Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti I30 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti I30 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 I30 vs FORD F 150: The I30 averages 66 complaints per year with 3 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,131 complaints per year with 145 recalls. The I30's issues often involve suspension and electrical systems, whereas the F-150 frequently reports transmission and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti I30 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti I30
The Infiniti I30 is a luxury sedan that, based on owner complaints, can develop a range of issues as it ages. With an average of 66 complaints per year over two years, it's not the most problematic vehicle, but the pattern shows recurring problems with suspension, electrical systems, and unintended acceleration. Buyers should be prepared for potential repairs to these systems, especially on higher-mileage examples.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume—over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, averaging 1,131 per year. The most common issues involve the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting, with many reports of transmission problems and warning lights. This suggests that while the F-150 is popular, it may require more frequent attention to these areas.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti I30 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 132 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 12 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 66.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 7 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.
Infiniti I30
- 01SUSPENSION29
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
- 03VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL17
- 04STRUCTURE16
- 05SERVICE BRAKES16
Owners report issues like warped rotors causing vibration at highway speeds, and rusted front frame components that can sag. These problems affect ride comfort and structural integrity, so a thorough inspection of the undercarriage is wise.
Complaints include the service engine soon light illuminating due to sensor or coil failures, and rear O2 sensor issues. These can lead to failed emissions tests and require diagnostic time to pinpoint.
Some owners describe unintended acceleration, such as the car accelerating after shifting into drive or while stopping downhill. This is a serious safety concern that should be addressed immediately if experienced.
Reports of rust in the lower radiator support and front cross frame, even on well-maintained cars, can lead to structural weakness. This is critical for crash protection and should be inspected on any used model.
“TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 INFINITI I30. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT A SENSOR OR A COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE REPAIRS. THERE WAS ANOTHER OCCURRENCE APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS LATER.…”
“CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE 2000 INFINITI I30 ROTORS RESURFACED. *MR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 39,868. AT 62K MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AT 55 MPH. OTHER PROBLEMS: THE TRANSMISSION STAYED IN THE LOW GE…”
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 even loss of power with the 10-speed automatic transmission. These issues can leave you stranded and may require costly repairs.
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 affect driver assistance features and overall reliability.
Headlight problems are common enough to be a top complaint category, with recalls for headlights. Faulty lighting reduces visibility and can be a safety risk, so check all lights function properly.
Engine-related complaints and recalls are present, though less frequent than transmission issues. Problems can include rough running or stalling, which may be costly to diagnose and repair.
“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.
Infiniti I30 — 3 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles ar…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 o…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may caus…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE PIN AT THE END OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK (LOWER CONTROL ARM) COULD BREAK WHERE IT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME.
The risk: THIS CAN CAUSE A KNOCKING SOUND AND ABNORMAL STEERING. THIS COULD RESULT IN DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINKS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES WITH NEW ONES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE…
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
Infiniti I30 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti I30 has far fewer complaints per year (66) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131), indicating that the I30 may have fewer recurring issues overall. However, the F-150's higher volume is partly due to its much larger production and longer time span. In practice, the I30 might be easier to live with for a budget-conscious buyer, but both vehicles have specific problem areas that need attention.
Key differences
- The Infiniti I30 averages 66 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages 1,131 per year, a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- The I30's top issues are suspension, electrical, and unintended acceleration; the F-150's are power train (especially transmission), electrical, and lighting.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, compared to 3 recalls for the I30 over 2 years, suggesting more widespread safety fixes for the truck.
- Crash-related complaints: 12 for the I30, 328 for the F-150, and injuries: 7 vs. 287, indicating more reported incidents in the F-150, though exposure differs.
- Check for rust in the front frame and radiator support, as owners report sagging and structural weakness.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for vibration from warped rotors, and listen for transmission shifting issues.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between gears 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8.
- Check for warning lights like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to see if recalls were addressed.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Infiniti I30 for frame rust and suspension wear.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for transmission error codes and test drive extensively.
- Verify all electrical features work, including lights, cameras, and driver-assist systems.
- Check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN before purchase.
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 I30 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti I30 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti I30 total complaints
- 132
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Infiniti I30 total recalls
- 3
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Infiniti I30 avg complaints/year
- 66.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti I30
- Infiniti I30 top complaint area
- SUSPENSION
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN