Head-to-head reliability
Honda Cb500x vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Cb500x 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 CB500x vs FORD F 150: The CB500X has 1 complaint and 4 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints, 145 recalls, and 328 crash-related reports. The F-150 averages 1,131 complaints per year versus 0.1 for the CB500X. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Cb500x or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Cb500x
The Honda CB500X is a midsize adventure-style motorcycle that, based on NHTSA data, has very few reported problems: just 1 complaint over 10 years and 4 recalls. The single complaint describes oil residue under the water pump on a 2019 model, a minor leak that did not trigger warning lights. Recalls involve hydraulic brakes and exterior lighting, which are safety-related but appear to be addressed by the manufacturer. Overall, the data suggests a low reported failure rate, though the small number of complaints means patterns are hard to establish.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a high reported complaint volume: 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 1,131 per year, plus 145 recalls. The most common complaint areas are the power train (3,553 complaints) and electrical system (2,071), with owners describing hard or delayed transmission shifts, sudden loss of power, and warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction.' There are also 328 crash-related complaints, 287 injuries, and 1 death reported, indicating that some issues may have serious consequences. This suggests that while many F-150s serve reliably, a notable number of owners experience significant transmission and electrical problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Cb500x | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.1 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Honda Cb500x
- 01ENGINE1
One owner of a 2019 CB500X reported discovering oil residue underneath the water pump, with no warning lights. This suggests a potential coolant or oil seep that a buyer should check for, though it is a single report and may not represent a widespread issue.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HONDA CB500X. THE CONTACT STATED HE DISCOVERED OIL RESIDUE UNDERNEATH THE WATER PUMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED IN RELATION TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD YET TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners frequently report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power, often involving the 10R80 automatic transmission. These symptoms can occur during normal driving and may lead to dangerous situations if the truck shuts off or jerks unexpectedly.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission area, popping sounds from the rear suspension, and persistent dashboard warnings such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These electrical glitches can affect driver awareness and vehicle safety features.
With 1,164 complaints, exterior lighting is a common problem area, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Recalls for headlights suggest that lighting issues may be addressed through dealer fixes, but buyers should verify proper operation.
There are 847 engine-related complaints, and recalls for engine issues exist. While the sample text does not detail engine failures, the volume indicates that some owners experience engine problems that may require costly repairs.
“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.
Honda Cb500x — 4 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 CB500X and CBR500R ABS motorcycles. Excessive grease in the ABS modulator may collect debris, which can get stuck in the check valve and cause a brake fluid leak.
The risk: A brake fluid leak can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the lot number on the ABS modulator, and replace the modulator as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 12, 2021. Owners may contact Honda Powersports customer service at 1-866-784-…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 CB500X and CBR500R ABS motorcycles. Excessive grease in the ABS modulator may collect debris, which can get stuck in the check valve and cause a brake fluid leak.
The risk: A brake fluid leak can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the lot number on the ABS modulator, and replace the modulator as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 12, 2021. Owners may contact Honda Powersports customer service at 1-866-784-…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Super Cub C125, CB500X, CB650R, CBR300R, CBR500R, CBR650R, Rebel 300, Rebel 500, Monkey, 2020 CRF250L, GROM, 2021 CRF300L, and CB500F motorcycles. The rear reflector lens may not reflect brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to…
The risk: A dim rear reflector may reduce the visibility of the motorcycle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear reflector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KM3.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Super Cub C125, CB500X, CB650R, CBR300R, CBR500R, CBR650R, Rebel 300, Rebel 500, Monkey, 2020 CRF250L, GROM, 2021 CRF300L, and CB500F motorcycles. The rear reflector lens may not reflect brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to…
The risk: A dim rear reflector may reduce the visibility of the motorcycle to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear reflector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KM3.
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
Honda Cb500x or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda CB500X has far fewer issues per year (0.1 complaints/year) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131 complaints/year). In practice, this means a CB500X owner is much less likely to report a problem, while an F-150 owner faces a higher chance of experiencing transmission, electrical, or other issues that could lead to repairs or safety concerns.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years versus just 1 for the Honda CB500X, a massive difference in reported problem volume.
- F-150 owners commonly report transmission problems like hard shifts and sudden power loss, while the CB500X's only complaint is a minor oil leak.
- The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints, 287 injuries, and 1 death, whereas the CB500X has zero in all those categories.
- Recalls are more frequent for the F-150 (145) than the CB500X (4), covering systems like brakes, lighting, engine, and seats.
- Check for oil or coolant residue around the water pump area, as one owner reported a leak there on a 2019 model.
- Verify that all recalls for hydraulic brakes and exterior lighting have been performed by a dealer.
- Test drive at various speeds and watch for hard, delayed, or jerky shifts, especially between 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8 gears, which owners frequently report.
- Check for dashboard warnings such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' and ensure all electrical features work properly.
Before you buy
- For either vehicle, obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all safety recalls have been remedied.
- On the CB500X, inspect the water pump area for oil or coolant stains and check brake and lighting function.
- On the F-150, scan for stored trouble codes and test the transmission thoroughly during a test drive, including highway speeds.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission repairs or software updates on the F-150.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic familiar with the specific model.
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 Cb500x | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 617 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 33 |
| 2019 | 1 | 36 |
| 2018 | 0 | 56 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Honda Cb500x or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Cb500x vs FORD F 150
- Honda Cb500x total complaints
- 1
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Honda Cb500x total recalls
- 4
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Honda Cb500x avg complaints/year
- 0.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Cb500x
- Honda Cb500x top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN