Head-to-head reliability
FORD F 150 vs FORD Expedition
How the FORD F 150 and FORD Expedition compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
FORD F 150 vs FORD Expedition: The F-150 averages 1,162 complaints per year with 151 recalls, while the Expedition averages 219 complaints per year with 94 recalls. The F-150's top issues are power train and electrical, while the Expedition's include engine and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD F 150 or FORD Expedition more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a huge owner base, so it generates a lot of complaints—about 1,162 per year over the past decade. The most common trouble spots are the power train and electrical system, with many owners describing transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and repeated lead frame failures. There are also 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints, so a used F-150 needs a careful records check. Overall, it can be a workhorse, but expect to stay on top of transmission and electrical service.
FORD Expedition
The Ford Expedition is a large SUV with far fewer complaints than the F-150—about 219 per year—but its complaint pattern includes some serious issues. Power train and engine problems dominate, with owners reporting vibration, sudden loss of acceleration, and even engine fires in low-mileage examples. Brake and electrical complaints also appear, including brake failure and warning lights. With 94 recalls and 151 injuries reported, a used Expedition deserves a thorough safety and service history review.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD F 150 | FORD Expedition |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 11,621 | 2,193 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 151 | 94 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 330 | 64 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1162.1 | 219.3 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 297 | 151 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
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.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners frequently report transmission problems, including going into limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions. These issues can leave you stranded or create dangerous driving situations, so a pre-purchase transmission inspection is critical.
Many complaints involve the lead frame and output speed sensor failures, which can trigger limp mode and warning lights. Some owners also report rear window defroster shorts that caused the back window to shatter. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and expensive to trace.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting is a top concern—often related to failing bulbs, wiring, or housings. Poor lighting affects visibility and safety, especially at night, so check all lights and look for signs of water intrusion.
Engine complaints are less frequent than power train but still notable, with 880 reports. Issues can include rough running, stalling, or oil leaks. A used F-150 should have a compression test and a scan for stored engine codes.
“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…”
FORD Expedition
- 01POWER TRAIN826
- 02ENGINE374
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER265
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM258
- 05SEAT BELTS168
Owners report strong vibrations at highway speeds, sudden loss of acceleration as if in neutral, and unexpected deceleration. These symptoms can make highway driving difficult and may indicate transmission or driveline problems that need immediate attention.
Some owners describe engine fires in low-mileage vehicles, smoke entering the cabin, and engine restarts while driving due to software glitches. These are severe safety concerns, so any used Expedition should have a complete recall and service history check.
Complaints include brake failure with multiple warning lights, as well as trailer brake control issues. Brake-related electrical faults can be dangerous, so test the brakes thoroughly and scan for ABS and brake control module codes.
With 168 complaints, seat belt problems are more common than in many vehicles. Owners may report pretensioner or buckle issues that affect restraint performance. Inspect all seat belts for proper operation and look for recall notices.
“I purchased a new 2025 Ford Expedition Max. Since I left the dealer’s lot, the vehicle has had a strong vibration at any speed over 60 miles per hour, which makes highway driving and longer distance trips very challenging or impossible. Since I bought the veh…”
“Driving on highway, tried to accelerate, the car was acting like it was in neutral and would not accelerate. Checked to ensure I was not. the car began decelerating and I started to pull over. As I entered the brake down lane - the car automatically switched…”
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.
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…
FORD Expedition — 94 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Navigator and Expedition vehicles. The passenger side air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag to deploy with excessive force during a crash.
The risk: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S51.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of…
The risk: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expec…
The fix: The EBB module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of…
The risk: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expec…
The fix: Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 26, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD4. Vehicle Identi…
Buyer analysis
FORD F 150 or FORD Expedition: which should you buy?
The Ford Expedition has far fewer complaints per year—about 219 versus 1,162 for the F-150—so on paper it looks less troublesome. But the Expedition's complaints include severe issues like engine fires and brake failure, while the F-150's are more often transmission and electrical problems. In practice, the F-150 may need more frequent repairs, but the Expedition's problems can be more immediately dangerous.
Key differences
- The F-150 has about five times more complaints per year than the Expedition, mostly due to its larger sales volume and long-running power train and electrical issues.
- Expedition owners report severe safety events like engine fires and brake failure, while F-150 owners more often describe transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 94 for the Expedition, but the Expedition's recalls include critical items like brake software and engine oil/lubrication.
- Both vehicles have crash-related complaints and injuries, but the F-150 has one reported death, while the Expedition has none in the provided data.
- During a test drive, watch for the transmission suddenly downshifting, sticking in a gear, or entering limp mode—common signs of lead frame or output speed sensor failure.
- Check the rear window defroster operation and look for any cracks or signs of shattering, as some owners reported the back window exploding after defroster use.
- Test drive at highway speeds and feel for strong vibrations over 60 mph, which owners report as a persistent power train issue.
- Inspect for any signs of engine fire damage or smoke odor, and verify that all engine-related recalls have been performed, especially for oil/lubrication and software updates.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are completed, especially for the F-150's lead frame and the Expedition's brake and engine recalls.
- Have a mechanic scan for stored trouble codes in the transmission, engine, and ABS systems before purchase.
- Test drive both vehicles at highway speeds and in stop-and-go traffic to check for transmission hesitation, vibration, or brake issues.
- Inspect all lights, seat belts, and the rear window defroster for proper function, as these are common complaint areas.
- Ask for maintenance records showing regular transmission fluid changes and brake inspections, and budget for potential repairs.
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 | FORD F 150 | FORD Expedition |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 35 | 13 |
| 2025 | 345 | 36 |
| 2024 | 638 | 76 |
| 2023 | 1527 | 65 |
| 2022 | 3493 | 113 |
| 2021 | 5349 | 235 |
| 2020 | 44 | 419 |
| 2019 | 52 | 504 |
| 2018 | 79 | 375 |
| 2017 | 59 | 357 |
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 FORD F 150 or FORD Expedition in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD F 150 vs FORD Expedition
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- FORD Expedition total complaints
- 2,193
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- FORD Expedition total recalls
- 94
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- FORD Expedition avg complaints/year
- 219.3
- More reliable overall
- FORD Expedition
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD Expedition top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN