Head-to-head reliability
Genesis G80 vs FORD F 150
How the Genesis G80 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
Genesis G80 vs FORD F 150: The G80 averages 22.3 complaints per year versus the F-150's 1,131.1, but the G80's electrical failures can disable safety systems, while the F-150's transmission issues are more frequent. Both have recalls, but the G80's fire hazard recall is notable. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Genesis G80 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Genesis G80
The Genesis G80, a luxury sedan, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 22 per year over the last decade. Owners report a mix of electrical gremlins, engine issues, and brake problems, with some complaints describing cascading failures that affect critical systems like the instrument cluster and power steering. While not as high-volume as some mass-market models, the nature of these issues can be concerning for a premium vehicle.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a popular full-size pickup, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year. The dominant issue is the powertrain, with many owners reporting harsh shifting and even sudden power loss from the 10-speed automatic transmission. Electrical problems, including camera and sensor malfunctions, are also common, reflecting the truck's complexity and heavy usage.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Genesis G80 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 223 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 22.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 13 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.
Genesis G80
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM60
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER36
- 03ENGINE35
- 04SERVICE BRAKES25
- 05STEERING22
Owners report the instrument cluster going dark, with warning lights illuminating and gauges failing, including speedometer, turn signals, and tachometer. This can also disable safety features like airbag warnings and power steering, creating a potentially hazardous situation.
Some owners describe rough idling and unusual noises after a recall repair involving a relay kit, suggesting the fix may introduce new problems. Others mention a fire hazard recall, indicating potential engine compartment issues.
Brake complaints include a soft or spongy pedal feel, which can increase stopping distances and undermine driver confidence. This is a critical safety component that should be inspected thoroughly.
“All lights warning lights illuminate and gauges stop working. Loss of functionality includes critical control and safety systems and features: •No Speedometer •No Turn Signals •No Tachometer •Odometer not recording miles •Airbag warning •Electric power steeri…”
“Recall number 1 from 2022 was just complete at Homer Skelton Hyundai in Olive Branch Mississippi on around [XXX]. Now this 2024 recall which is major involving over 30,000 vehicles as of today with the fire hazard is very very suspect. I received a letter 5 m…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most frequent issue is harsh and delayed shifting, especially in the 10-speed automatic transmission. Some owners report sudden loss of power and vehicle shutdown, which is alarming in traffic. These symptoms point to transmission control module or internal mechanical problems.
Many owners see persistent warnings for 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' on startup, indicating sensor or wiring issues that can disable driver-assistance features.
Headlight problems are common, with some owners reporting flickering or complete failure, reducing visibility at night and increasing crash risk.
“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.
Genesis G80 — 30 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain Genesis 2023-2024 G80, GV80, 2025 GV70 and 2023-2025 GV70 "Electrified" vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standar…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and update the instrument panel display software, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Hyundai's number for t…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Genesis) is recalling certain Genesis 2022-2026 GV70, 2023-2025 G90, 2021-2025 G80, and GV80 vehicles. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail.
The risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning July 20, 2026. Owners may contact Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Genesis' number for this…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Genesis GV80, 2021-2023 Genesis G80, 2022-2023 Genesis GV70, and 2023 Genesis GV60 vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
The risk: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
The fix: Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 14, 2023. For GV60 owners, Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 14, 20…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Genesis G80, GV80, and 2022 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 016G.
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
Genesis G80 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Genesis G80 has far fewer complaints per year (22.3) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the G80's electrical and engine problems can be severe, while the F-150's transmission issues are more widespread. In practice, the G80 may offer a more reliable ownership experience on average, but both have notable concerns.
Key differences
- The G80 has a much lower complaint rate (22.3/yr) than the F-150 (1,131.1/yr), suggesting fewer reported problems overall.
- The G80's top issues are electrical and engine-related, with some complaints describing cascading failures of safety systems.
- The F-150's dominant issue is powertrain, specifically harsh shifting and power loss in the 10-speed automatic, which can be dangerous.
- The F-150 also has frequent exterior lighting problems, while the G80's brake complaints are more prominent.
- Check the instrument cluster for any flickering or intermittent failures, and ensure all gauges and warning lights function correctly.
- Ask about any open recalls, especially the 2024 fire hazard recall, and confirm that previous recall repairs (like the relay kit) have not caused new issues.
- Test drive the truck through various speeds and listen for hard shifts or clunks, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears.
- Check for any warning messages on the dash, such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available,' and have the system diagnosed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission for the F-150 and the electrical system for the G80.
- Test drive both vehicles on varied roads, including highway speeds, to assess shifting and braking behavior.
- Ask for service records to see if any major repairs have been done, especially transmission or electrical work.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recalls for the specific model year you're considering.
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 | Genesis G80 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 24 |
| 2025 | 3 | 329 |
| 2024 | 1 | 617 |
| 2023 | 9 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 7 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 9 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 33 |
| 2019 | 27 | 36 |
| 2018 | 95 | 56 |
| 2017 | 65 | 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 Genesis G80 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Genesis G80 vs FORD F 150
- Genesis G80 total complaints
- 223
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Genesis G80 total recalls
- 30
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Genesis G80 avg complaints/year
- 22.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Genesis G80
- Genesis G80 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN