Head-to-head reliability
Honda Adv160 vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Adv160 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
Honda Adv160 vs FORD F 150: The Honda Adv160 has 13 complaints over 3 years (about 4.3 per year) and 2 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. The Ford data also includes 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries; the Honda shows none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Adv160 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Adv160
The Honda Adv160 is a small scooter with a very low complaint rate—about 4.3 per year over three years. Most owner reports center on engine and cooling problems, especially unusual noises and stalling, and on frustration with a recall for an oil pump gear that can seize the engine. There are no crash, injury, or death reports in the data, but the recall and parts-availability complaints mean some owners have been unable to ride while waiting for repairs.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a huge complaint volume—over 11,600 in ten years, roughly 1,162 per year. The dominant theme is power train trouble, particularly transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, along with electrical glitches and lighting issues. The data also includes 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and one death, so the stakes of these failures are higher than on the scooter.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Adv160 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 13 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 4.3 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Honda Adv160
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING9
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 03ENGINE2
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
- 05FUEL SYSTEM1
Owners report abnormally loud sounds from the engine at riding speed and abnormal whining followed by stalling. These symptoms can leave a rider stranded and point to internal engine or cooling problems that need diagnosis before purchase.
Complaints describe a recall (25V195) for a defective oil pump driven gear that can cause engine seizure and rear-wheel lock. That is a serious failure mode, and owners report difficulty getting the recall remedy completed.
Several owners complain about recall logistics—delayed notification and dealers unable to supply parts for registered bikes. For a buyer, this means a used Adv160 may still have an open recall that is hard to close out.
One complaint ties the same oil pump recall to fuel/propulsion system concerns, suggesting owners see the defect as affecting how the scooter delivers power. It reinforces that the recall is the main reliability worry on this model.
“The contact owns a 2025 Honda ADV160 Scooter. The contact stated that while riding at 30 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the motorcycle. The scooter was pulled over to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that while inspecting the…”
“The contact owns a 2025 Honda ADV160. The contact stated that while riding approximately 20-25 MPH, the engine made an abnormal whining sound and the motorcycle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the ro…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners repeatedly describe transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. One owner said a lead frame issue nearly ended their life, showing these are not just inconvenience problems.
Electrical complaints include the same lead frame defect and output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. A rear-window defroster short was also reported to shatter the back glass, so electrical faults can have surprising safety consequences.
This category captures miscellaneous reports, including the rear-window defroster short that caused the back window to explode outward. Such failures are hard to predict and add to the ownership risk.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint area, meaning owners report problems with lamps and related components. Lighting failures matter because they affect visibility and can lead to tickets or unsafe driving conditions.
“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.
Honda Adv160 — 2 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2024-2025 ADV160 scooters. The oil pump driven gear may fail, resulting in a loss of drive power.
The risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the oil pump driven gear, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 6, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KR9.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2024-2025 ADV160 scooters. The oil pump driven gear may fail, resulting in a loss of drive power.
The risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the oil pump driven gear, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 6, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KR9.
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
Honda Adv160 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda Adv160 has far fewer issues per year—about 4.3 complaints annually versus roughly 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, the scooter’s problems are concentrated in a recall-related engine defect, while the F-150’s are spread across power train, electrical, and lighting systems with many more crash and injury reports.
Key differences
- Complaint volume is vastly different: about 4.3 per year for the Honda Adv160 versus about 1,162 per year for the Ford F-150.
- The Honda’s main reported failure is an engine oil pump gear recall that can cause seizure and rear-wheel lock; the Ford’s main reported failure is transmission limp mode and lead frame issues.
- The Ford F-150 data includes 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the Honda Adv160 data shows zero in all three categories.
- Recall burden differs: the Honda has 2 recalls but owners report parts delays, while the Ford has 151 recalls covering engines, seat belts, door latches, and air bag inflators.
- Ask for proof that recall 25V195 (oil pump driven gear) has been completed; owners report parts shortages and long waits.
- Listen for abnormal whining or loud engine noises at low speed and check for any stalling history during a test ride.
- Test drive enough to feel for transmission limp mode, harsh shifting, or getting stuck in a gear; scan for output speed sensor codes like P0722.
- Inspect the rear window defroster operation and look for any signs of electrical shorts or prior glass replacement.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN through NHTSA to confirm all open recalls are identified for the specific vehicle.
- For the Honda Adv160, get written confirmation that the oil pump recall remedy was performed and ask for the repair order.
- For the Ford F-150, have a mechanic scan transmission codes and check for lead frame or output speed sensor-related history.
- Test drive the Ford F-150 on the highway and in stop-and-go traffic to watch for limp mode or erratic shifting.
- On the Honda Adv160, start and ride from cold to listen for engine whine or unusual noises before buying.
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 | Honda Adv160 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 7 | 345 |
| 2024 | 6 | 638 |
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 Honda Adv160 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Adv160 vs FORD F 150
- Honda Adv160 total complaints
- 13
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Honda Adv160 total recalls
- 2
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Honda Adv160 avg complaints/year
- 4.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Adv160
- Honda Adv160 top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN