Head-to-head reliability
Honda Vtx1800 vs FORD F 150
How the Honda Vtx1800 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 Vtx1800 vs FORD F 150: The VTX1800 has 132 complaints over 7 years (18.9/yr) with a focus on rear wheel bearing failures, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1131.1/yr) with transmission and electrical issues. The VTX1800 has 3 recalls, the F-150 has 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Vtx1800 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Vtx1800
The Honda VTX1800 is a large cruiser motorcycle that owners tend to keep for years, but the complaint data reveals a persistent issue with the rear wheel bearings and driven flange. Many owners report discovering bearing failure during routine tire changes, often at relatively low mileage, which can lead to unsafe riding conditions if not caught early. The overall complaint rate is low, but the nature of the failures—especially those involving the rear wheel—makes regular inspection critical.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume, reflecting its popularity and the complexity of modern trucks. Owners frequently report transmission problems, particularly hard shifting and sudden power loss, as well as electrical glitches affecting safety systems like the front camera and pre-collision assist. While the F-150 has many recalls, the day-to-day issues are more about drivability and electronic reliability than catastrophic failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Vtx1800 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 132 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 18.9 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 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 Vtx1800
- 01POWER TRAIN37
- 02SUSPENSION34
- 03WHEELS21
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING12
- 05STRUCTURE11
Owners report rear driven flange bearing failure, often discovered during tire replacement. The bearings become rough, hard to spin, and can disintegrate, leading to metal debris and potential wheel seizure.
Suspension complaints are largely tied to the same rear bearing issue, as technicians often flag bearing wear during rear tire service. Some owners note premature wear at low mileage, like 13,500 miles.
Wheel-related complaints include unusual tire wear, such as tread wearing down to the cords on one side, and rear wheel turning harder, which can be a sign of bearing failure. These issues can create dangerous driving situations.
One owner reported the motorcycle stalling at highway speed, which required waiting 15 minutes before restarting. This could indicate a fuel or electrical issue, but it's a rare but serious concern.
“(1) 2003 HONDA VTX 1800C MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVEN FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. WHEN REMOVING TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT, (2) I DISCOVERED THE SMALL BEARINGS PRESSED INTO THE DRIVEN FLANGE (MOUNTED ON REAR WHEEL) WERE VERY ROUGH AND HARD TO SPIN, USING…”
“I WAS REMOVING REAR WHEEL ON MY 2003 HONDA VTX C MODEL TO REPLACE WORN TIRE AND WITH THE WHEEL OFF I DID A CHECK OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS. I FREQUENTLY VISIT THE HONDA VTX OWNERS SITE TO KEEP UP ON MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNER HAVE HAD…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners describing hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power while driving. Some have experienced complete shutdown and restart.
Electrical issues include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear on the dash. These can be persistent and may require dealer visits, but they don't always disable the vehicle.
Headlight-related recalls are common, but owners also report issues with exterior lighting that may affect visibility, though specific complaints are less detailed in the sample.
Engine complaints are less frequent but can include stalling or performance issues. The sample doesn't provide specific details, but the category is significant in the overall data.
“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 Vtx1800 — 3 recalls
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. A TRANSMISSION CIRCLIP WAS NOT SEATED CORRECTLY AND COULD ALLOW GEARS TO LOCK.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A REAR-WHEEL LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE MOTORCYCLES. ALL OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE AND ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100% COMPLETED.
The defect: HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 VTX1800 MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 14 AND OCTOBER 4, 2001. THE SWINGARM MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY WELDED.
The risk: THE SWINGARM COULD BREAK WHILE RIDINGCAUSING THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN CRASH.
The fix: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELD AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SWINGARM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA MOTORCYCLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-784-1870.
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE WASHER FOR THE SIDE STAND SPRING BOLT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT HARNESS AND COULD DEFORM, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO FLEX AND EVENTUALLY BREAK DURING SIDE STAND OPERATION.
The risk: A RETRACTED SIDE STAND COULD DROP WHILE RIDING, POSSIBLY ACTIVATING THE SIDE STAND IGNITION CUT-OFF SYSTEM. IF THE IGNITION IS CUT, THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED WASHER AND A NEW SPRING BOLT AND NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
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 Vtx1800 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Honda VTX1800 has far fewer complaints per year (18.9 vs 1131.1) and a smaller number of recalls, but its issues are concentrated on a critical safety component—the rear wheel bearings. The Ford F-150 has a much higher complaint rate, but many are related to transmission and electronic annoyances rather than immediate safety threats. In practice, the VTX1800 requires proactive maintenance to avoid a dangerous failure, while the F-150 may need frequent dealer visits for software and transmission updates.
Key differences
- The VTX1800's main issue is rear wheel bearing failure, which can lead to wheel seizure and accidents; the F-150's main issue is transmission harshness and power loss.
- The VTX1800 has a very low complaint rate (18.9/yr) compared to the F-150 (1131.1/yr), but the VTX's problems are more safety-critical.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls, indicating widespread manufacturing issues, while the VTX1800 has only 3 recalls.
- Electrical system problems are prominent in the F-150, affecting driver-assist features, whereas the VTX1800 has minimal electrical complaints.
- Inspect the rear wheel bearings and driven flange for roughness, play, or signs of grease leakage; many owners find failures during tire changes.
- Listen for unusual rear wheel noise or feel for vibration, and check for uneven tire wear, which can indicate bearing issues.
- Test drive the F-150 through all gears, especially 4-5 and 5-6 upshifts, to feel for hard shifts or clunks; also check for any warning lights on the dash.
- Check the transmission fluid condition and service history; ask if the dealer has performed any TSB updates for the 10R80.
Before you buy
- For the VTX1800: Have a mechanic inspect the rear wheel bearings and flange before purchase, and budget for replacement if needed.
- For the VTX1800: Check the motorcycle's service records for any rear bearing replacements or recalls performed.
- For the F-150: Obtain a vehicle history report and verify that all recalls have been addressed, especially transmission and electrical ones.
- For the F-150: Perform a thorough test drive, including highway speeds, to assess transmission behavior and electronic features.
- For both: Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with these models.
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 Vtx1800 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Vtx1800 vs FORD F 150
- Honda Vtx1800 total complaints
- 132
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Honda Vtx1800 total recalls
- 3
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Honda Vtx1800 avg complaints/year
- 18.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Honda Vtx1800
- Honda Vtx1800 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN