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 over 1 year, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years, with powertrain issues dominating. The F-150 also has 145 recalls versus 7 for the JX35. 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 crossover that, based on NHTSA data, has a very low complaint rate—zero complaints on record over its model year. This suggests that owners have not reported significant issues to regulators, but it also means there is little real-world data to highlight specific problems. The seven recalls cover areas like airbags, software, fuel tank, and hood hinges, which are important to address but are not necessarily indicative of widespread failures. Overall, the JX35 appears to be a relatively trouble-free vehicle in terms of owner-reported complaints, but buyers should ensure all recalls are performed.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, in contrast, has a high volume of complaints—over 11,000 in a decade—with the majority centered on the powertrain, especially the 10-speed automatic transmission. Owners report hard shifts, jerking, and even sudden loss of power, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous. Electrical system issues also rank high, including camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions. While the F-150 is a popular and capable truck, these reported problems suggest that buyers should be prepared for potential transmission and electronic gremlins, and should check for any open recalls or service bulletins.
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 | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 JX35
No component data available.
Recalls for frontal airbags and occupant classification sensors indicate potential deployment issues or sensor malfunctions that could affect airbag operation in a crash. Owners should verify these recalls are completed.
A recall for software updates suggests possible glitches in vehicle systems that could affect safety or performance. Ensure the latest software is installed.
A recall for the fuel tank assembly points to potential fuel leaks or tank integrity issues, which are serious safety concerns. Check for any signs of fuel odor or leaks.
A recall for hood hinge attachments could mean the hood may not stay closed properly, posing a risk of it flying open while driving. Inspect the hood latch and hinges.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power, often related to the 10-speed automatic transmission. This can be dangerous in traffic and may require costly repairs.
Complaints include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which can disable safety features. These issues may stem from software or sensor problems.
With over 1,100 complaints, headlight issues are common, possibly including poor visibility or failures, which can compromise nighttime driving safety.
Engine-related complaints (847) may include stalling, misfires, or other performance issues, though specific details are not provided in the sample. These could lead to breakdowns.
“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 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 — 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 JX35 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti JX35 has far fewer complaints per year (0.0) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1 per year). This indicates that the JX35 is likely to be more reliable in terms of owner-reported issues, but the F-150's higher volume also reflects its popularity. In practice, the JX35 may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience, while the F-150 requires more vigilance regarding transmission and electrical problems.
Key differences
- The JX35 has zero owner complaints on record, while the F-150 has over 11,000, with a significant portion involving transmission failures that can cause sudden loss of power.
- The F-150's electrical system complaints often disable safety features like pre-collision assist, whereas the JX35's electrical issues are limited to a software recall.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, compared to 7 for the JX35, indicating a higher frequency of safety-related defects.
- The F-150's powertrain issues are the most common, with owners describing hard shifts and jerking, which are not reported for the JX35.
- Check that all seven recalls have been performed, especially the airbag and fuel tank ones, as they are safety-critical.
- Inspect the hood hinges and latch to ensure the hood is secure, given the recall for hinge attachments.
- Test drive the F-150 and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, for any harshness or hesitation.
- Check for any warning lights related to the front camera or pre-collision assist, and verify they are functioning properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's VIN and check NHTSA's website for any open recalls on both models.
- For the JX35, ask for service records showing recall completion, especially for airbags and fuel system.
- For the F-150, have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the transmission and electrical systems.
- Take the F-150 on a highway test drive to experience shifts at higher speeds and listen for any unusual noises.
- Check the JX35's hood latch operation and look for any signs of fuel leaks under the vehicle.
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
- 11,311
- Infiniti JX35 total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Infiniti JX35 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti JX35
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN