Head-to-head reliability
FIAT 500X vs FORD F 150
How the FIAT 500X 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
FIAT 500X vs FORD F 150: The 500X averages 23.4 complaints per year over 8 years, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1 per year over 10 years. The 500X's top issues are engine shutdowns and electrical failures, whereas the F-150's are transmission harshness and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FIAT 500X or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FIAT 500X
The FIAT 500X, a subcompact crossover, shows a reliability pattern dominated by engine, electrical, and powertrain complaints. Owners report sudden shutdowns, transmission shifting into neutral, and electrical failures often linked to water intrusion. With an average of 23.4 complaints per year over eight years, it presents a moderate but concerning issue rate for a used car buyer.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a full-size pickup, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging 1,131.1 per year over ten years, reflecting its popularity and widespread use. The top issues are powertrain (especially transmission harsh shifting and failures), electrical system glitches, and exterior lighting problems. While the sheer number is large, it's important to consider the vehicle's market share and the nature of the reported failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FIAT 500X | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 187 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 23.4 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 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.
FIAT 500X
- 01ENGINE65
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM59
- 03POWER TRAIN56
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER36
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING14
Owners report the engine abruptly shutting off while driving, sometimes without electrical power loss, and emissions recall repairs that leave parts on backorder for extended periods. This can lead to unexpected stalls in traffic and prolonged inconvenience.
Water leaks into the body frame can cause electrical failures, including brake and transmission lock-ups with flashing dashboard lights. This suggests potential corrosion and wiring issues that are difficult and costly to trace.
The transmission can unexpectedly shift from Drive to Neutral, causing a loss of acceleration, and some owners report hard shifts or jerking when starting. These issues compromise drivability and safety.
“I am writing to you in regard to my 2016 FIAT 500X about multiple concerns. 1. There has been an open recall on the Emissions system since 2022. I immediately followed up and was put on a waitlist as I was told that the parts were on back order. I was told I…”
“MY VEHICLE HAS ABRUPTLY SHUT OFF ON MY TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME, I HAD JUST MADE A TURN FROM A BUSY INTERSECTION NEAR MY HOME WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THOUGH THE CAR STOPPED MOVING, NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF WOULD SHUT OFF. I HAD TO DISCONN…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a frequent source of complaints, with hard and delayed shifts, jerking, and occasional loss of power or vehicle shutdown. These issues can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
Owners report warning messages for front camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions appearing on startup, indicating sensor or software problems. Additionally, some electrical issues are linked to transmission noises and suspension pops, suggesting broader system integration concerns.
Headlight-related recalls and complaints point to potential failures in lighting systems, which can reduce visibility and increase accident risk, especially at night.
“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.
FIAT 500X — 10 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X vehicles. The right rear brake caliper could have been fractured during the casting process.
The risk: A cracked right rear brake caliper can fail, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the right rear brake calipers, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's nu…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.
The risk: A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 82B.
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.
The risk: A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 82B.
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.
The risk: A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 82B.
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
FIAT 500X or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The FIAT 500X has far fewer complaints per year (23.4) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), but the F-150's numbers are inflated by its massive sales volume. In practice, the 500X's issues are more concentrated in engine and electrical failures that can leave you stranded, while the F-150's transmission problems are more common but often less catastrophic. Neither is trouble-free, but the 500X's lower complaint rate suggests a lower probability of encountering a major issue.
Key differences
- The F-150 has a much higher complaint volume, but it's also one of the best-selling vehicles in the U.S., so the rate per vehicle is lower than it appears.
- The 500X's engine shutdowns and electrical failures from water intrusion are potentially more dangerous than the F-150's transmission harshness.
- The F-150's transmission issues (hard shifts, jerks) are more predictable and often covered by extended warranties, while the 500X's electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to fix.
- The 500X has fewer recalls (10 vs 145), but its recall subjects include air bags and brakes, which are critical safety systems.
- Check for any signs of water leaks in the cabin or under the carpet, as water intrusion into the body frame can cause electrical failures.
- Ask about the status of the emissions recall repair; parts have been on backorder, and incomplete repairs may lead to engine issues.
- Test drive the F-150 through various speeds and gears to feel for hard shifts or jerks, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears.
- Check if the front camera and pre-collision assist warnings appear on startup; if so, have the system inspected.
Before you buy
- For the FIAT 500X, have a mechanic inspect the engine and electrical system for any signs of stalling or water damage.
- For the Ford F-150, review the transmission service history and consider a diagnostic scan for transmission codes.
- Check both vehicles' recall completion status using the VIN on the NHTSA website.
- Ask for a detailed service record, especially for any previous repairs related to the top complaint areas.
- Take each vehicle for an extended test drive, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to replicate common failure conditions.
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 | FIAT 500X | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 2 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 2 | 33 |
| 2019 | 3 | 36 |
| 2018 | 11 | 56 |
| 2017 | 15 | 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 FIAT 500X or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FIAT 500X vs FORD F 150
- FIAT 500X total complaints
- 187
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- FIAT 500X total recalls
- 10
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- FIAT 500X avg complaints/year
- 23.4
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- FIAT 500X
- FIAT 500X top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN