Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti JX35 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti JX35 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 JX35 vs FORD F 150: The JX35 has 0 complaints per year and 7 recalls, while the F-150 has 1,162 complaints per year and 151 recalls. F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures; the JX35 has no complaint text. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti JX35 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti JX35
The Infiniti JX35 is a luxury SUV with no owner complaints filed in the single year of data provided, which suggests a quiet record but also means there is little real-world feedback to judge reliability. It does have seven recalls covering air bags, electrical software, occupant sensors, hood hinges, and fuel tank assembly. For a used buyer, that means the main concern is making sure all recall work was completed, not a pattern of repeated breakdowns. Overall, it appears to be a low-complaint vehicle, but the lack of complaint text leaves some unknowns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high number of owner complaints—over 11,000 across ten years—and 151 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the power train, electrical system, exterior lighting, and engine. Owners describe serious issues like transmissions stuck in limp mode, lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions, and rear windows shattering. For a used buyer, this means the F-150 can be a capable truck but requires careful inspection and a check for open recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti JX35 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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 JX35
No component data available.
Recalls cover frontal air bags and occupant classification sensors. A buyer should verify these were fixed, because a faulty sensor could affect whether the air bag deploys in a crash.
A software recall is listed for the electrical system. While no owner complaints describe symptoms, software glitches can affect multiple systems, so confirming the update was applied is important.
The hood hinge and attachments are under recall. A loose or failing hinge could cause the hood to fly open while driving, which is a serious safety risk if not repaired.
The fuel tank assembly is recalled. A defect here could lead to fuel leaks or stalling, so buyers should check that the recall remedy was performed.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmissions that go into limp mode, get stuck in 5th gear, and suffer from 'lead frame' failures. One owner said a lead frame issue nearly ended their life, and another described daily transmission malfunctions. These problems can leave you stranded or cause sudden loss of power.
Complaints include the same lead frame problem and an output speed sensor failure that triggers limp mode. A rear window defroster short caused one owner's back window to explode outward. Electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and expensive to fix.
This category includes the rear window shattering incident. Such failures are rare but alarming, and they show that not all issues fit neatly into a major component group.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting is a top concern. While specific symptoms are not in the sample, frequent lighting failures can reduce visibility and may lead to tickets or accidents.
“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 JX35 — 7 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant…
The risk: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to t…
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may…
The risk: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to th…
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Muran…
The risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra veh…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to November 18, 2013, 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid vehicles manufactured July 18, 2013, to November 18, 2013, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles manufactured November 29, 2…
The risk: If the primary hood latch is released and the secondary latch fails during operation of the vehicle, it could cause the hood to open during vehicle operation impairing the driver's vision, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the angle of the hood release mechanism to provide additional length to the release cable, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at…
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 JX35 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti JX35 has 0 complaints per year on average, while the Ford F-150 has about 1,162 complaints per year. That means the F-150 generates far more owner-reported problems, including serious transmission and electrical failures. In practice, the JX35 appears less likely to leave you dealing with constant repairs, but its recall history still requires attention.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, while the Infiniti JX35 has 0 complaints in 1 year—a massive gap in owner-reported issues.
- F-150 owners describe dangerous power train failures like limp mode and lead frame problems; the JX35 has no complaint text, so its real-world failure pattern is unknown.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 7 for the JX35, meaning the Ford has far more safety campaigns to track.
- The F-150's complaints include 330 crash-related reports and 297 injuries, while the JX35 shows 0 in those categories.
- Check that all seven recalls were completed, especially the air bag, hood hinge, and fuel tank recalls—these are safety-critical.
- Ask for any service records related to electrical software updates, since a recall exists but no complaints describe symptoms.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for the transmission suddenly downshifting, sticking in 5th gear, or entering limp mode—common owner complaints.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and look for any signs of shattering or electrical shorts, as one owner reported the window exploding.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were repaired.
- For the F-150, ask for transmission service history and scan for stored codes like P0722 (output speed sensor).
- For the JX35, verify the hood hinge and fuel tank recalls were addressed, as these can be safety hazards.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway merging and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the power train and electrical system for the F-150 and recall-related components for the JX35.
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 JX35 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti JX35 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti JX35 total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Infiniti JX35 total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Infiniti JX35 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti JX35
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN