Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti G20 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti G20 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 G20 vs FORD F 150: The G20 has 24 complaints over 3 years (about 8 per year) and 0 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also shows 330 crash-related complaints versus 3 for the G20. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti G20 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti G20
The Infiniti G20 is a small luxury sedan with a modest complaint volume: 24 over three years, or about 8 per year, and no recalls on record. Owners most often report engine-related smells and airbag sensor faults, with some brake and power-train issues. Living with one means watching for warning lights and odd smells rather than facing frequent breakdowns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint count: 11,621 over ten years, averaging about 1,162 per year, plus 151 recalls. Power-train and electrical problems dominate, including transmission limp mode and lead-frame failures. Buyers should expect a much higher volume of reported issues and more safety-recall activity.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti G20 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 24 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 8.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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 G20
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
- 02AIR BAGS4
- 03SERVICE BRAKES3
- 04POWER TRAIN2
- 05VISIBILITY2
Owners repeatedly describe a sulfur or rotten-egg smell from the exhaust that dealers struggled to fix, sometimes resolving only after components burned off. This matters because it can signal unresolved emissions or fuel-system issues that may cost time and money to diagnose.
The passenger-side airbag warning light flashes, often traced to a faulty airbag sensor after warranty expires. A buyer should check that the light behaves normally on a test drive, since a bad sensor can mean the airbag may not deploy correctly.
Reports include screeching when braking, glazed or grooved front rotors, and cracked front pads, with one owner describing both front and rear brakes failing. These are wear-and-tear items, but they matter because brake problems directly affect stopping safety.
One owner reported the engine revving unexpectedly while in reverse with the brake applied, and another complaint ties power-train issues to a lemon-law situation. Buyers should test reverse and low-speed maneuvering for any unusual revving or hesitation.
“SULPHER SMELL INSIDE CAR: THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT. EVENTUALLY THE SMELL WENT AWAY BY ITSELF, OR WHAT EVER SMELLED LIKE SULPHUR WHILE IT WAS BURNING FINALLY BURNT UP.*AK HERE IS A LIST OF OTHER REPAIRS THE DEALER HAS MADE: NEW ALTINAT…”
“CONSUMER STATES FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A ROTTEN EGG/SULFUR SMELL COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 TIMES TO TRY AND GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED, CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe recurring transmission limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead-frame failures that one driver said nearly caused a collision. These are serious because they can leave the truck in a reduced-power mode or cause harsh shifting while driving.
The same lead-frame issue appears under electrical complaints, along with an output speed sensor failure that triggered highway limp mode and a rear-window defroster short that shattered the back glass. Electrical faults here can affect both drivability and basic safety systems.
A reported short in the rear-window defroster caused the back window to explode outward shortly after the defroster was turned off. This is a rare but alarming failure that a buyer should watch for by testing the defroster and inspecting the rear glass.
Exterior lighting is among the top complaint areas, though the sample text does not detail specific failures. Buyers should still check all lights, including brake and reverse lamps, since lighting problems are common enough to rank high in the data.
“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 G20
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 G20 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti G20 has far fewer issues per year, about 8 versus roughly 1,162 for the Ford F-150, and no recalls versus 151. In practice, the G20 owner faces a smaller, more manageable set of complaints, while the F-150 owner faces a much higher volume of power-train and electrical reports.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years versus 24 for the Infiniti G20 over 3 years, a massive difference in reported problem volume.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls on record, while the G20 has none, meaning F-150 buyers should check for open safety recalls before purchase.
- F-150 complaints center on power-train limp mode and lead-frame failures, while G20 complaints center on sulfur smells and airbag sensor faults.
- The F-150 data includes 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, compared with 3 crash-related and 2 injuries for the G20, though these are raw counts not rates.
- Check the passenger-side airbag warning light: it should come on briefly at startup and then go out, not flash continuously, since a faulty sensor is a known complaint.
- During a test drive, listen for a sulfur or rotten-egg smell from the exhaust and note any brake screeching, both of which owners have reported.
- Test the transmission at low and highway speeds for limp mode, getting stuck in a gear, or harsh shifting, as owners report recurring power-train faults.
- Turn on the rear-window defroster and inspect the rear glass for any signs of cracking or prior replacement, given a reported case of the window shattering.
Before you buy
- Ask for the VIN and check for open recalls on both vehicles, especially the F-150, which has 151 recalls on record.
- On the G20, verify the airbag warning light cycles correctly and ask whether the airbag sensor has been replaced.
- On the F-150, scan for transmission trouble codes and test-drive enough to reach highway speed, watching for limp mode or stuck gears.
- Inspect brake rotors and pads on the G20 for glazing, grooves, or cracks, and listen for screeching during braking.
- On the F-150, test the rear defroster and inspect the rear window for cracks or signs of replacement.
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 G20 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti G20 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti G20 total complaints
- 24
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Infiniti G20 total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Infiniti G20 avg complaints/year
- 8.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti G20
- Infiniti G20 top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN