Head-to-head reliability
Hummer H2 vs FORD F 150
How the Hummer H2 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
Hummer H2 vs FORD F 150: The H2 has 356 complaints over 9 years (about 40/year) and 23 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (over 1,100/year) and 145 recalls. The F-150’s most common issue is transmission problems; the H2’s are electrical and brake failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hummer H2 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hummer H2
The Hummer H2 is a large, heavy SUV with a relatively low complaint rate for its size: 356 complaints over 9 years, about 40 per year. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins, visibility problems like windshield washers that spray uncontrollably, and brake and steering issues that can make the vehicle hard to control. With 23 recalls and 25 crash-related complaints, it demands careful maintenance, especially of electrical and brake systems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume: 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging over 1,100 per year. The most common trouble spots are the power train (especially transmission shifting problems), electrical system, and exterior lighting. With 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, it’s clear that many owners experience significant reliability issues, particularly with the transmission.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hummer H2 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 356 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 23 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 39.6 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 21 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.
Hummer H2
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM85
- 02VISIBILITY78
- 03SERVICE BRAKES51
- 04STEERING36
- 05POWER TRAIN26
Owners report sudden loss of electrical power, interior fires starting near the rear seat, and blower motors that fail or emit burning odors. These failures can leave you stranded or cause a fire, so any sign of electrical burning or intermittent operation is a serious concern.
Windshield washers may spray continuously and won’t stop, forcing owners to pull the fuse; later they may stop working entirely. This is dangerous if it happens while driving, as it can obscure your view and distract you.
Complaints describe weak brakes and complete brake failure, sometimes along with electrical system shutdown. In one case, a driver experienced total brake loss while on cruise control, which is a severe safety risk.
Owners report steering that becomes extremely hard to turn or fails completely, making the vehicle nearly impossible to control. This often appears alongside brake and electrical issues, suggesting a broader system problem.
“I PURCHASED A 2006 HUMMER H2 AT CERRITOS HUMMER. I CURRENTLY HAVE ALMOST 55,000 MILES. TODAY I WAS PARKING MY CAR AND NOTICED THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. ALSO THE BRAKES WERE REALLY WEAK. I USED ALL THE ENERGY I HAD TO GET INTO A GAS STATION DRIV…”
“VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM START TIME, WAS STATIONARY AND UNOCCUPIED FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-25 MINUTES. VEHICLE INTERIOR CAUGHT FIRE AT THE BASE OF THE TOP SITTING AREA OF THE REAR SEAT, FLAMES FROM FIRE MELTED THE OVER HEAD INTERIOR LIG…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and sudden loss of power, especially with the 10-speed automatic transmission. These issues can cause the truck to shut off or lurch unexpectedly, increasing crash risk.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs from the transmission area. These electrical glitches can disable safety features and distract the driver.
Headlight problems are common enough to be a top complaint category, though specific failure details aren’t given in the sample. Faulty lighting reduces visibility and can lead to accidents, especially at night.
Engine issues are frequently reported, though the sample complaints focus on transmission and electrical. Engine problems can be costly and may leave you stranded, so a thorough mechanical inspection is essential.
“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.
Hummer H2 — 23 recalls
The defect: GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WI…
The risk: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438…
The defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OU…
The risk: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
The fix: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM…
The defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OU…
The risk: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
The fix: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM…
The defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OU…
The risk: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
The fix: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM…
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
Hummer H2 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Hummer H2 has far fewer complaints per year (about 40) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), but both have serious safety-related issues. In practice, the F-150’s much higher complaint volume means you’re more likely to encounter problems, especially with the transmission, while the H2’s lower rate doesn’t guarantee reliability—its electrical and brake failures can be severe.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the Hummer H2 has only 356 in 9 years—about 28 times more complaints per year for the F-150.
- F-150 owners most often report transmission problems (hard shifts, loss of power), while H2 owners report electrical fires, brake failure, and steering loss.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints; the H2 has 23 recalls and 25 crash-related complaints.
- Both vehicles have electrical issues, but the H2’s electrical problems are linked to fires and brake/steering failure, while the F-150’s are often warning lights and sensor malfunctions.
- Check for any signs of electrical burning smells, especially near the rear seat and blower motor, and test all electrical components including washers and lights.
- Test the brakes and steering at low speeds for weakness, hardness, or unusual noises; any hesitation could indicate a serious failure.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th and 5th or 7th and 8th gears—jerking or delayed engagement is a red flag.
- Check for dashboard warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' and ensure all safety systems work.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website for the specific VIN.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the electrical system, brakes, and steering on the Hummer H2, and the transmission and engine on the Ford F-150.
- Test drive both vehicles extensively, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to replicate common failure conditions.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and brake/electrical repairs on the H2.
- Budget for potential repairs: set aside funds for a transmission rebuild on the F-150 or electrical/brake fixes on the H2.
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 Hummer H2 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hummer H2 vs FORD F 150
- Hummer H2 total complaints
- 356
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Hummer H2 total recalls
- 23
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Hummer H2 avg complaints/year
- 39.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Hummer H2
- Hummer H2 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN