Head-to-head reliability
Honda Crf1000a vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Crf1000a 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 Crf1000a vs FORD F 150: the Honda logged 17 complaints over 10 years (about 1.7/year) and 2 recalls, while the Ford logged 11,621 complaints (about 1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The Honda's pattern is fuel-system debris; the Ford's is power train limp mode. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Crf1000a or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Crf1000a
The Honda Crf1000a is an adventure motorcycle with a very low complaint rate—about 1.7 per year over a decade—so problems are rare but patterned. Most owner reports center on the fuel system, specifically tank weld-seam material flaking off and clogging the filter and pump, which can cause surging or power loss at speed. There are also tire complaints tied to a Continental recall and two recalls for the kickstand/center stand. Overall, it's a low-volume machine where a few known issues dominate the record.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a huge complaint volume—over 11,600 in ten years, averaging about 1,162 per year—and 151 recalls. The dominant pattern is power train trouble, especially transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead-frame electrical faults that owners describe as recurring and sometimes dangerous. Electrical issues, lighting problems, and even a rear-window defroster short that shattered glass also appear. This is a high-volume vehicle with many reported failure points, so a used buyer should expect to check service history closely.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Crf1000a | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 17 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.7 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 Crf1000a
- 01FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM13
- 02TIRES2
- 03SERVICE BRAKES1
- 04BACK OVER PREVENTION1
- 05POWER TRAIN1
Owners report white, ferrous dust flaking from fuel tank weld seams, which clogs the fuel filter and pump and can cause engine surging or loss of power at highway speeds. This matters because it can leave you stranded or down on power, and the fix may involve tank work.
Complaints describe tread separation and cracking on Continental tires, with owners struggling to get recall reimbursement. A buyer should check tire age and recall status because a failing tire is a direct safety concern.
One brake complaint appears in the data, so it's a minor pattern, but any brake issue on a motorcycle deserves a close inspection before purchase.
A single back-over-prevention complaint is recorded; it's not a broad pattern, but it's worth noting as a potential sensor or alert issue to verify.
“THIS IS THE KNOWN, DIRTY FUEL TANK WELD SEAMS ISSUE THAT ONLY AFFECTS THE LARGER, ADVENTURE SPORTS MODELS. THE MATERIAL ON THE SEAMS FLAKES OFF AND CLOGS THE FUEL FILTER AND FUEL PUMP. IT IS A FERROUS, WHITE DUST. THE FACE BOOK GROUPS DEVOTED TO THIS MODEL AR…”
“WITH 3,000 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE THE ENGINE SURGES WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAD A LOSS OF POWER. UPON RESEARCH, I FOUND SEVERAL ARTICLES DESCRIBING FUEL TANK ISSUES ON THE HONDA AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORT (ATAS) MODEL. I REMOVED THE FUEL TANK A…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners repeatedly report transmission limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead-frame electrical faults that can cause near-collisions. These are the most common complaints and can affect drivability and safety, so a pre-purchase scan and test drive are essential.
The lead-frame issue also shows up here, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger highway limp mode. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and expensive to trace, so check for stored codes and recall work.
One owner reported the rear window defroster shorted and the back window exploded outward. While not a widespread pattern in the sample, it's a dramatic failure worth checking on any used truck.
Lighting complaints are among the top components, suggesting owners deal with bulb or assembly failures. This matters for visibility and inspection, though it's less severe than the power train pattern.
“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 Crf1000a — 2 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain Honda Genuine Accessory Centerstand Kits, part number 08M70-MJP-G50, sold for possible installation on 2016-2018 Africa Twin motorcycles. The circlip can break allowing the centerstand to detach.
The risk: If the centerstand detaches while moving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. If the centerstand detaches while the motorcycle is parked on the centerstand, the motorcycle can fall over, increasing the risk of inju…
The fix: Honda will notify all registered owners of 2016-2018 Honda Africa Twins advising them that if they purchased the affected centerstand kit, not to use it and to take the motorcycle to a dealer. Dealers will replace the circlip and washer, f…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain Honda Genuine Accessory Centerstand Kits, part number 08M70-MJP-G50, sold for possible installation on 2016-2018 Africa Twin motorcycles. The circlip can break allowing the centerstand to detach.
The risk: If the centerstand detaches while moving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. If the centerstand detaches while the motorcycle is parked on the centerstand, the motorcycle can fall over, increasing the risk of inju…
The fix: Honda will notify all registered owners of 2016-2018 Honda Africa Twins advising them that if they purchased the affected centerstand kit, not to use it and to take the motorcycle to a dealer. Dealers will replace the circlip and washer, f…
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 Crf1000a or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda Crf1000a has far fewer issues per year—about 1.7 versus roughly 1,162 for the Ford F-150—so in raw frequency the Honda is much quieter. In practice, that means a used Honda buyer is less likely to face repeated shop visits, while an F-150 buyer should budget time for transmission and electrical checks. The Ford's much larger complaint and recall volume reflects both its higher production and a real pattern of power train faults.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Honda averages about 1.7 per year; Ford averages about 1,162 per year, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Dominant failure: Honda's top issue is fuel tank weld-seam debris clogging the fuel system; Ford's top issue is power train limp mode and lead-frame electrical faults.
- Recalls: Honda has 2 recalls (kickstand/center stand); Ford has 151 recalls across engine, seat belts, latches, and air bags.
- Safety outcomes in the data: Honda shows 1 crash-related complaint, 0 injuries, 0 deaths; Ford shows 330 crash-related, 297 injuries, and 1 death.
- Check the fuel tank for white, ferrous dust or flaking at the weld seams, and ask whether the fuel filter and pump have been serviced—this is the most common owner complaint.
- Inspect tire date codes and recall status, especially Continental tires, for cracking or tread separation.
- Scan for transmission codes and test drive for limp mode, stuck gears, or harsh shifting—owners report these as recurring power train faults.
- Verify that recall 26S28 (output speed sensor software) and any lead-frame related recalls have been performed, and check the rear window defroster for signs of shorting.
Before you buy
- For the Honda, ask for fuel system service records and inspect the tank interior for flaking debris.
- For the Ford, run a pre-purchase diagnostic scan and confirm all open recalls are closed, especially power train and electrical campaigns.
- Test drive the Ford at highway speed to check for limp mode or transmission hesitation, and test the Honda for surging at speed.
- Check tire age and recall eligibility on the Honda, and inspect the Ford's exterior lighting and rear defroster operation.
- Review the NHTSA complaint history for the specific model year you're considering, since the data spans ten years and patterns can vary.
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 Crf1000a | 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 |
| 2018 | 13 | 79 |
| 2017 | 4 | 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 Honda Crf1000a or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Crf1000a vs FORD F 150
- Honda Crf1000a total complaints
- 17
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Honda Crf1000a total recalls
- 2
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Honda Crf1000a avg complaints/year
- 1.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Crf1000a
- Honda Crf1000a top complaint area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN