Head-to-head reliability
Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN 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 Crf1100 Africa TWIN vs FORD F 150: The Africa Twin has 5 complaints over 10 years (0.5/year) and 2 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 330 crash-related cases and 297 injuries; the Africa Twin reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN
The Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin is an adventure motorcycle with a very low complaint rate—only 5 complaints over 10 years, or about 0.5 per year. Most owner reports center on sudden loss of power from the fuel/propulsion system, with some engine and power train issues. Two recalls address engine control module software, and there are no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in this data. For a buyer, this suggests a generally low-volume problem profile, but the few complaints describe serious stalling events.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint volume: 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 1,162 per year. The most common areas are power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting, with 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death. Recalls cover engines, seat belts, door latches, and air bags. For a buyer, this points to a wide range of recurring problems that owners say can affect drivability and safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.5 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 Crf1100 Africa TWIN
- 01FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
- 02ENGINE2
- 03POWER TRAIN1
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
Owners report the bike dying suddenly at speed, such as in the fast lane or while overtaking a truck, with a total loss of propulsion. This matters because a stall in traffic can leave you exposed to fast-moving vehicles.
Complaints mention the Dual Clutch Transmission and a recall for an engine control module software issue that may not fully fix the problem. A buyer should verify that any recall work was done and test for hesitation or stalling.
One owner reported the fuel gauge hitting empty after only 3 gallons in a 5-gallon tank, plus the TFT display resetting and showing incorrect mileage. This can lead to unexpected fuel stops and confusion about range.
A complaint filed under service brakes repeats the fuel gauge and display reset issue, suggesting electrical or sensor glitches may affect multiple systems. Buyers should check that all gauges and displays work consistently.
“My bike died when I was in the fast lane on a major freeway, during Memorial Day rush hour. Totally stalled with 3 lanes of traffic moving at 70 mph. Only luck saved me from being collected by 18 wheelers. American Honda Motor Co. issued a recall on the Afric…”
“While overpassing a slow moving truck doing about 45 MPH on a 2-lane highway, I accelerated to overtake the vehicle. Just before pulling in front of the truck I experienced a total loss of propulsion. I thought I had a broken chain. I quickly looked and disco…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe a 'lead frame' issue that has persisted for over a decade, causing near collisions, and transmissions that go into limp mode or stick in 5th gear. This can leave you without full power when you need it most.
The same lead frame problem is also filed under electrical, and one owner reported a 2017 F-150 entering highway limp mode due to an output speed sensor failure after a recall software update. Electrical gremlins can strand you or trigger sudden power loss.
A rear window defroster short caused the back window to explode outward shortly after use. This is a severe safety concern because shattered glass can injure occupants or distract the driver.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting problems are common, though specific failure text is not provided. Faulty lights reduce visibility and can lead to accidents or citations.
“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 Crf1100 Africa TWIN — 2 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CRF1100 Africa Twin motorcycles equipped with a dual-clutch transmission (DCT). A software error in the engine control unit (ECU), may disconnect the controller area network (CAN) communication and release the clutch, which can result…
The risk: An engine stall or a loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KNB.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CRF1100 Africa Twin motorcycles equipped with a dual-clutch transmission (DCT). A software error in the engine control unit (ECU), may disconnect the controller area network (CAN) communication and release the clutch, which can result…
The risk: An engine stall or a loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KNB.
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 Crf1100 Africa TWIN or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin has far fewer issues per year—about 0.5 complaints annually versus roughly 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, the Africa Twin owner reports are rare but can involve sudden stalling, while the F-150 has a high volume of recurring power train, electrical, and lighting problems that owners say affect safety and reliability.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Africa Twin averages 0.5 per year; F-150 averages 1,162 per year.
- Crash and injury reports: Africa Twin has 0 crashes, 0 injuries, 0 deaths; F-150 has 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death.
- Recalls: Africa Twin has 2 recalls for engine control software; F-150 has 151 recalls covering engines, seat belts, door latches, and air bags.
- Top reported failures: Africa Twin owners report sudden loss of propulsion and fuel gauge errors; F-150 owners report lead frame/transmission limp mode, electrical faults, and exploding rear windows.
- Test ride at highway speeds and during acceleration to check for any sudden loss of power or stalling, which owners reported in the fuel/propulsion system.
- Verify the fuel gauge reads accurately and the TFT display does not reset or show incorrect mileage, as one owner reported after about 1,200 miles.
- Scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive to feel for limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in 5th gear, which owners reported with the lead frame issue.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or signs of stress, and test the defroster briefly, because one owner reported the window exploding outward after use.
Before you buy
- Ask for proof that all open recalls were performed, especially the Africa Twin's engine control software recall and the F-150's transmission and air bag recalls.
- For the Africa Twin, take a long test ride including highway merging and overtaking to check for stalling or hesitation.
- For the F-150, have a mechanic scan the transmission and electrical systems for stored codes and check for lead frame symptoms.
- Inspect the F-150's rear window and defroster operation, and look for any aftermarket fixes or cracks.
- Review the NHTSA complaint history for the specific model year you are considering, as patterns can vary by year.
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 Crf1100 Africa TWIN | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 4 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 1 | 44 |
| 2019 | 0 | 52 |
| 2018 | 0 | 79 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Crf1100 Africa TWIN or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN vs FORD F 150
- Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN total complaints
- 5
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN total recalls
- 2
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN avg complaints/year
- 0.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN
- Honda Crf1100 Africa TWIN top complaint area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN