Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti QX60 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti QX60 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 QX60 vs FORD F 150: The QX60 averages 25.4 complaints per year over 10 years, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1. QX60 owners report sunroof shattering and CVT failures, whereas F-150 owners frequently cite hard shifts and power loss. Recalls: QX60 has 15, F-150 has 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti QX60 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti QX60
The Infiniti QX60 is a luxury three-row crossover that, in ownership terms, has a moderate complaint rate of about 25 per year over the last decade. The pattern suggests a mix of engine and electrical gremlins, with owners reporting issues like engine noise shortly after purchase, random battery drains, and false alarms. There are also reports of the panoramic sunroof shattering and CVT transmission failures, which can be costly and disruptive. While not as high-volume as some competitors, the nature of these issues can make ownership frustrating.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year, reflecting its popularity and widespread use. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners frequently reporting hard shifts, jerking, and occasional loss of power. Electrical problems, including camera malfunctions and battery-related issues, also appear. Despite the high numbers, many complaints are about drivability annoyances rather than catastrophic failures, but the sheer frequency suggests a higher likelihood of encountering problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti QX60 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 254 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 12 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 25.4 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 25 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 QX60
- 01ENGINE58
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM52
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER52
- 04POWER TRAIN47
- 05SERVICE BRAKES29
Owners report engine noise and potential issues shortly after purchase or service, with one 2025 model brought back within weeks for an undiagnosed engine sound. This could indicate premature wear or manufacturing defects.
Common complaints include the car not starting after being parked, requiring a jump, and the alarm randomly going off. These point to battery drain or faulty control modules, which can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
The CVT transmission is a major sore point, with one owner reporting complete failure at 120,000 miles and problems from early on. Another owner experienced a dangerous downshift that caused sudden deceleration, highlighting potential safety concerns.
A striking issue is the panoramic sunroof glass shattering without warning while driving, which poses a clear safety hazard. Also, doors locking automatically with the key fob inside can leave owners locked out.
“Our 2022 Infiniti QX60 was brought in at Infiniti Service Center for regular oil change. The car had 29,564 miles. After the service, I was deciding whether to take the highway or the local route. I thought of stopping by the church, so I decided to take the…”
“On Saturday, 3/22/25-vehicle lease start date for the 2025 QX60-lease from Sanford Infiniti On Saturday, 4/5/25- brought the vehicle back to Sanford Infiniti due to noise coming from the engine. According to their written paperwork, “The issue is currently un…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is the biggest problem area, with many owners reporting hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and clunking between gears. Some have experienced a complete loss of power while driving, which is alarming and potentially dangerous.
Electrical complaints often involve warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist being unavailable, which can disable safety features. There are also reports of loud bangs from the transmission accompanied by rear suspension pops, possibly linked to electrical or drivetrain issues.
While fewer than transmission issues, engine problems exist, though the sample text doesn't detail specific symptoms. Given the high volume, it's likely a mix of performance and reliability concerns.
“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 QX60 — 15 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 INFINITI QX60 and Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The second-row seat track may be missing a mounting bolt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly…
The risk: A missing mounting bolt may allow the seat track to move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat track and install a new mounting bolt as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 13, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numb…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. When driving at certain high speeds, the Adaptive Front-Light System (AFS) may incorrectly adjust the headlights downward.
The risk: Incorrectly adjusted headlights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reconfigure the Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM) settings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Murano, Pathfinder, and INFINITI QX60 vehicles. One or both front brake caliper assemblies may have reduced strength and could break. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…
The risk: A broken front brake caliper can cause a loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake caliper assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or INFINITI's customer servi…
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…
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 QX60 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti QX60 has far fewer complaints per year (25.4) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the QX60's problems, such as sunroof shattering and CVT failure, can be severe and costly. In practice, the F-150's higher volume means a greater chance of encountering transmission or electrical issues, but the QX60's issues may be more unpredictable and safety-related.
Key differences
- The QX60 has a much lower complaint rate (25.4/yr) than the F-150 (1,131.1/yr), but its issues include a shattering sunroof and CVT failure, which are safety and cost concerns.
- The F-150's dominant problem is the 10-speed transmission with hard shifts and power loss, while the QX60's engine and electrical issues are more varied.
- The QX60 has had 12 crash-related complaints and 25 injuries, whereas the F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, reflecting higher usage and severity.
- The QX60's recalls focus on seats, lighting, brakes, and suspension, while the F-150's recalls include headlights, battery cables, engine, and seats.
- Inspect the panoramic sunroof for any signs of stress or previous replacement, as there are reports of spontaneous shattering.
- Check the CVT transmission for any shuddering or slipping during a test drive, and ask for service records related to transmission issues.
- Test the transmission thoroughly, especially shifting between 4th and 8th gears, for hard shifts or jerking, and listen for any unusual noises.
- Check for any warning lights related to camera or pre-collision systems, and ensure they are functioning properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission and electrical systems.
- For the QX60, specifically ask about any sunroof or CVT issues and verify they have been addressed.
- For the F-150, take an extended test drive that includes highway speeds to evaluate transmission behavior.
- Review maintenance records to see if the transmission fluid has been changed regularly on the F-150.
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 QX60 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 24 |
| 2025 | 16 | 329 |
| 2024 | 19 | 617 |
| 2023 | 27 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 22 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 23 | 33 |
| 2019 | 37 | 36 |
| 2018 | 38 | 56 |
| 2017 | 67 | 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 QX60 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti QX60 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti QX60 total complaints
- 254
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Infiniti QX60 total recalls
- 15
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Infiniti QX60 avg complaints/year
- 25.4
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti QX60
- Infiniti QX60 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN