Head-to-head reliability
Honda Odyssey vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Odyssey 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 Odyssey vs FORD F 150: The Odyssey has 3,399 complaints over 10 years (about 340 per year) and 81 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports more crash-related complaints (330 vs. 49). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Odyssey or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey is a minivan that owners often rely on for family hauling, but NHTSA data shows 3,399 complaints over 10 years (about 340 per year) and 81 recalls. The most common trouble spots are electrical gremlins, forward collision avoidance glitches, and engine issues. While the overall complaint rate is lower than some rivals, the pattern suggests you may face annoying electronic faults and occasional powertrain problems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume: 11,621 over 10 years (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. Power train problems dominate, especially transmission and lead frame issues, followed by electrical and lighting complaints. Owners report serious drivability failures like limp mode and sudden gear changes, which can be dangerous.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Odyssey | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,399 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 81 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 49 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 339.9 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 123 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 1 Better |
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 Odyssey
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,036
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE721
- 03ENGINE714
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER583
- 05LANE DEPARTURE461
Owners report the alarm going off and failing to deactivate, sometimes for hours, and infotainment screens going blank, which also kills the backup camera. These glitches are frustrating and can distract or leave you without safety features.
Complaints include the vehicle braking unexpectedly or failing to accelerate, and some report the van going into limp mode with a forward collision sensor failure. This can happen without warning and may put you at risk on the highway.
Owners describe engine failure requiring new ignition coils and spark plugs, followed by recurring acceleration issues, judder, and check engine lights. Another report notes sudden power loss while driving, which is alarming.
This category often duplicates electrical and engine complaints, such as infotainment blanking and ignition coil failures. It highlights that many issues don't fit neatly into one system, making diagnosis harder.
“The contact owns a 2017 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the alarm activated, and the contact attempted to turn off the alarm; however, the alarm failed to deactivate. The alarm went off for several hours before stopping. The co…”
“The infotainment screen will go blank and will no longer show the backup camera at all. The FAKRA recall was performed at the Honda dealership when I first purchased the car new. I did not have any significant issues until around July of 2026. First, the spea…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The most common complaint is the 'lead frame' issue, which can cause harsh shifting, limp mode, and near collisions. Owners also report the transmission sticking in 5th gear and failing to downshift, leading to dangerous driving conditions.
Many electrical complaints are tied to the same lead frame problem, plus issues like a short in the rear window defroster that can cause the back window to shatter. These faults can leave you stranded or create safety hazards.
This includes the rear window shattering due to a defroster short, which owners say happens without impact. Such unexpected failures are costly and can be frightening.
Although not detailed in the sample, exterior lighting is a top complaint area, suggesting owners frequently deal with failing lights. This can affect visibility and safety, especially at night.
“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 Odyssey — 81 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions. If a seat is placed between either of the two positions when attaching the seat to the vehicle floor, the seat will not latch properly to…
The risk: If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the second row outboard floor strikers, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2018. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-21…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Odyssey and 2024 Acura RDX vehicles. The steering gear box assembly may not have been tightened properly, allowing water to enter the assembly and cause corrosion and binding gears.
The risk: Corroded and binding steering gears can result in a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are LHU and FHT.
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 Odyssey or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda Odyssey has far fewer complaints per year (about 340 vs. 1,162 for the Ford F-150), meaning you're statistically less likely to face frequent repair visits. However, the Odyssey still has notable electrical and collision-avoidance quirks, while the F-150's power train issues can be more severe and dangerous.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over three times as many complaints per year as the Honda Odyssey, with power train issues being the most frequent and potentially dangerous.
- Honda Odyssey owners commonly report electrical glitches like alarm malfunctions and blank infotainment screens, while Ford F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has more crash-related complaints (330 vs. 49) and injuries (297 vs. 123), though these numbers don't prove fault.
- Both have recalls, but the F-150's recalls include engine and seat belt pretensioner issues, while the Odyssey's include fuel pump and back-over prevention display problems.
- Check the infotainment screen and backup camera for blanking or failure, as owners report these going out without warning.
- Test the alarm system and ensure it deactivates properly; some owners report it running for hours and draining the battery.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for harsh shifting, limp mode, or getting stuck in 5th gear, which points to the lead frame issue.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for signs of shorting, and ask if the back window has ever shattered unexpectedly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially the fuel pump and back-over prevention display for the Odyssey, and engine/seat belt recalls for the F-150.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and electrical system, focusing on the lead frame for the F-150 and alarm/infotainment for the Odyssey.
- Test all electronic features: backup camera, infotainment, alarm, and forward collision warning, during a thorough test drive.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for ignition coils and spark plugs on the Odyssey and transmission service on the F-150.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a dealer or specialist familiar with these specific models to catch known issues.
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 Odyssey | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 38 | 35 |
| 2025 | 391 | 345 |
| 2024 | 109 | 638 |
| 2023 | 100 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 136 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 143 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 474 | 44 |
| 2019 | 976 | 52 |
| 2018 | 993 | 79 |
| 2017 | 39 | 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 Odyssey or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Odyssey vs FORD F 150
- Honda Odyssey total complaints
- 3,399
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Honda Odyssey total recalls
- 81
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Honda Odyssey avg complaints/year
- 339.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Odyssey
- Honda Odyssey top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN