Head-to-head reliability
GMC Savana vs FORD F 150
How the GMC Savana 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
GMC Savana averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. GMC Savana has 168 complaints and 34 recalls on record; FORD F 150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | GMC Savana | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 168 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 34 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 13 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 8 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.
GMC Savana
- 01POWER TRAIN33
- 02STEERING30
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28
- 04SERVICE BRAKES24
- 05ENGINE21
“The contact owns a 2025 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting hard and was jerking while shifting gear. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 50 MPH. The messages “Reduced Acceleration” and “DEF Low” were displa…”
“The contact owns a 2025 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting hard and was jerking while shifting gear. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 50 MPH. The messages “Reduced Acceleration” and “DEF Low” were displa…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
“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.
GMC Savana — 34 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Express Cutaway, and 2025-2026 Savana Cutaway vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a tire with sidewall damage.
The risk: A tire with sidewall damage may experience sudden air loss or driver loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect all tire sidewalls and replace tires with sidewall damage, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 27, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. The gear shifter may provide inaccurate gear selection feedback to the driver due to an incorrectly manufactured steering column assembly.
The risk: Inaccurate gear selection may result in unexpected vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Until the remedy is performed, owners are advised to visually verify the shift position indicator each time a gear is selected and always use the parking brake when the vehicle is parked. Dealers will replace the transmission control on th…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Express, and 2025-2026 Savana vehicles. The steering gear assembly may have a nut that was not properly tightened.
The risk: A loose nut that separates from the steering gear assembly while driving can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering gear assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. Incorrect software in the transmission control module (TCM) may result in harsh shifting, reduced power, unintended deceleration, rear wheel lockup, or cause the vehicle to move in an unintended direc…
The risk: Rear wheel lock-up or moving in an unintended direction can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the transmission control module software calibration, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-80…
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…
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 | GMC Savana | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 32 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 36 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 10 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 2019 | 26 | 52 |
| 2018 | 15 | 79 |
| 2017 | 49 | 59 |
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 GMC Savana or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- GMC Savana vs FORD F 150
- GMC Savana total complaints
- 168
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- GMC Savana total recalls
- 34
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- GMC Savana avg complaints/year
- 16.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- GMC Savana
- GMC Savana top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN