Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti FX50 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti FX50 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
Infiniti FX50 vs FORD F 150: The FX50 has 3 complaints over 5 years (0.6/year) and 0 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also shows 330 crash-related reports and 297 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti FX50 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti FX50
The Infiniti FX50 is a low-volume luxury SUV with very few complaints on record—just 3 over five years, averaging 0.6 per year. No recalls, crashes, injuries, or deaths are reported in the data. The complaints that do exist point to specific, recurring problems like sunroof drains leaking into the cabin and a pedal layout that can cause unintended acceleration. Overall, it appears to be a vehicle with infrequent but potentially serious owner-reported issues.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with 11,621 complaints over ten years—about 1,162 per year—plus 151 recalls and 330 crash-related reports. The complaint pattern is dominated by power train and electrical problems, especially transmission limp mode and lead frame failures. Owners also report serious electrical glitches like rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the glass. This is a vehicle with a long, well-documented history of recurring safety-related defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti FX50 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.6 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Infiniti FX50
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
- 02SERVICE BRAKES1
- 03HYDRAULIC1
- 04POWER TRAIN1
One owner reports that the sunroof drain leaks into the driver and passenger floor, causing puddles and electrical damage. This is described as a known issue across several Infiniti models, and the owner says Infiniti did not fix it.
An owner reports that the gas pedal is too high, so pressing the brake can also depress the gas, causing the car to lurch forward. The dealer said it could not be fixed, which is a serious concern for low-speed control.
The same pedal misapplication complaint appears under the hydraulic component, with the engine roaring periodically when braking. This reinforces that the pedal layout issue is a real owner-reported safety concern.
One owner reports the vehicle shifts erroneously between second and third gears, and the dealer confirmed the failure but had no remedy. This means a buyer could face a transmission problem that is difficult to resolve.
“Sunroof Drain will leak into the car on driver and passenger side floor causing a puddle in the car. Causes electrical damage. This is a known issue on all Infiniti FX 35, FX50, G35, G37, M series, J series and QX series. Infiniti did not fix the issue.”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners repeatedly describe transmission limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions. One owner says the lead frame issue has gone well over a decade without a proper remedy.
The lead frame problem also appears under electrical complaints, and one owner reports a rear window defroster short that caused the back window to explode outward. Another owner describes limp mode from an output speed sensor failure even after a recall software update.
A separate complaint describes the rear window shattering after the defroster was turned off, with no external impact. This suggests an electrical short that can cause sudden glass failure, which is a safety risk.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint area with 1,224 reports, though the sample text does not detail specific failures. Buyers should still be aware that lighting problems are frequently reported on this truck.
“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.
Infiniti FX50
No recalls on record.
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
Infiniti FX50 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti FX50 has far fewer issues per year—0.6 versus about 1,162 for the Ford F-150—and no recalls or crash reports in the data. In practice, the F-150's complaint volume and recurring transmission and electrical defects mean a much higher chance of encountering a serious problem. The FX50's low complaint count suggests fewer problems overall, but the few reported issues are still worth checking.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years versus 3 for the Infiniti FX50 over 5 years, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- The F-150's top complaint areas are power train (3,648) and electrical system (2,100), with owners describing limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures; the FX50's few complaints include a sunroof drain leak and a pedal misapplication issue.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related reports, while the FX50 has zero recalls and zero crash-related reports in the provided data.
- The F-150 sample complaints include a rear window shattering from a defroster short, a severe electrical failure not seen in the FX50 sample.
- Check the sunroof drains and inspect the driver and passenger floor areas for water stains, dampness, or electrical damage, as owners report leaks causing puddles.
- Test the brake and gas pedal spacing carefully—press the brake and see if your foot can accidentally catch the gas pedal, which owners say causes lurching.
- Ask for transmission service records and test drive for limp mode, harsh shifting, or getting stuck in 5th gear; lead frame failures are a recurring owner complaint.
- Inspect the rear window defroster operation and look for any signs of electrical shorts or prior glass replacement, as one owner reported the window shattering after defroster use.
Before you buy
- For either vehicle, obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially on the F-150 given its 151 recalls.
- On the FX50, pour water around the sunroof and check for leaks into the footwells before buying.
- On the F-150, scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive at highway speed to check for limp mode or erratic shifting.
- On the F-150, verify that any recall software updates (like 26S28) have been performed and ask if the lead frame has been replaced.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brake and gas pedal alignment on the FX50 and the rear defroster circuit on the F-150.
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 Infiniti FX50 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti FX50 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti FX50 total complaints
- 3
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Infiniti FX50 total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Infiniti FX50 avg complaints/year
- 0.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti FX50
- Infiniti FX50 top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN