Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti QX50 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti QX50 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 QX50 vs FORD F 150: The QX50 averages 27.3 complaints per year with 11 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150 also has 330 crash-related complaints versus 10 for the QX50. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti QX50 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti QX50
The Infiniti QX50 is a compact luxury SUV that averages about 27 complaints per year over the past decade, with 11 recalls. Owner reports center on engine problems, electrical glitches, and forward collision warnings, including a fire that started in the infotainment system while parked. Living with one means staying on top of recalls and being alert to engine codes and screen failures.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume—about 1,162 per year—and 151 recalls over the same period. The dominant theme is powertrain trouble, especially transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, plus electrical and lighting issues. Buyers should expect more frequent shop visits and a long list of safety recalls to track.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti QX50 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 273 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 27.3 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 13 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 QX50
- 01ENGINE101
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING44
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM41
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER38
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE35
Owners report engine fires, check engine codes like P0720 and P0500, and costly replacements. One owner described an engine fire on the highway followed by a $5,000 used-engine bill. These failures can strand you and lead to major repair costs.
A recall (25V437000) covers engine and cooling issues, but parts may not be available. Owners report sluggish driving while waiting for the fix. This means even recalled vehicles can be unsafe to drive until repaired.
Complaints include infotainment fires, blank dashboards, and sensor glitches. One owner said a fire started in the infotainment system while the SUV was parked in a garage. Electrical faults can affect safety systems and are hard to diagnose.
With 35 complaints, owners report issues with the automatic braking or warning system. These faults could reduce the effectiveness of a key safety feature. Buyers should test this system and check for recalls.
“so after my initial report about my engine catching fire on the highway, I received an invoice for $5,000 for a used engine with 80k miles on it; plus another $2800 for the service fee. I already put down about $3900 for the engine repair. The mechanic sent m…”
“There are 2 check engine codes that came up as an issue for my vehicle, out of the blue: P0720 and P0500. I reached out to my mechanic and he couldn't fix it. So my plan was to take it to the dealership at the end of this month; however, while driving the veh…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures. One said the truck went into limp mode daily and stuck in 5th gear. Another called the lead frame issue 'never ending' and said it nearly ended his life. These problems can cause sudden loss of power.
Many complaints involve the same lead frame issue, plus rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the back window. One owner reported the rear window exploded outward after using the defroster. Electrical faults can lead to fires or broken glass.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting failures are common. Owners report lights that stop working, which affects visibility and safety. This is a frequent and easily noticeable problem.
Engine complaints include stalls, rough running, and failures. Some are tied to recalls. Engine trouble in a truck can mean expensive repairs and downtime.
“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 QX50 — 11 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 INFINITI QX55 and 2022 INFINITI QX50 vehicles. The incorrect door latch may have been installed in the front right-side passenger door lock assembly, preventing the front right-side door lock from automatically locking.
The risk: An unlocked door may unlatch and open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front right-side passenger door lock assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 14, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects tha…
The risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan…
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 QX50 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti QX50 has far fewer complaints per year (27.3 vs. 1,162.1) and fewer recalls (11 vs. 151). In practice, that means QX50 owners report fewer problems overall, but the issues they do report—like engine fires—can be severe. The F-150's much higher volume reflects its popularity, but also a steady stream of powertrain and electrical complaints.
Key differences
- The QX50 averages 27.3 complaints per year; the F-150 averages 1,162.1, a huge gap in reported problems.
- F-150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures; QX50 owners report engine fires and infotainment electrical faults.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints; the QX50 has 11 recalls and 10 crash-related complaints.
- Both have engine-related recalls, but the F-150's powertrain complaints are far more numerous and often described as recurring.
- Check for open recall 25V437000 on engine and cooling; ask if the remedy was performed and if parts are available.
- Test the infotainment system and dashboard for blank screens or glitches, and look for any signs of electrical burning smells.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for transmission limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in gear.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for signs of shorting or prior replacement, and check for any cracked glass.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model's common issues.
- For the QX50, scan for engine codes and check the infotainment and forward collision systems.
- For the F-150, test the transmission thoroughly and check for lead frame repair history.
- Review the owner's complaint history on NHTSA.gov for the exact year and model.
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 QX50 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 345 |
| 2024 | 4 | 638 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 16 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 40 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 33 | 44 |
| 2019 | 140 | 52 |
| 2017 | 13 | 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 QX50 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti QX50 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti QX50 total complaints
- 273
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Infiniti QX50 total recalls
- 11
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Infiniti QX50 avg complaints/year
- 27.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti QX50
- Infiniti QX50 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN