Head-to-head reliability
Honda Ctx700 vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Ctx700 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 CTX700 vs FORD F 150: The CTX700 averages 2.2 complaints per year over 5 years, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1 per year over 10 years. The CTX700 has 3 recalls, the F-150 has 145. The CTX700's issues include engine power loss and rear misalignment; the F-150's include transmission harshness and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Ctx700 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Ctx700
The Honda CTX700 is a commuter-friendly motorcycle with an automatic dual-clutch transmission option. Owner complaints over five years average just over two per year, a low rate, but the issues reported are serious: sudden loss of engine power at speed, idle and clutch control problems, and rear-wheel misalignment that affects handling. These are not just annoyances; they touch on the bike's core riding safety and stability.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume—over 11,000 in ten years, averaging more than 1,100 per year. The dominant issues are transmission harshness and failures (especially the 10-speed automatic), electrical glitches, and lighting problems. While many complaints are about drivability, the sheer frequency and the number of crash/injury reports indicate a vehicle with more widespread and varied reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Ctx700 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 11 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Ctx700
- 01ENGINE3
- 02POWER TRAIN3
- 03STEERING3
- 04SUSPENSION3
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
Owners report sudden, complete loss of engine power while riding, sometimes in traffic at highway speeds, and even after dealer repairs. Another issue is the engine not returning to idle when the throttle is released, which can cause unexpected acceleration or lack of engine braking.
The dual-clutch transmission (DCT) can fail to disengage the clutch at stops, causing the bike to surge forward. This is a serious safety concern, especially in stop-and-go traffic.
The rear wheel is misaligned from the factory, causing the bike to not track straight and handlebars to be tilted. This affects stability and control, especially at speed.
The same rear axle misalignment that causes steering issues also affects the suspension geometry, leading to poor handling and potential instability.
“While riding my Honda CTX 700 DCT, I lost all engine power, on two occasions. The second was after the Honda Certified Dealer said they repaired it. The first incident was while city riding at 25MPH, and the second was during dense highway traffic at 60MPH. I…”
“VEHICLE DID NOT RETURN TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED WHEN THROTTLE WAS RELEASED. AFTER BEING DRIVEN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS FOR 20 MINUTES, THE OPERATOR NOTED ENGINE BRAKING DID NOT OCCUR AS EXPECTED WHEN RELEASING THE THROTTLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLES DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSM…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common complaints involve the 10-speed automatic transmission shifting hard, jerking, clunking, and sometimes losing power or stalling. Owners report these issues in normal driving, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous.
Many owners report warning lights for front camera and pre-collision assist malfunctioning, often appearing every time the truck is started. There are also reports of loud bangs from the transmission accompanied by popping sounds from the rear suspension, which may be electrical or sensor-related.
Headlight issues are common enough to be a top complaint area, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample. This can affect visibility and safety at night.
Engine-related complaints are less frequent than transmission but still significant, with issues that may include stalling or performance problems, though specific details are not provided in the sample.
“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 Ctx700 — 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 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 is recalling certain model year 2014 CTX700 motorcycles manufactured March 6, 2013, through April 11, 2013. Due to a manufacturing error, the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) may malfunction and lose anti-lock functionality.
The risk: The anti-lock function may not perform properly allowing for wheel lock up and skidding, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the ABS modulator, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's recall number is JB0.
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 Ctx700 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda CTX700 has far fewer complaints per year (2.2 vs 1,131.1) and fewer recalls (3 vs 145), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the CTX700's problems are safety-critical, involving power loss and handling. The F-150's issues are more numerous and varied, but many are about transmission comfort and electronic glitches. In practice, the CTX700 may be more reliable in terms of frequency, but the F-150's problems are more widespread and could lead to more frequent trips to the shop.
Key differences
- The CTX700 has a sudden loss of engine power issue, while the F-150 has transmission hard shifting and power loss.
- The CTX700 has rear wheel misalignment causing handling issues, while the F-150 has electrical system malfunctions like camera errors.
- The CTX700 has only 3 recalls, while the F-150 has 145 recalls, indicating a much higher rate of manufacturer-identified defects.
- The CTX700 has 1 crash-related complaint, while the F-150 has 328, suggesting a higher incidence of safety-related incidents in the F-150.
- Check for any history of engine power loss or idle issues, and have the DCT clutch operation tested at stops.
- Inspect the rear wheel alignment and handlebar straightness; test ride to ensure the bike tracks straight.
- Test drive the truck to feel for hard shifts or jerking, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears.
- Check for any warning lights on the dash, especially for front camera or pre-collision assist, and verify they clear.
Before you buy
- For the CTX700: ask for service records related to engine power loss or DCT repairs.
- For the CTX700: have a mechanic check the rear axle alignment and swingarm marks.
- For the F-150: check the transmission fluid condition and service history.
- For the F-150: scan for any stored diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) related to transmission or electrical systems.
- For both: get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a qualified mechanic.
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 Ctx700 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Ctx700 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Ctx700 vs FORD F 150
- Honda Ctx700 total complaints
- 11
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Honda Ctx700 total recalls
- 3
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Honda Ctx700 avg complaints/year
- 2.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Ctx700
- Honda Ctx700 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN