Head-to-head reliability
Honda FCX Clarity vs FORD F 150
How the Honda FCX Clarity 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 FCX Clarity vs FORD F 150: The Clarity has 0 complaints and 5 recalls over 10 years, all for passenger airbag inflators. The F-150 has 11,311 complaints, 145 recalls, 328 crash-related complaints, and 287 injuries. The F-150 averages 1,131 complaints per year, while the Clarity averages 0. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda FCX Clarity or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda FCX Clarity
The Honda FCX Clarity is a hydrogen fuel-cell sedan produced in very small numbers, so owner-reported data is extremely limited. Over ten years, NHTSA logged zero complaints, meaning there is no pattern of owner-reported failures to describe. However, it has five recalls, all for the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator module, which is a serious safety defect that can cause injury if the airbag deploys incorrectly. For a buyer, the main reliability concern is not daily breakdowns but ensuring the airbag recall was fixed.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a huge number of owner complaints: 11,311 over ten years, or about 1,131 per year. The most common problem areas are the power train, electrical system, exterior lighting, and engine. Owners report hard or delayed transmission shifts, sudden loss of power, loud bangs from the transmission, and electrical glitches like camera and pre-collision assist warnings. There are also 328 crash-related complaints, 287 injuries, and one death, so these are not just minor annoyances.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda FCX Clarity | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 FCX Clarity
No component data available.
All five recalls involve the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator module. If the inflator is defective, it can rupture during deployment and send metal fragments into the cabin, which can cause serious injury or death. Buyers should verify the recall repair was completed.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard, delayed, or jerky shifts, especially in the 10-speed automatic transmission. Some describe losing all power while driving, with the truck shutting off and drifting, then restarting with a violent jerk. This can happen in traffic and is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include loud bangs or popping sounds from the transmission and rear suspension during downshifts, as well as repeated dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These electrical faults can distract the driver and may affect safety features.
There are 1,164 complaints about exterior lighting, often headlights. Recalls also cover headlights. Poor or failing headlights reduce visibility at night, making it harder to see the road and be seen by others.
With 847 complaints and multiple engine-related recalls, owners report engine problems that can lead to stalling or loss of power. Engine issues may require costly repairs and can leave you stranded.
“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 FCX Clarity — 5 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is KA4, KA5, KA6, and KA7.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Hon…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may con…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississip…
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: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is KA4, KA5, KA6, and KA7.
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 FCX Clarity or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda FCX Clarity has far fewer reported issues per year: 0 complaints per year versus about 1,131 per year for the Ford F-150. In practice, this means the F-150 has a much higher volume of owner-reported problems, including transmission, electrical, and engine failures that can affect safety and cost thousands to fix. The Clarity's main concern is a serious airbag recall, but with no complaints, its day-to-day reliability is not documented as problematic.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years, while the Honda FCX Clarity has 0, so the F-150 has a documented pattern of owner-reported failures and the Clarity does not.
- F-150 owners report transmission problems like hard shifts, sudden power loss, and loud bangs, which can happen while driving and create safety risks.
- The Clarity's only recorded issue is a passenger-side airbag inflator recall (5 recalls), which is a serious defect but is a one-time fix if repaired.
- The F-150 also has 328 crash-related complaints, 287 injuries, and 1 death, while the Clarity has 0 in each category, though the Clarity's very low production volume limits complaint data.
- Check that the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator recall has been completed; an unrepaired inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin.
- Since there are no owner complaints, ask for any service records or recall completion documentation, as the vehicle is rare and parts may be hard to find.
- Test drive at various speeds and watch for hard, delayed, or jerky shifts, especially between 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8 gears, and listen for loud bangs or clunks from the transmission.
- Check for dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' and have the electrical system scanned for stored codes.
Before you buy
- For the Honda FCX Clarity, verify the airbag recall was performed by checking the NHTSA recall lookup with the VIN and asking for proof of repair.
- For the Ford F-150, get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic who knows the 10R80 transmission and can check for shift quality and stored transmission codes.
- On the F-150, test all exterior lights, including headlights, and check for recalls on the headlights and battery cables.
- Ask for a complete service history on either vehicle, and for the F-150, look for records of transmission or electrical repairs.
- Check the NHTSA website for any open recalls on the specific VIN before you buy, and confirm all recalls are closed.
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 FCX Clarity or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda FCX Clarity vs FORD F 150
- Honda FCX Clarity total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Honda FCX Clarity total recalls
- 5
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Honda FCX Clarity avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda FCX Clarity
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN