Head-to-head reliability
Genesis GV80 vs FORD F 150
How the Genesis GV80 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 GV80 vs FORD F 150: The GV80 has 30.2 complaints per year, while the F-150 has 1131.1. The GV80's issues include electrical failures and unintended braking, whereas the F-150's main problem is harsh transmission shifts. Both have recalls, but the GV80's are fewer. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Genesis GV80 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Genesis GV80
The Genesis GV80 is a luxury SUV that, in ownership terms, shows a pattern of electronic and system-level glitches that can affect daily usability and safety. Owners report sudden electrical failures, including dashboard blackouts and loss of power steering assist, as well as engine shutdowns and unintended braking from the forward collision system. While the number of complaints per year is relatively low, the severity of some incidents—such as complete electrical failure on the highway—raises concerns about reliability and peace of mind.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup with a high volume of complaints, reflecting its widespread use. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as harsh shifting, jerking, and sometimes losing power. Electrical problems, including camera and pre-collision system malfunctions, also appear frequently. With over a thousand complaints per year, the F-150 shows a higher rate of reported issues, but many are related to the transmission's drivability rather than catastrophic failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Genesis GV80 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 181 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 30.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 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 GV80
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM33
- 03ENGINE31
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE25
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
Owners report complete electrical failures where the dashboard goes black, the steering wheel locks, and brakes become hard to engage while driving. Other issues include warning lights for various assist systems appearing intermittently.
There are complaints about safety recalls not being properly completed, and in some cases, vehicles being sold despite open recalls. This suggests potential fuel system or delivery issues that may not be promptly addressed.
The engine can shut down unexpectedly while driving on the highway, putting the vehicle into neutral and accessory mode. Additionally, some owners report hesitation during acceleration, which can be dangerous in traffic.
The automatic emergency braking can activate unnecessarily, causing the vehicle to stop abruptly for no reason, leading to rear-end collisions. This has occurred in parking lots and at highway speeds.
“On April 20th, 2026 I called Genesis of Carmel (Address: [XXX] Phone: [XXX] ) to get a oil change. On the same day I called them I also explained that various warning lights started to appear in the dash (check high beam assist system, check driver attention…”
“On [XXX], the GV80 experienced a complete electrical system failure (dashboard lights began flashing and eventually went black, display screen went black, steering wheel locked and brakes were hard to engage), all while my wife was driving on a major highway…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners experiencing hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and occasional loss of power. These issues can be unpredictable and affect drivability.
Electrical problems include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear every time the truck is started. These issues may indicate sensor or wiring problems.
Headlight-related recalls and complaints suggest potential issues with visibility, which is critical for safe driving at night.
Engine-related recalls and complaints point to possible mechanical or software issues that could affect performance and reliability.
“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 GV80 — 19 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 Genesis 2024-2025 GV60 hybrid and 2025 GV80 vehicles. The rearview camera display may shut off when the vehicle is driven in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 11, 2024. Owners may contact Genesis Customer service at 1-844-340-9741. Hyundai's number for this recall is 024G.
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain Genesis 2025-2026 G80, GV80, 2026 G80 "Electrified," GV60, GV70 "Electrified" and GV70 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…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or fuel gauge, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised to disable the high definition (HD) radio feature until the recall remedy has been performed. The audio video navigation software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or inspected and updated by a dealer, free of charge. O…
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 GV80 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Genesis GV80 has far fewer complaints per year (30.2) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the GV80's problems tend to be more severe, such as complete electrical failures and unintended braking, which can be alarming. In practice, the F-150's issues are more numerous but often relate to transmission harshness, which may be more of a nuisance than a safety threat.
Key differences
- The GV80 has a much lower complaint rate per year (30.2) versus the F-150 (1131.1), but the GV80's complaints include dangerous sudden electrical failures and unintended braking.
- The F-150's most common issue is transmission harsh shifting and jerking, which is a drivability annoyance rather than a safety-critical failure.
- The GV80 has recalls related to instrument cluster and fuel system hoses, while the F-150 has recalls for headlights and battery cables.
- The GV80's forward collision system can cause false activations leading to rear-end collisions, while the F-150's pre-collision assist malfunctions are more about warning messages.
- Check for any history of electrical system failures, such as dashboard blackouts or steering lock-ups, and ensure all recalls are completed.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe area to see if it triggers unnecessarily, as this has caused accidents.
- Test drive the F-150 at various speeds to feel for hard shifts or jerking from the transmission, especially between 4th and 6th gears.
- Check if the front camera or pre-collision assist warnings appear on startup, as this is a common electrical issue.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's recall status and verify all open recalls have been fixed.
- For the GV80, ask for service records related to electrical system repairs or software updates.
- For the F-150, ask about transmission software updates or repairs; a test drive is crucial.
- Inspect the GV80's forward collision system by driving in a controlled area to ensure it doesn't brake unexpectedly.
- Check the F-150's exterior lighting for any signs of moisture or malfunction, given the headlight recalls.
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 GV80 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 24 |
| 2025 | 18 | 329 |
| 2024 | 17 | 617 |
| 2023 | 37 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 43 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 58 | 5234 |
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 GV80 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Genesis GV80 vs FORD F 150
- Genesis GV80 total complaints
- 181
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Genesis GV80 total recalls
- 19
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Genesis GV80 avg complaints/year
- 30.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Genesis GV80
- Genesis GV80 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN