Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti Q50 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti Q50 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 Q50 vs FORD F 150: The Q50 averages 31.8 complaints per year with 18 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints per year with 151 recalls. The Q50 has fewer reported issues but includes serious engine and steering complaints; the F-150 has far more complaints, often about transmission and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti Q50 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti Q50
The Infiniti Q50 is a luxury sport sedan that averages about 32 complaints per year over a decade, with 18 recalls. Owners frequently report sudden engine power loss, transmission problems, air bag warning lights, and steering issues. While the overall complaint count is lower than the Ford F-150, the nature of these failures—especially loss of power and steering—can be alarming and costly if out of warranty.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that generates roughly 1,162 complaints per year, with 151 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the power train (especially transmission and lead frame issues), electrical system, and exterior lighting. Many owners describe recurring limp mode, harsh shifting, and electrical gremlins that can affect drivability and safety. The sheer volume of complaints suggests that while many trucks serve well, a significant number require ongoing attention.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti Q50 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 318 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 31.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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 Q50
- 01ENGINE65
- 02POWER TRAIN60
- 03AIR BAGS47
- 04STEERING46
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44
Owners report sudden loss of acceleration and engine power, often accompanied by a check engine light. The vehicle may need to be restarted to regain power, which can be dangerous if it happens in traffic.
Complaints include transmission issues where the car loses acceleration or hesitates, sometimes while parked or driving. This can lead to unexpected slowdowns and expensive repairs.
Some owners see air bag warning lights indicating the system is disabled, even with low mileage and no accidents. Fixing this can be costly, especially after warranty expiration.
Reports describe the steering wheel locking or feeling stiff, and in some cases, the brake and gas pedals become unresponsive. This combination can make the car hard to control.
“In August 2026, while driving, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration and engine power and would only travel at a very slow speed. The check engine light came on. The driver had to safely stop, turn the engine off, and restart it. After restarting, the vehicl…”
“Shortly after purchasing the vehicle, I began experiencing serious performance issues. While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost power, would not accelerate properly, and warning lights appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle eventually shut off while in operat…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners experience transmission problems like limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and harsh shifting. The 'lead frame' issue is a well-known defect that can cause sudden downshifts or loss of power, sometimes leading to near-collisions.
Electrical faults include the lead frame problem (which can also be classified under power train) and issues like rear window defroster shorts that may cause the rear window to shatter. These can be unpredictable and expensive to diagnose.
Some complaints involve unusual failures like the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster. This is a safety hazard because it can happen without warning and may distract or injure occupants.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, this is a top component with many reports. Lighting failures can reduce visibility and may not be covered by recalls, so buyers should check all lights function properly.
“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 Q50 — 18 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Nissan Murano, INFINITI QX60, 2021 Nissan GT-R, INFINITI QX50, and Q50 vehicles. The front steering knuckle or rear axle housing may have insufficient strength due to improper heat-treatment.
The risk: The steering knuckle or rear axle could deform upon impact, such as from hitting a curb, resulting in a loss of steering control, or possible wheel separation. Both of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckle and rear axle housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2021. Nissan owners may contact customer service at 1-800-867-7669. INFINITI o…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2021 INFINITI Q50 and Q60 vehicles. After detecting rapid acceleration, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may incorrectly reduce engine power and reduce fuel supply to the engine.
The risk: A lack of fuel may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: INFINITI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's number for this recall is R20C5.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Infinity Q50, Q60, and QX80 vehicles. A software error may deactivate the audio/video control unit screen, preventing the rear-view image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehi…
The risk: A rear-view camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 14, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R21A9.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
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 Q50 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti Q50 has far fewer complaints per year (about 32) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,160). In practice, this means Q50 owners are less likely to face frequent repair visits, but when problems occur, they can involve critical systems like engine and steering. The F-150's higher volume suggests more widespread issues, but many are well-documented and may have aftermarket fixes.
Key differences
- The Infiniti Q50 has about 32 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 has over 1,160—a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Q50 owners often report sudden engine power loss and steering lock-up, which are immediate safety concerns; F-150 owners frequently cite transmission limp mode and lead frame failures that can also cause sudden power loss.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 18 for the Q50, indicating more widespread safety-related defects over the years.
- Air bag warning lights and costly fixes are a noted Q50 issue, while the F-150's electrical problems include unusual failures like rear window shattering.
- Check for any history of engine power loss or transmission hesitation—test drive at various speeds and listen for unusual noises.
- Inspect the air bag warning light: if it stays on, the system may be disabled and repairs can be expensive.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: look for harsh shifting, limp mode, or getting stuck in gear, especially during acceleration.
- Check the rear window and defroster operation; ask if the window has ever shattered or been replaced due to electrical issues.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both models, as the F-150 has many and the Q50 has some for steering and engine software.
- During the test drive, accelerate hard and at highway speeds to check for transmission slipping or engine power loss.
- Have a mechanic inspect the air bag system on the Q50 and the transmission/electrical system on the F-150.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and any software updates related to recalls.
- Check all lights, including exterior and interior, and test the rear defroster on the F-150 for proper function.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Infiniti Q50 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 8 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 6 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 3 | 44 |
| 2019 | 30 | 52 |
| 2018 | 43 | 79 |
| 2017 | 62 | 59 |
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 Q50 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti Q50 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti Q50 total complaints
- 318
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Infiniti Q50 total recalls
- 18
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Infiniti Q50 avg complaints/year
- 31.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti Q50
- Infiniti Q50 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN