Head-to-head reliability
FORD ZX2 vs FORD F 150
How the FORD ZX2 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
FORD ZX2 vs FORD F 150: The ZX2 averaged 36.5 complaints per year with 0 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,162 complaints per year with 151 recalls. The ZX2's issues include spark plugs blowing out and suspension breaks; the F-150's include transmission limp mode and rear window shattering. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD ZX2 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD ZX2
The Ford ZX2 is a compact two-door coupe that averaged about 36.5 owner complaints per year over four years, with no recalls on record. The most common trouble spots are the power train, engine cooling, electrical system, suspension, and brakes. Owners describe issues like ignition switches failing, suspension parts breaking with a loud bang, and engines blowing spark plugs. It is a simple, older car, but the lack of recalls means fixes are often on the owner's dime.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that generated about 1,162 complaints per year over ten years, plus 151 recalls. The biggest complaint areas are the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Owners report serious problems like transmissions stuck in limp mode, lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions, and rear windows shattering. With so many vehicles on the road, the volume of complaints is high, but the rate per truck is lower than the ZX2's.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD ZX2 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 146 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 36.5 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 18 Better | 297 |
| 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.
FORD ZX2
- 01POWER TRAIN31
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING25
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18
- 04SUSPENSION17
- 05SERVICE BRAKES14
Owners report fuel gauges that do not register a full tank and transmissions that fail to engage when shifting from park to reverse. These issues can leave you stranded or cause unexpected movement, so a thorough test drive and fuel gauge check are essential.
Complaints include spark plugs blowing out of the engine with a loud bang, followed by gas and burning smells. This can lead to expensive repairs and possible engine damage, making a pre-purchase inspection of the spark plug torque critical.
The ignition switch has been replaced multiple times on some cars, with owners reporting the key would not turn. This can prevent the car from starting or cause electrical accessories to fail, so check for any signs of repeated switch replacement.
Owners describe a loud bang followed by the car stopping and leaning to one side, indicating a suspension component broke. This is a serious safety concern because it can happen without warning, so inspect the suspension for cracks or prior repairs.
“I HAVE AN EDDIE BAUER EDITION EXPEDITION (2003) . THIS UNIT CAME WITH OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS THAT TILT DOWN AND INWARD WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO ASSIST YOU IN BACKING UP. THE ISSUE I HAVE HAD SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IS THAT THE MIRRORS DO NOT R…”
“I PURCHASED THE 2003 EXPLORER IN NOV 2003. ON 6/16/04, 8/17/04,AND FINALLY ON 8/20/04, I COMPLAINED REGARDING THE FUEL GUAGE NOT REGISTERING A FULL TANK. FORD FINALLY REPLACED FUEL TANK. ON DEC 10, 2004, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN BECAUSE WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO RE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report the truck going into limp mode and getting stuck in 5th gear, often due to a lead frame or output speed sensor failure. This can happen on the highway and nearly cause collisions, so a transmission scan and test drive are must-dos.
The same lead frame issue can also cause electrical symptoms, and some owners report rear window defroster shorts that make the back window explode outward. These faults can be dangerous and costly, so check for recall work and inspect the rear window.
Complaints about the rear window shattering after using the defroster are common, with no impact needed. This can injure passengers and require immediate replacement, so test the defroster and look for any cracks or prior replacements.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint area, though specific failure details are not in the sample text. Lighting failures can reduce visibility and increase crash risk, so check all lights, including brake and turn signals, before buying.
“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…”
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 ZX2
No recalls on record.
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…
Buyer analysis
FORD ZX2 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Ford ZX2 has far fewer complaints per year (about 36.5) than the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but the F-150 was sold in much higher numbers. In practice, the ZX2's issues are more likely to leave you stranded with basic breakdowns, while the F-150's problems can be more complex and safety-related, such as transmission limp mode. Neither is trouble-free, but the ZX2's lower annual complaint count suggests fewer owners are reporting problems overall.
Key differences
- The ZX2 has no recalls on record, while the F-150 has 151 recalls, including engine, seat belt, door latch, and air bag issues.
- ZX2 owners report spark plugs blowing out and suspension breaking, while F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and rear window shattering.
- The F-150 has a much higher annual complaint rate (about 1,162 per year) than the ZX2 (about 36.5 per year), but it also sold in far greater numbers.
- The ZX2's top complaint is power train (31 complaints), while the F-150's top complaint is also power train (3,648 complaints), but the F-150's issues often involve complex electronics like lead frames.
- Check the ignition switch for any signs of replacement or difficulty turning the key, as owners report repeated failures.
- Inspect the suspension for cracks, welds, or prior repairs, and listen for clunks or bangs during a test drive, since broken suspension parts have been reported.
- Scan the transmission for stored codes like P0722 and test drive at highway speeds to see if it goes into limp mode or gets stuck in 5th gear.
- Test the rear window defroster and inspect the glass for cracks or prior replacement, as shorts have caused windows to shatter.
Before you buy
- Ask for a complete vehicle history report and any recall documentation, especially for the F-150.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the transmission, electrical system, and suspension.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds and reverse gear, to check for shifting and ignition issues.
- Check the fuel gauge on the ZX2 by filling the tank and confirming it reads full, as owners report inaccurate readings.
- For the F-150, verify that all open recalls have been addressed by a dealer, and test all exterior lights and the rear defroster.
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 ZX2 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD ZX2 vs FORD F 150
- FORD ZX2 total complaints
- 146
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- FORD ZX2 total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- FORD ZX2 avg complaints/year
- 36.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- FORD ZX2
- FORD ZX2 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN