Head-to-head reliability
Honda S2000 vs FORD F 150
How the Honda S2000 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 S2000 vs FORD F 150: Over 10 years, the S2000 averaged 16.2 complaints per year and had 6 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,162.1 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150 also had 297 injuries vs. 21 for the S2000. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda S2000 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 is a two-seat sports car with a strong enthusiast following, but its low production numbers mean fewer complaints overall. Over 10 years, it averaged 16.2 complaints per year, with common issues in the power train, engine, and air bags. Owners report clutch and differential failures, engine stalling, and air bag deployment problems. While some issues are serious, the frequency is much lower than the Ford F-150.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with massive sales volume, leading to far more complaints—averaging 1,162.1 per year. The most reported problems are in the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Owners describe transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and electrical glitches. With 151 recalls and 297 injuries reported, it's clear that many owners face recurring safety and reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda S2000 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 162 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.2 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 21 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 S2000
- 01POWER TRAIN26
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING22
- 03AIR BAGS20
- 04STRUCTURE18
- 05VISIBILITY17
Owners report clutch master cylinder and clutch fork failures, often requiring costly repairs over $2,000. Differential gears can break apart, causing sudden loss of power. These issues can leave you stranded and are expensive to fix.
Some owners experienced engine stalling and internal damage to the cylinder head and block, sometimes needing a full engine replacement. Stalling can happen at low mileage, which is a major safety and reliability concern.
Complaints include air bags failing to deploy in crashes, even at speeds where deployment is expected. This raises questions about occupant protection in a collision.
Convertible top issues are common, such as loud popping noises, cuts in the fabric, and metal links that could strike an occupant's head in a crash. These affect both comfort and safety.
“I HAD MY MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED WHEN MY CAR WAS AT 40,000 MILES IN THE CLUTCH. NOW AT 68,777 MILES THE CLUTCH HAS SOMETHING WRONG BUT STILL SHIFTS INTO GEAR AT THIS POINT. NOW THEY ARE GUESSING THAT THE CLUTCH FORK IS WEARING OUT WHICH IS OVER $2,000.00 TO…”
“THE DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT. I KNOW THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM, BUT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THE HONDA S2000 COMMUNITY. THE METAL (GEARS) IN THE HOUSING BEGIN TO BREAK APART. ALL IT TAKES IS A CHUNK OF THAT METAL TO LODGE IN TO THE WRONG GEAR AND Y…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Transmission problems are widespread, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues can happen while driving and may lead to dangerous situations.
Owners report lead frame issues causing transmission problems, as well as rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the back window. Electrical glitches can be unpredictable and costly to diagnose.
Some complaints involve rear window defroster shorts leading to exploding windows, which is a serious safety hazard. These are hard to predict and can cause injury.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting failures are frequent, potentially affecting visibility and safety. This is a common annoyance that can lead to tickets or accidents.
“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 S2000 — 6 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES, THE OWNER'S MANUALS CONTAIN INCORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE.
The risk: THE LANGUAGE IN THE OWNER'S MANUALS IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS.
The fix: HONDA WILL SEND A POSTCARD TO DEALERS AND OWNERS WITH THE CORRECT NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE INFORMATION AND WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO INSERT THE CARD INTO THE "REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS" SECTION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGU…
The defect: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2006 Acura RSX vehicles manufactured January 18, 2006, through August 12, 2006; and model year 2006-2007 Honda S2000 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2006, through November 13, 2006. The brake booster may be unable to maintain…
The risk: With reduced braking assistance, the vehicle may require additional brake pedal force to prevent a lengthened stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster assembly. If necessary, the dealers will replace the booster assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-310-…
The defect: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2006 Acura RSX vehicles manufactured January 18, 2006, through August 12, 2006; and model year 2006-2007 Honda S2000 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2006, through November 13, 2006. The brake booster may be unable to maintain…
The risk: With reduced braking assistance, the vehicle may require additional brake pedal force to prevent a lengthened stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster assembly. If necessary, the dealers will replace the booster assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-310-…
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CAN DEFORM AND CAUSE COMPLETE OR FREQUENT LOCKING OF THE RETRACTOR. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELTS CANNOT BE PULLED OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND CANNOT BE USED.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY.
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 S2000 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda S2000 has far fewer issues per year (16.2 vs. 1,162.1), meaning you're less likely to face frequent repairs. However, when problems occur on the S2000, they can be serious and expensive. The Ford F-150's high complaint volume suggests a higher chance of encountering recurring issues, especially with the transmission and electrical system.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 70 times more complaints per year than the Honda S2000, indicating a much higher rate of owner-reported problems.
- Transmission and electrical issues dominate F-150 complaints, with lead frame failures causing limp mode and near-collisions.
- Honda S2000 complaints often involve clutch, differential, and engine stalling, which can be costly but are less frequent.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 6 for the S2000, suggesting broader safety-related defects.
- Check for clutch wear or master cylinder issues, especially if the car has over 40,000 miles; listen for grinding or difficulty shifting.
- Inspect the differential for metal shavings or unusual noises, as gear breakage is a known problem.
- Test drive and look for transmission shuddering, delayed engagement, or limp mode; scan for stored codes like P0722.
- Check the rear window defroster operation and look for any cracks or signs of shattering; also inspect exterior lights for function.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Honda S2000's clutch, differential, and engine for stalling issues.
- For the Ford F-150, scan the transmission computer for codes and test drive at highway speeds to check for limp mode.
- Verify that all safety recalls, especially those related to air bags and seat belts, have been performed.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the specific model's common problems.
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 S2000 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda S2000 vs FORD F 150
- Honda S2000 total complaints
- 162
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Honda S2000 total recalls
- 6
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Honda S2000 avg complaints/year
- 16.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda S2000
- Honda S2000 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN