Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti M56 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti M56 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 M56 vs FORD F 150: The M56 has 24 complaints over 3 years (8/yr) and 8 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/yr) and 145 recalls. The M56's issues are mostly hesitation and engine, whereas the F-150's are transmission and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti M56 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti M56
The Infiniti M56 is a luxury sedan that, based on owner complaints, tends to have issues concentrated in the powertrain and engine. Owners report hesitation during acceleration, which can be concerning in traffic, and some have experienced engine-related problems like solenoid failures and oil loss. While the number of complaints is relatively low, the nature of these issues suggests potential for costly repairs and inconvenience.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular pickup truck with a much higher volume of complaints, reflecting its widespread use. Owners frequently report transmission problems, including hard shifts and sudden power loss, which are serious safety concerns. Electrical issues, such as camera malfunctions, are also common. The high number of recalls and complaints indicates that while the F-150 is generally reliable, certain model years may have significant defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti M56 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 24 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 8.0 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 M56
- 01POWER TRAIN10
- 02ENGINE6
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
- 05STEERING3
Owners report severe hesitation when accelerating after slowing or stopping, which can be dangerous in traffic. Some also mention recalls for the propeller shaft, indicating potential driveline issues.
There are reports of solenoid switch failures causing squealing noises, and some owners mention low oil levels and fusible link destruction, which could lead to engine seizure if not addressed.
A common issue is a defective passenger occupancy sensor that keeps the seat belt light on even when the seat is empty, which is annoying and may indicate wiring problems.
“WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM THROUGH INFINITI SERVICE CENTER SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR 10 MONTHS AGO WITH ONLY 28K MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERE HESITATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SLOWING OR STOPPING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS…”
“The contact owns a 2011 Infiniti M56. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V755000 (Power Train) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that w…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard and delayed shifts, especially in the 10-speed automatic transmission, with some experiencing sudden power loss and vehicle shut-off, which is a serious safety hazard.
Frequent warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available appear on the dash, indicating issues with the advanced driver assistance systems.
While less frequent than transmission issues, some owners report engine problems, but the specific nature is not detailed in the sample. Recalls related to the engine suggest potential defects.
“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 M56 — 8 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Infiniti M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, and 2014 Q70 and Q70 Hybrid vehicles. These models, equipped with 2WD and with a hybrid or VK56 powertrain, have a driveshaft that may break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash, or may disable the parking brake, increasing the risk of a rollaway and injury.
The fix: Infiniti will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2021. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Nissan Juke, 2012-2013 Infiniti M56, QX56, and 2014-2015 Infiniti Q70 (V8 engine vehicles only), and QX80 vehicles. The fuel pressure sensors may not have been sufficiently tightened during production. As a result, the fu…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could cause a vehicle fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-torque the fuel pressure sensors free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2011-2013 M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, 2014-2018 Q50, Q70 Hybrid, 2014-2019 Q70, and 2015-2019 Q70L two-wheel drive vehicles. The driveshaft can fatigue and break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power, or a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 13, 2024. Owners may contact INFINITI's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's numbers for this recall are R24A5 and R24A7.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Infiniti M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, and 2014 Q70 and Q70 Hybrid vehicles. These models, equipped with 2WD and with a hybrid or VK56 powertrain, have a driveshaft that may break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash, or may disable the parking brake, increasing the risk of a rollaway and injury.
The fix: Infiniti will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2021. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
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 M56 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti M56 has far fewer complaints per year (8.0) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the M56's problems are still significant, particularly with hesitation and engine concerns. In practice, the M56 may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience, but both vehicles have their own set of challenges.
Key differences
- The Infiniti M56 has a much lower complaint rate (8 per year) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131 per year), indicating fewer reported problems per vehicle.
- The M56's issues are mostly related to hesitation and engine components, while the F-150's top problems are transmission failures and electrical glitches.
- The F-150 has a higher number of recalls (145) and crash-related complaints (328), suggesting more widespread safety concerns.
- The M56's complaints are from a shorter period (3 years) and may not reflect long-term reliability, whereas the F-150's data spans 10 years.
- Check for any signs of hesitation or jerking during test drive, especially when accelerating from a stop.
- Inspect engine oil level and listen for unusual noises like squealing, which could indicate solenoid issues.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts or clunks, particularly between gears 4-5 and 5-6.
- Check if the dashboard shows any warning lights for camera or pre-collision assist malfunctions.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for open recalls and past complaints.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission and engine.
- Test drive both vehicles in stop-and-go traffic to feel for any hesitation or shifting issues.
- Verify that all recalls have been addressed by the dealer.
- Research common issues for the specific model year you are considering.
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 M56 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti M56 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti M56 total complaints
- 24
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Infiniti M56 total recalls
- 8
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Infiniti M56 avg complaints/year
- 8.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti M56
- Infiniti M56 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN