Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti Q60 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti Q60 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 Q60 vs FORD F 150: The Q60 averages 10.4 complaints per year over 8 years, while the F-150 averages 1131.1 per year over 10 years. The Q60 has 6 recalls, the F-150 has 145. The Q60's main issues are airbag sensors and engine problems, while the F-150's are transmission and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti Q60 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti Q60
The Infiniti Q60 is a sporty coupe that, in ownership terms, shows a moderate but concerning reliability record. Over eight years, owners filed 83 complaints, averaging about 10 per year, with the most frequent issues involving airbags and the engine. The airbag complaints often describe the SRS warning light illuminating due to a faulty sensor, while engine issues include power loss and excessive smoke. These patterns suggest that while not overwhelming, there are notable safety-related defects that could affect peace of mind.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup with a much higher volume of complaints, averaging over 1,100 per year over a decade. The dominant problems are in the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners report for hard shifting, jerking, and even sudden power loss. Electrical system issues, such as camera malfunctions and warning lights, are also common. The sheer number of complaints and recalls indicates that while the F-150 is widely used, it has significant reliability concerns that buyers should investigate.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti Q60 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 83 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 10.4 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 5 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 Q60
- 01AIR BAGS21
- 02ENGINE20
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER12
- 04POWER TRAIN10
- 05STEERING10
Owners report the airbag/SRS warning light illuminating due to a defective occupant classification sensor, often requiring replacement. This can disable the passenger airbag, posing a safety risk in a crash.
Engine problems include fluttering noises, RPM fluctuations, loss of power during acceleration, and in severe cases, excessive white smoke from the exhaust, indicating possible internal damage.
There are reports of the sunroof spontaneously shattering without impact, which could be a safety hazard from flying glass.
Some complaints overlap with engine issues, describing loss of power and abnormal noises, suggesting potential transmission or drivetrain problems.
“Component/System: Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) / Airbag Occupancy Classification System — Passenger Side What Happened: The airbag/SRS warning light illuminated on my 2018 Infiniti Q60 (VIN [XXX], 102,388 miles). The vehicle was taken to Sewell Infinit…”
“Infiniti called me on 05/08/24 to discuss and review Infiniti Case # [XXX] including Infiniti’s subsequent refusal to remedy a defective SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) sensor on my 2017 Infiniti Q60 with 54,100 miles (VIN: [XXX] ). This defect was confir…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners experiencing hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and occasional loss of power or stalling. This can be dangerous in traffic.
Frequent electrical problems include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist being unavailable, often appearing every time the truck starts. These can disable safety features.
Headlight issues are common, with many complaints about poor visibility or complete failure, which is a direct safety concern at night.
Engine-related complaints include various performance issues, though less frequent than transmission problems, such as stalling or rough running.
“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 Q60 — 6 recalls
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-…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Infiniti Q50 and 2017 Infiniti Q60 vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. Incorrect Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM) software may allow the fuel level in the main tank to be too low to supply fuel to the engine, causing the engine to…
The risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and Infiniti dealers will reprogram the Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM) with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began August 29, 2017. 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 Q60 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti Q60 has far fewer complaints per year (about 10) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Q60's airbag and engine problems are serious safety concerns. In practice, the F-150's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the transmission issues are widespread and could lead to costly repairs.
Key differences
- The Q60 has a much lower complaint rate (10.4/yr) than the F-150 (1131.1/yr), but the Q60's airbag issues are safety-critical.
- The F-150's transmission problems are the most common, with hard shifting and power loss, while the Q60's engine issues include smoke and power loss.
- The Q60 has a reported sunroof shattering issue, which is unique and not seen in the F-150 data.
- The F-150 has a higher number of recalls (145) compared to the Q60 (6), indicating more widespread factory defects.
- Check the airbag/SRS warning light and have the occupant classification sensor inspected, as failures are common.
- Listen for unusual engine noises or signs of smoke from the exhaust, which could indicate engine problems.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts or jerking, especially between 4th-6th gears, and check for any warning lights.
- Verify that the front camera and pre-collision assist systems work properly, as they often malfunction.
Before you buy
- For the Q60, check the sunroof for any cracks or signs of stress, and ask about any prior replacements.
- For the F-150, review the service history for transmission repairs or software updates.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the airbag system for the Q60 and the transmission for the F-150.
- Check for open recalls on both vehicles and ensure they have been addressed.
- Take both vehicles for a test drive, paying attention to shifting smoothness and any warning lights.
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 Q60 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 3 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 2 | 33 |
| 2019 | 4 | 36 |
| 2018 | 25 | 56 |
| 2017 | 34 | 43 |
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 Q60 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti Q60 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti Q60 total complaints
- 83
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Infiniti Q60 total recalls
- 6
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Infiniti Q60 avg complaints/year
- 10.4
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti Q60
- Infiniti Q60 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN