availability and fuel filler issues, but there are no crash, injury, or death reports. Overall, it appears to be a reliable exotic, though the fuel system and airbag recalls are worth attention.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a mass-market pickup truck, often used as a daily driver and workhorse. Its complaint volume is extremely high, averaging over 1,100 per year, with major issues in the powertrain, electrical system, and lighting. Owners report hard shifts, loss of power, and electrical glitches, and there are hundreds of crashes and injuries linked to these failures. This suggests that while the F-150 is popular, its reliability is a significant concern for buyers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Ferrari 458 Italia | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 6 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.8 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 458 Italia
- 01AIR BAGS3
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
- 03FUEL SYSTEM1
- 04GASOLINE1
- 05SERVICE BRAKES1
Owners report Takata airbag recalls where parts were unavailable for months, leaving them worried about safety in a crash. The passenger-side front airbag inflator is the specific component, and the recall process has been slow.
The fuel filler flapper does not close properly, causing fuel to leak out during spirited driving, which is a fire hazard. Owners also report being unable to add fuel at all, indicating a faulty fuel system component.
Recalls for hydraulic brakes suggest potential issues with brake performance, though no specific owner complaints are provided. This is a safety-critical area that buyers should verify has been addressed.
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FERRARI 458 ITALIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V341000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT…”
“FERRARI DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE URGENT SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG. I AM WORRIED FOR MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY FAMILY IN CASE OF A CRASH.”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard shifts, jerking, clunking, and even loss of power and vehicle shutdown. Owners report dangerous situations on crowded roads, making this a serious reliability and safety concern.
Electrical issues manifest as warning lights for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, appearing every time the truck is started. These glitches can disable safety features and are frustrating for owners.
Headlight-related recalls indicate potential lighting failures, which can reduce visibility and increase crash risk, especially at night. Owners may experience headlights that go out or are misaligned.
Engine-related recalls and complaints suggest possible stalling or power loss, though specific details are not provided. This is a critical area for a vehicle that is often used for towing and hauling.
“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 458 Italia — 14 recalls
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2010-2015 458 Italia, 2012-2015 458 Spider, 2014-2015 458 Speciale, 2015 458 Speciale Aperta, 2016-2019 488 GTB, and 488 Spider vehicles. The brake system may leak brake fluid, resulting in a loss of braking ability.
The risk: Loss of braking ability increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this rec…
The defect: Ferrari North America (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2014 Ferrari California, 2014-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 2014-2016 Ferrari FF, 2014-2017 Ferrari F12, 2015-2018 Ferrari California T, 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A, 2016 Ferrari F60 America, 2016-2017 Ferrari F12 tdf, 2016-2018 Ferrari 48…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-866-551-2828. Ferrari's number for this recall is…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2010-2015 458 Italia, 2012-2015 458 Spider, 2014-2015 458 Speciale, 2015 458 Speciale Aperta, 2016-2019 488 GTB, and 488 Spider vehicles. The brake system may leak brake fluid, resulting in a loss of braking ability.
The risk: Loss of braking ability increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this rec…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2009-2011 California and 2010-2011 458 Italia vehicles equipped with non-desiccated, passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Taka…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly with an alternate one, including a new non-ammonium nitrate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ferrari cust…
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 458 Italia or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Ferrari 458 Italia has far fewer issues per year (0.8) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a much lower likelihood of encountering problems. In practice, the Ferrari is a low-maintenance exotic, while the F-150 requires more frequent repairs and has a higher risk of safety-related failures.
Key differences
- The Ferrari has a tiny complaint count (6) over 8 years, while the F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years.
- Ferrari complaints are mostly about airbag recalls and fuel filler issues, not mechanical failures, whereas F-150 complaints are dominated by transmission and electrical problems.
- The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, while the Ferrari has none, indicating a higher safety risk in the F-150.
- The Ferrari's recalls are for airbags and brakes, but the F-150 has recalls for headlights, batteries, engine, and seats, covering more systems.
- Check that all airbag recalls have been completed, especially the Takata inflator, as parts were historically unavailable.
- Inspect the fuel filler flap for proper closure and test refueling to ensure no fuel leaks or blockage.
- Test drive the F-150 for hard shifts or jerking, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and listen for clunks.
- Check for warning lights on startup, such as front camera malfunction or pre-collision assist errors, which indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the Ferrari, verify all recalls are performed by a dealer and get documentation.
- For the Ferrari, have a mechanic inspect the fuel system, including the filler neck and flapper.
- For the F-150, research the transmission's service history and check for any TSBs or software updates.
- For the F-150, test all electrical features, including cameras and driver assistance systems, during a test drive.
- For both, check the vehicle's recall status on the NHTSA website 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 | Ferrari 458 Italia | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 43 |
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 458 Italia or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Ferrari 458 Italia vs FORD F 150
- Ferrari 458 Italia total complaints
- 6
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Ferrari 458 Italia total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Ferrari 458 Italia avg complaints/year
- 0.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Ferrari 458 Italia
- Ferrari 458 Italia top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN