Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti M45 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti M45 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 M45 vs FORD F 150: The M45 averages 24.9 complaints per year with 0 crash-related reports, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints per year with 330 crash-related reports and 297 injuries. The M45 has 33 recalls; the F-150 has 151. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti M45 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti M45
The Infiniti M45 is a luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint rate of about 25 per year over seven years. Owners most often report fuel system and gasoline issues, such as inaccurate fuel gauges and fuel sending unit failures. Engine stalling is also a recurring theme, sometimes linked to a faulty crankshaft position sensor. There are no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data, but the stalling and fuel problems can leave you stranded.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint rate of over 1,100 per year across ten years. The most common trouble spots are the power train and electrical system, with many owners describing transmission problems, limp mode, and lead frame failures. There are 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and one death reported. Recalls are numerous, covering engines, seat belts, door latches, and air bags.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti M45 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 174 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 24.9 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 M45
- 01FUEL SYSTEM107
- 02GASOLINE89
- 03ENGINE30
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM27
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING19
Owners report the fuel gauge showing incorrect levels, often reading nearly full when the tank is empty or vice versa. This can lead to running out of gas unexpectedly. The fuel sending unit is a common culprit and may need replacement.
Complaints about gasoline often overlap with fuel system issues, such as inaccurate fuel gauge readings and fuel sending unit failures. These problems can cause confusion about how much fuel is actually in the tank.
Several owners describe the engine stalling suddenly at highway or city speeds, sometimes requiring a restart. A faulty crankshaft position sensor is mentioned in one complaint. This can be dangerous if it happens in traffic.
Electrical complaints include check engine lights related to the fuel sending unit and stalling at a complete stop. One owner reported the vehicle stalled and would not restart for an hour. These issues can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
“PURCHASED MY 2004 INFINITI M45 AT WILLOW GROVE INFINITI IN THE SUBURBS OF PHILADELPHIA WITH 22,160 MILES. I PERFORMED A THOROUGH TEST DRIVE AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT TO BE MY "WEEKEND" CAR SINCE I'M ALREADY SUPPLIED WITH A COMPANY…”
“THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO A 2004 INFINITY M45. IN THE SPRING OF 2010, I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING NEARLY A FULL TANK OF GAS, BUT IT HAD BEEN A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE I HAD PUT GAS IN THE TANK. WHEN I FILLED UP THE TANK, I REALIZED THAT THE T…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures. One owner said a lead frame issue nearly ended their life. These failures can happen while driving and affect control of the truck.
Electrical issues often involve the lead frame and output speed sensor failures, leading to limp mode and error codes like P0722. A rear window defroster short caused one owner's back window to shatter. These problems can disable the vehicle or cause unexpected damage.
This category includes the rear window defroster short that caused a window to explode outward. Such failures are unpredictable and can be costly to repair.
Although not detailed in the sample complaints, exterior lighting is a top component with 1,224 complaints. Owners may experience lighting failures that affect visibility and safety.
“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 M45 — 33 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 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and th…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missis…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer s…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 vehicles manufactured April 4, 2004, through October 5, 2010. Over time, the accelerator pedal sensor signal may deteriorate resulting in the output of an incorrect signal causing the engine to go int…
The risk: In this fail-safe mode, throttle valve deposits may cause the engine to stall when the vehicle is coming to a stop or at idle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly and reprogram the engine control module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during November 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
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 M45 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti M45 has far fewer complaints per year (about 25) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100). The F-150 also has crash, injury, and death reports, while the M45 has none in the data. In practice, the M45 may be less likely to leave you stranded, but the F-150's issues are more severe and frequent.
Key differences
- The Infiniti M45 averages about 25 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages over 1,100 per year.
- The M45 has no crash, injury, or death reports in the data; the F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death.
- M45 owners most often report fuel gauge and stalling issues; F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 33 for the M45, covering major systems like engines and air bags.
- Check the fuel gauge accuracy by filling the tank and comparing the reading to actual fuel level; a faulty sending unit is a common complaint.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for sudden stalling; a crankshaft position sensor failure has been reported.
- During a test drive, feel for transmission shuddering, delayed shifts, or limp mode; lead frame and output speed sensor failures are frequent.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for signs of shorting or damage; one owner reported the window shattering after use.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the fuel system and engine sensors on the Infiniti M45.
- For the Ford F-150, have a transmission specialist check for lead frame and output speed sensor issues.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission or fuel system repairs.
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 M45 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti M45 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti M45 total complaints
- 174
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Infiniti M45 total recalls
- 33
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Infiniti M45 avg complaints/year
- 24.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti M45
- Infiniti M45 top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN