Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti Q40 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti Q40 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 Q40 vs FORD F 150: The Q40 has 8 complaints over 2 years (4/year) and 0 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti Q40 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti Q40
The Infiniti Q40 is a compact luxury sedan with very few complaints on file—just 8 over 2 years, averaging 4 per year. Owners report issues like a passenger air bag off light staying on for some adults, a clogged sunroof drain that can lead to moisture and electrical problems, and a VDC system that may flicker and cause a loss of control. With no recalls on record, it appears to have a low reported problem rate, but the air bag and stability control complaints are worth noting.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint history: 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 1,162 per year, plus 151 recalls. Owners frequently report transmission problems like limp mode and stuck gears, electrical issues tied to the lead frame, and even a rear window defroster short that can shatter the back glass. The high volume of complaints and recalls suggests a wide range of potential problems that buyers should carefully inspect.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti Q40 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 8 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 4.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Q40
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
- 02AIR BAGS3
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
- 05STRUCTURE1
Owners report that the passenger 'air bag off' light stays on even when an adult passenger is seated, meaning the air bag may not deploy in a crash. This matters because it could leave a front passenger without air bag protection.
One owner describes a noisy car leading to tinnitus and hearing loss, while another reports the VDC system flickering and causing a loss of control on the highway. These issues affect comfort and, in the case of VDC, could compromise safety.
A clogged sunroof drain can let water into the floor and panels, damaging electrical components like the BCM. This can cause a range of electrical gremlins and costly repairs if not addressed.
The same sunroof drain issue can affect exterior lighting through water damage to electrical components. This means lights may fail or behave erratically, which is a safety concern.
“I BOUGHT THIS NEW 2015 INFINITI Q40 AWD FROM INFINITI DEALER ON FEB 28, 2015. AFTER DRIVING THIS NOISY CAR FOR THREE MONTHS(3000MILES), I STARTED HAVING RINGING IN BOTH EARS (TINNITUS). I HAVE TROUBLE TO SLEEP AND START LOSING MY HEARING IN BOTH EARS. I HAVE…”
“WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY THE VDC (AUTO HYDROPLANE CORRECT FUNCTION) IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE CAUSED INCREASE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THAT THE VDC LIGHT WAS FLICKERING ON AND OFF. IT DID INITIALLY COME ON TO AUTO CORRECT BUT THEN ABRU…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report recurring transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues can leave a driver stranded or in a dangerous situation on the road.
The lead frame issue is a common electrical complaint, often leading to transmission problems and limp mode. A rear window defroster short has also been reported to cause the back window to shatter, which is a serious safety hazard.
A rear window defroster short can cause the back window to explode outward, as described by one owner. This is a severe safety risk that could injure occupants or cause a crash.
While specific lighting complaints are not detailed in the sample, the high number of exterior lighting complaints (1,224) suggests owners frequently experience lighting failures. This can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
“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 Q40
No recalls on record.
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 Q40 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti Q40 has far fewer issues per year (4 vs. 1,162 for the Ford F-150), meaning a buyer is much less likely to encounter frequent problems. However, the F-150's issues are more severe and widespread, with many complaints about transmission and electrical failures that can be dangerous.
Key differences
- The Infiniti Q40 has only 8 complaints over 2 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 over 10 years—a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls, including for engine, seat belts, and air bags, while the Infiniti Q40 has none on record.
- Infiniti Q40 complaints center on air bag sensors and sunroof leaks, while Ford F-150 complaints often involve transmission limp mode and electrical shorts.
- The Ford F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, compared to 1 crash-related and 1 injury for the Infiniti Q40.
- Check the passenger air bag off light with an adult in the seat—if it stays on, the air bag may not deploy.
- Inspect for water leaks from the sunroof drain, especially in the floor and right-side panels, which can damage electrical components.
- Test drive and check for transmission shudder, limp mode, or getting stuck in gear—common signs of lead frame or output speed sensor failure.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for signs of shorting or overheating, and check if the back window has ever shattered.
Before you buy
- For the Infiniti Q40, verify the passenger air bag system works with different-weight passengers and check for musty odors or damp carpets from sunroof leaks.
- For the Ford F-150, ask for transmission service records and check for any open recalls by VIN, especially for the lead frame and output speed sensor.
- On both vehicles, run a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic focusing on the specific complaint areas.
- Check the NHTSA website for any new recalls or complaints on the specific model year you are considering.
- Test drive the Ford F-150 at highway speeds to see if it enters limp mode or has trouble shifting.
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 Q40 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti Q40 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti Q40 total complaints
- 8
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Infiniti Q40 total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Infiniti Q40 avg complaints/year
- 4.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti Q40
- Infiniti Q40 top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN