Head-to-head reliability
Genesis G90 vs FORD F 150
How the Genesis G90 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 G90 vs FORD F 150: The G90 has 67 complaints over 10 years (6.7/yr) vs the F-150's 11,311 (1,131/yr). G90 issues include electrical and engine problems, while F-150 suffers from transmission failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Genesis G90 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Genesis G90
The Genesis G90 is a luxury sedan that, despite its premium price and warranty promise, shows a reliability pattern centered on electrical gremlins and engine concerns. Owners report issues like burning odors, blue smoke, and repeated infotainment failures, which can be frustrating and potentially serious. With an average of 6.7 complaints per year, it's a low-volume vehicle with a relatively low complaint rate, but the nature of the issues suggests that buyers should be prepared for possible electronic and powertrain troubles.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup with a high complaint volume, averaging 1,131 complaints per year. The dominant issue is the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as shifting hard, jerking, or even causing loss of power. Electrical problems and exterior lighting issues also appear frequently. While the F-150 is a workhorse, its transmission problems are a significant concern for buyers, especially given the high number of complaints and recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Genesis G90 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 67 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 29 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 7 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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 G90
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
- 02ENGINE14
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM8
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE6
Owners report a range of electrical issues, including a burning odor and blue smoke from under the hood, which could indicate wiring or component failures. Infotainment screens also fail repeatedly, requiring multiple replacements.
Engine-related complaints include failures tied to recall campaigns, with owners mentioning critical safety components that were not properly fixed. Some report abnormal burning smells and smoke, suggesting potential oil leaks or overheating.
There are reports of hesitation or lack of response when pressing the gas pedal from a stop, which can be dangerous in traffic. This may be related to fuel pump or throttle issues.
While not detailed in the sample, this system has enough complaints to warrant attention, possibly involving false activations or failures, which could affect safety.
“ON 06/10/2017 WE PURCHASED A G90 GENESIS FROM SOUTH CHARLOTTE HYUNDAI AT 8525 SOUTH BLVD CHARLOTTE NC. THE TEAM WAS VERY CONVINCING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE & THE 10-YEAR WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE CAR COSTING $74,678.47, BUT WE WERE ASSUR…”
“The contact owns a 2019 Genesis G90. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact became aware of an abnormal burning odor. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was blue smoke coming from underneath the ho…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners say shifts hard, jerks, or clunks between gears. Some report sudden loss of power and vehicle shutdown, which is a serious safety risk.
Electrical complaints include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear every time the truck is started. These could indicate sensor or wiring problems.
Headlight issues are frequent enough to be a top component, with recalls addressing headlight problems. Owners may experience dimming or failure, reducing visibility at night.
Engine complaints are less frequent but still notable, with recalls related to engine components. Owners might face performance issues or unexpected stalling.
“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 G90 — 29 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Genesis, 2017-2019 Genesis G80, Genesis G90, and 2019 Genesis G70 vehicles. Water may enter the starter solenoid and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
The risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a remedy relay kit in the engine junction box, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2024. Owne…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Genesis G80, 2017-2022 G90, and 2019-2022 G70 vehicles equipped with a 3.3-liter V6 turbocharged engine. The left turbocharger oil feed pipe may deteriorate and leak oil.
The risk: An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left turbocharger oil feed pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 019G. This rec…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Genesis G80, 2017-2022 G90, and 2019-2022 G70 vehicles equipped with a 3.3-liter V6 turbocharged engine. The left turbocharger oil feed pipe may deteriorate and leak oil.
The risk: An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left turbocharger oil feed pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 019G. This rec…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Genesis GV70, GV80, G80, and G90 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 inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 7, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 022G. This rec…
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 G90 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Genesis G90 has far fewer complaints per year (6.7) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the G90's problems are concentrated in electrical and engine areas, which can be costly to repair. The F-150's transmission issues are widespread and can affect drivability and safety, making it a higher-risk choice in terms of reliability.
Key differences
- The Genesis G90 has a much lower complaint volume (67 over 10 years) compared to the F-150 (11,311), but its issues are more likely to be electrical or engine-related.
- The F-150's dominant problem is the 10-speed transmission, with owners reporting hard shifts and loss of power, which is a safety concern.
- The G90 has recalls for starter solenoid, turbocharger, fuel pump, and instrument cluster, while the F-150 has recalls for headlights, battery cables, engine, and seats.
- The G90's complaints include burning odors and smoke, suggesting potential fire risks, whereas the F-150's complaints focus on transmission and electrical warnings.
- Check for any signs of burning odor or blue smoke from the engine bay, which could indicate oil leaks or electrical issues.
- Test the infotainment system thoroughly, as repeated failures are common; ensure it works and ask for service history.
- Test drive the truck and pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, for any hard jerks or clunks.
- Check for warning messages on the dash, such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available,' which may indicate sensor issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's recall status and ensure all recalls have been performed.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the engine and electrical systems for any signs of damage or wear.
- For the F-150, specifically test the transmission under various driving conditions, including stop-and-go traffic.
- For the G90, verify the infotainment system has been updated and check for any pending software issues.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any repeated repairs related to the known problem areas.
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 G90 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 2 | 329 |
| 2024 | 3 | 617 |
| 2023 | 5 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 4 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 2 | 33 |
| 2019 | 6 | 36 |
| 2018 | 16 | 56 |
| 2017 | 24 | 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 G90 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Genesis G90 vs FORD F 150
- Genesis G90 total complaints
- 67
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Genesis G90 total recalls
- 29
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Genesis G90 avg complaints/year
- 6.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Genesis G90
- Genesis G90 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN