Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu FTR vs FORD F 150
How the Isuzu FTR 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
Isuzu FTR vs FORD F 150: The FTR has 3 complaints and 42 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls. The F-150 also reports 328 crashes and 287 injuries; the FTR reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu FTR or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu FTR
The Isuzu FTR is a commercial truck often used as a rental or fleet vehicle, not typically a personal daily driver. Over 10 years, it has only 3 complaints and 42 recalls, with no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths. The few complaints focus on overly bright headlights that blind other drivers and loose steering that wanders at highway speeds. Living with one means dealing with frequent recalls but very few owner-reported problems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular personal pickup with 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging over 1,100 per year. It has 145 recalls and a significant number of crash-related reports (328), injuries (287), and one death. The most common complaints involve power train issues like hard shifting and loss of power, electrical glitches, and lighting problems. This suggests a much higher volume of reported issues, though many are not necessarily safety-critical.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu FTR | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 42 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Isuzu FTR
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
- 02STEERING1
Owners report that the headlights are too bright, causing other drivers to flash them and creating glare that can temporarily blind oncoming traffic. One owner said his wife almost crashed when driving ahead of the truck. This matters because it could increase the risk of head-on collisions at night.
A driver with a CDL-A reported extremely loose steering that made the truck wander in its lane above 45 mph, even after alignment and balancing. This suggests a persistent steering defect that could lead to loss of control at highway speeds.
“This is a long term rental truck, 2024 Isuzu FTR, and not owned by me. The headlights are too bright. Other drivers flash me thinking I have the brights on but they are the regular headlights. My wife was driving in front of me in a car and almost crashed bec…”
“This was a rental truck and I am not the owner, just the operator. The headlights are too bright and I have almost been crashed onto when other drivers were blinded by the headlights. I am not sure but believe this is the first year this model truck has these…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners frequently report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power, especially with the 10-speed automatic transmission. One driver experienced the truck shutting off and drifting in traffic. These issues can be dangerous if they happen while driving.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs and popping sounds from the transmission or rear suspension. These electrical glitches can disable safety features and distract the driver.
Many owners report miscellaneous problems that don't fit a specific category, often related to noises, vibrations, or intermittent failures. These can be frustrating to diagnose and may indicate broader quality issues.
Some owners report issues with headlights, though details are not provided in the sample. Given the high number of complaints in this area, buyers should check for proper function and any recalls.
“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.
Isuzu FTR — 42 recalls
The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Isuzu FTR and 2018-2021 Chevrolet 6500XD vehicles. A bolt on the left front steering knuckle may come loose, resulting in an increased turning radius and difficulty steering to the left.
The risk: An unexpected change in turning radius and difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace both right and left side stopper bolt jam nuts and clean or replace the extensions, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 28, 2022. Owners may contact Isuzu customer service a…
The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2018-2021 FTR and Chevrolet 6500XD vehicles. The ground cable connecting the starter motor to the vehicle frame may break at the starter-side eyelet, resulting in an engine no-crank or slow-crank condition, causing the vehicle not…
The risk: If the cable is broken and repeated attempts are made to start the vehicle, the starter may ground through the steel braiding of the power steering hose, allowing it to heat up and possibly rupture, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Isuzu and Chevrolet will notify their respective owners and dealers to replace the ground cable and to inspect and replace the power steering hose is damage exists, free of charge. The recall began October 9, 2020. Isuzu owners may contact…
The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2018-2020 FTR and Chevrolet 6500XD vehicles. The jam nut for the steering stopper bolt on the left front knuckle may loosen and allow the bolt to back away from the steering knuckle, increasing the turning radius of the vehicle in…
The risk: If the vehicle's turning radius is increased, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Isuzu will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing left and right jam nuts with a Grade 8 jam nut, torque the nut to a new torque specification and apply Loctite to the nut and bolt, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2…
The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2018-2020 FTR and Chevrolet 6500XD vehicles. The chassis wire harness outside the relay box may have been improperly routed, potentially allowing the harness to contact the suspension's leaf spring hanger bracket, allowing the har…
The risk: Depending on which wires get damaged, the vehicle can experience stalling and/or reduced functionality of the ABS, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Isuzu will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the existing wire harness, as necessary, and install additional clamps to ensure the wire harness is secured away from the hanger bracket, free of charge. The recall began May 15…
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
Isuzu FTR or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Isuzu FTR has far fewer issues per year (0.3 complaints/year) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131 complaints/year). In practice, this means an FTR owner is much less likely to experience frequent problems, but the FTR is a commercial truck with many recalls. The F-150's higher complaint volume suggests more widespread owner dissatisfaction and potential safety risks.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the Isuzu FTR has only 3, indicating a massive difference in reported problems.
- Ford F-150 complaints often involve serious power train failures like sudden loss of power, whereas FTR complaints are mainly about bright headlights and loose steering.
- The F-150 has 328 crash-related reports and 287 injuries, while the FTR has none, though this may reflect different usage patterns.
- Both have many recalls (42 for FTR, 145 for F-150), but the FTR's recalls include steering and electrical system issues that could be safety-related.
- Check the steering for excessive play or wandering at highway speeds; test drive above 45 mph and note if constant correction is needed.
- Inspect headlight brightness and aim; ensure they are not causing glare for other drivers, and verify if any recall addresses this.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts, jerks, or delayed engagement, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears; listen for clunks or bangs.
- Check for electrical warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on startup, and ensure all safety systems function.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic specializing in the model, focusing on transmission (F-150) or steering (FTR).
- Test drive at various speeds, including highway, to replicate reported conditions like loose steering or hard shifts.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been performed and ask for documentation.
- For the F-150, scan for stored error codes related to the transmission and electrical system; for the FTR, check headlight function and steering components.
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 | Isuzu FTR | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 2 | 617 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 1 | 33 |
| 2019 | 0 | 36 |
| 2018 | 0 | 56 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Isuzu FTR or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu FTR vs FORD F 150
- Isuzu FTR total complaints
- 3
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Isuzu FTR total recalls
- 42
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Isuzu FTR avg complaints/year
- 0.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu FTR
- Isuzu FTR top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN