Head-to-head reliability
Honda Element vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Element 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 Element vs FORD F 150: The Element has 1,307 complaints over 9 years (145/year) and 100 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. Element issues often involve windshield cracks and air bags; F-150 problems center on transmission and electrical faults. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Element or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Element
The Honda Element is a boxy compact SUV with a loyal following, but NHTSA data shows 1,307 complaints over 9 years (about 145 per year) and 100 recalls. The most common owner-reported problems involve visibility (379 complaints), air bags (328), suspension (116), and electrical system (112). Many complaints describe stress cracks in the windshield, air bag deployment issues in crashes, and severe undercarriage rust that can fail state inspections.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a huge owner base, generating 11,621 complaints over 10 years (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. The dominant complaint areas are power train (3,648), electrical system (2,100), and exterior lighting (1,224). Owners frequently report transmission problems like limp mode and stuck gears, as well as electrical glitches such as a rear window defroster short that can shatter the back glass.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Element | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,307 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 100 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 97 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 145.2 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 100 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 Element
- 01VISIBILITY379
- 02AIR BAGS328
- 03SUSPENSION116
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM112
- 05STRUCTURE93
Owners report windshield stress cracks that appear spontaneously, often near the rearview mirror, and sometimes a loud bang from the glass. These cracks can obstruct the driver's view and may require costly replacement, and the high complaint count suggests it is a recurring design issue.
Complaints describe air bags failing to deploy in crashes, including a 2009 Element that was hit and spun but the air bags did not inflate. This is a critical safety concern because air bags are a primary restraint in a collision.
Owners report excessive rust on the rear suspension and frame, similar to the Honda CR-V recall (23V-228). This rust can cause the vehicle to fail state safety inspections and may compromise structural integrity, making it a major pre-purchase inspection point.
Complaints include instrument cluster failures, such as the gas gauge needle popping out and the tachometer stopping simultaneously. These failures can leave the driver without critical information about fuel level or engine speed, increasing the risk of running out of gas or missing engine problems.
“I had arrived home on 7/17/2025 and was sitting in my parked vehicle under my carport talking on the phone when I heard a very loud bang. I was disoriented and worried that my safety may be at risk, so I asked the person I was speaking to if they would stay o…”
“STRESS CRACK APPEARED ON WINDSHIELD DIRECTLY OPPOSITE REAR VIEW MIRROR. CRACK BEGINS ABOVE AREA OF WINDSHIELD EXPOSED TO OUTSIDE AIR, EXTENDS STRAIGHT DOWN FOR SEVERAL INCHES, THEN VEERS LEFT SEVERAL INCHES AND STOPS. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THERE IS N…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report recurring transmission issues, including a 'lead frame' defect that can cause sudden downshifts or limp mode, and a 2017 F-150 with a 6-speed automatic that gets stuck in 5th gear almost daily. These problems can lead to loss of power and near-collisions, and the lead frame issue has persisted for over a decade.
Complaints include a rear window defroster short that can cause the back glass to shatter outward, and output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode (code P0722). These electrical faults can be dangerous and expensive to diagnose and repair.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting problems are common, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should check all lights, including brake, turn, and reverse lights, as failures can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
Engine-related complaints number 880, but the sample text does not describe specific symptoms. Given the high volume, buyers should have a mechanic inspect for common issues like misfires, oil leaks, or timing problems before purchase.
“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 Element — 100 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mary…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-…
The risk: If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using opti…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. T…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5…
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 Element or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda Element has far fewer complaints per year (about 145) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but the Element's issues often involve safety-critical systems like air bags and rust. The F-150's higher complaint rate reflects its larger sales volume and a broader range of problems, especially with the power train and electrical systems. In practice, the Element may need fewer visits to the shop, but the F-150's issues can be more severe and costly.
Key differences
- The Honda Element has about 145 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 has about 1,162 per year, but the F-150 sells in much higher volumes.
- Element owners frequently report windshield stress cracks and air bag deployment failures, while F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and rear window shattering.
- The Element has 100 recalls and 100 injuries reported, while the F-150 has 151 recalls and 297 injuries, with 1 death reported.
- Suspension rust is a major concern on the Element, whereas power train and electrical issues dominate F-150 complaints.
- Inspect the windshield for any stress cracks, especially near the rearview mirror, as owners report spontaneous cracking.
- Check the rear suspension and frame for excessive rust, as this can cause state inspection failure and is a known issue.
- Test drive the truck and watch for transmission shuddering, delayed engagement, or sudden downshifts that could indicate a lead frame or speed sensor problem.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and look for any signs of shorting or previous shattering, as this is a reported fire and glass hazard.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to check for open recalls, especially air bag inflator recalls on the Element and transmission software recalls on the F-150.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Element's undercarriage for rust and the F-150's transmission for stored codes and limp mode history.
- For the Element, test all electrical components including the gas gauge and tachometer for proper function.
- For the F-150, check the rear window defroster operation and inspect the glass for any cracks or previous replacement.
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if any prior complaints or repairs match the common issues reported to NHTSA.
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 Element or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Element vs FORD F 150
- Honda Element total complaints
- 1,307
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Honda Element total recalls
- 100
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Honda Element avg complaints/year
- 145.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Element
- Honda Element top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN