Head-to-head reliability
Honda Crf250l vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Crf250l 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 Crf250l vs FORD F 150: the Honda logged 5 complaints over 10 years (about 0.5 per year) and 3 recalls, while the Ford logged 11,621 complaints (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. The Honda's reports center on sudden engine stalls; the Ford's on transmission limp mode and electrical faults. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Crf250l or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Crf250l
The Honda CRF250L is a small dual-sport motorcycle, and in ownership terms its complaint volume is very low: 5 complaints over 10 years, about 0.5 per year, plus 3 recalls. The pattern that matters is sudden engine shutdown while riding, reported at both highway and low speed, which is a stalling concern rather than a wear-and-tear story. One complaint is crash-related and two involve injuries, so even a handful of reports describes a failure mode a rider would notice immediately. Recalls touch the starter relay and exterior lighting, matching the electrical starting complaint.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very large complaint footprint: 11,621 complaints over 10 years, roughly 1,162 per year, and 151 recalls. The dominant theme is the power train, especially transmission limp mode and the lead frame, with electrical system reports echoing the same lead-frame and sensor failures. Owners also describe a rear-window defroster short that shattered the back glass, and recalls cover engines, seat belt pretensioners, door latches and a passenger air bag inflator. This is a high-volume vehicle with a long, recurring pattern of transmission and electrical faults rather than a single isolated issue.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Crf250l | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.5 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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 Crf250l
- 01ENGINE3
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
Owners report the engine shutting off without warning while riding, including at about 55 mph on a freeway and at about 20 mph, with one bike stalling repeatedly after restarting. A sudden stall in traffic is the core buyer concern because it can leave the rider exposed to following vehicles.
One owner reports the engine would not start and stalled while riding, traced to a starter magnetic switch failure. This ties to the starter relay recall subjects, so starting and running reliability are worth checking.
An owner of two bikes reports severe fuel-system failure causing both to stall and die repeatedly in above-90-degree heat. That suggests hot-weather running behavior deserves attention on a used example.
“2014 HONDA CRF250L WITH 3512 MILES. FOUR MILE FROM HOME ON FREEWAY 405 SOUTH AS I WAS RIDING ABOUT 55 MPH AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE SHUT OFF CAUSING THE BIKE TO STALLED ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND ALMOST GOT RAN OVER BY FAST COMING TRAFFIC. UNABLE…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CRF250L. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FA…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe recurring transmission trouble: limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead-frame failures, with one owner saying the issue nearly caused a collision. A 2017 V8 with the 6-speed automatic is specifically named as going into limp mode almost daily.
The lead-frame complaint appears here too, along with an output speed sensor failure (code P0722) that put a 2017 truck into highway limp mode even after a recall software update. Electrical faults on this truck can directly affect whether it keeps driving at speed.
One owner reports a short in the rear window defroster that caused the back window to shatter outward minutes after the defroster was turned off. It is a body/electrical overlap issue a buyer should know about when checking rear glass and defroster operation.
Exterior lighting is among the top complaint components by count, and lighting recalls appear in the list. Buyers should verify all lamps and related electrical behavior rather than assume they are trouble-free.
“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 Crf250l — 3 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 ST1300PA, 2014-2015 CB500, CBR500, CRF250L, CBR650, CTX700, NSS300, VT750, VT1300, 2015 CB300F, CBR300, CBR600, and 2014-2016 NC700 motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, sealant may have been incorrectly applied to the s…
The risk: A loss of electrical power may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace any affected starter relay switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is JS9 a…
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 model year 2013-2015 ST1300PA, 2014-2015 CB500, CBR500, CRF250L, CBR650, CTX700, NSS300, VT750, VT1300, 2015 CB300F, CBR300, CBR600, and 2014-2016 NC700 motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, sealant may have been incorrectly applied to the s…
The risk: A loss of electrical power may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace any affected starter relay switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is JS9 a…
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 Crf250l or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda CRF250L has far fewer issues per year, about 0.5 complaints annually versus roughly 1,162 for the F-150, so the difference is scale as much as type. In practice the Honda's small number of reports still centers on sudden stalling, while the Ford's much larger record centers on recurring transmission and electrical limp-mode faults. Fewer complaints does not mean no risk, but the Honda's pattern is narrower.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: about 0.5 per year for the Honda versus about 1,162 per year for the Ford, a difference of roughly three orders of magnitude.
- Failure pattern: the Honda reports sudden engine stalls and a starter switch failure, while the Ford reports transmission limp mode, stuck gears and lead-frame faults.
- Recalls: 3 for the Honda covering starter relay and lighting, versus 151 for the Ford covering engines, seat belts, door latches and an air bag inflator.
- Outcomes: the Honda shows 1 crash-related complaint and 2 injuries in a tiny sample, while the Ford shows 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries and 1 death across its much larger record.
- Ask whether the bike has ever stalled or cut out while riding, and check the starter relay and starting behavior against the recall subjects.
- Test-ride in hot weather if possible and watch for stalling or fuel-system hesitation, since one owner reported heat-related failures on two bikes.
- Scan for transmission codes and ask specifically about limp mode, stuck gears and any lead-frame replacement or output speed sensor repair.
- Check the rear window defroster and rear glass for signs of overheating or shattering, and confirm recall work such as the 26S28 software update was actually performed.
Before you buy
- Pull the full NHTSA complaint and recall history for the exact model year before you buy either vehicle.
- On the Honda, confirm starter relay recall completion and test starting and hot-weather running.
- On the Ford, have a mechanic scan transmission codes and check for lead-frame and output speed sensor history.
- Ask for service records showing whether transmission or electrical repairs were done and whether they recurred.
- Verify all safety recall remedies were completed, including lighting on the Honda and air bag, seat belt and latch recalls on the Ford.
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 Crf250l | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 2019 | 0 | 52 |
| 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 Crf250l or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Crf250l vs FORD F 150
- Honda Crf250l total complaints
- 5
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Honda Crf250l total recalls
- 3
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Honda Crf250l avg complaints/year
- 0.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Crf250l
- Honda Crf250l top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN