Head-to-head reliability
Honda Cb650r vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Cb650r 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 Cb650r vs FORD F 150: the Cb650r has 0 complaints over 8 years and 3 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, 151 recalls, and 330 crash-related reports. F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and electrical shorts. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Cb650r or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Cb650r
The Honda Cb650r is a middleweight sport motorcycle with no owner complaints filed over eight model years, suggesting a quiet record in this data. Three recalls exist, covering exterior lighting and a clutch lever/pedal issue, but no crash, injury, or death reports are tied to it. For a buyer, that means fewer documented failure patterns to research, though the absence of complaints is not proof of flawless reliability.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 11,621 over ten years, about 1,162 per year, plus 151 recalls and 330 crash-related reports. Owner complaints center on power train and electrical problems, especially transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and a rear-window defroster short that can shatter glass. Buyers should expect to check recall history and transmission behavior closely.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Cb650r | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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 Cb650r
No component data available.
Recalls list exterior lighting twice, but no owner complaint text explains the exact symptom. A buyer should confirm the recall repairs were completed and check that all lights work.
A recall covers the clutch lever or pedal assembly, but no complaint text describes the failure. Inspect clutch lever feel and operation, and verify the recall was performed.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report the truck going into limp mode and sticking in 5th gear, often tied to lead frame or output speed sensor failures. This can happen during daily driving and is a major pre-purchase check.
Complaints describe the same lead frame issue under electrical system, plus a rear-window defroster short that can shatter the back glass. Test the defroster and ask about lead frame replacement history.
One owner reported the rear window exploding outward after the defroster was turned off, with no external impact. This is a rare but serious symptom to inspect for.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint component with 1,224 reports, though the sample text does not detail the failure. Check all exterior lights and recall status.
“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 Cb650r — 3 recalls
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 2024 CB650R and CBR650R motorcycles. The fasteners of the gear shift arm may loosen and detach, resulting in the inability to shift gears.
The risk: The inability to shift gears while riding increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the gear shift arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 31, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KR7.
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 — 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 Cb650r or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda Cb650r has 0 complaints per year versus about 1,162 per year for the Ford F-150, a huge gap in reported issues. In practice, the F-150 buyer faces many more documented failure patterns, especially transmission limp mode and electrical shorts, while the Honda's record is mostly recall-only.
Key differences
- The F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years; the Cb650r has 0 over 8 years.
- F-150 complaints repeatedly describe transmission limp mode and stuck-in-5th-gear behavior; the Cb650r has no complaint text on record.
- F-150 electrical complaints include a rear-window defroster short that can shatter glass; the Cb650r recalls cover lighting and clutch lever/pedal.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related reports and 297 injuries; the Cb650r has 0 crash, injury, or death reports.
- Confirm the exterior lighting and clutch lever/pedal recalls were completed, since no complaint text explains the symptoms.
- Check clutch lever operation and all lights during a test ride, as these are the only documented recall areas.
- Test for transmission limp mode or sticking in 5th gear, especially on 2017 V8 models with the 6-speed automatic mentioned in complaints.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for signs of shorting or prior glass replacement, and ask about lead frame replacement history.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN for both vehicles to confirm all recalls were repaired, especially the F-150's 151 recalls.
- On the F-150, test drive enough to trigger highway speeds and check for limp mode or harsh shifting.
- On the F-150, turn on the rear defroster briefly and inspect the back glass for cracks or prior replacement.
- On the Cb650r, verify clutch lever feel and all lighting functions, and confirm the two lighting recalls and clutch recall were done.
- Ask for service records showing lead frame or output speed sensor work on the F-150, and any clutch or lighting repairs on the Cb650r.
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 Cb650r | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 2019 | 0 | 52 |
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 Cb650r or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Cb650r vs FORD F 150
- Honda Cb650r total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Honda Cb650r total recalls
- 3
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Honda Cb650r avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Cb650r
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN