Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu H Series vs FORD F 150
How the Isuzu H Series 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 H Series vs FORD F 150: The Isuzu H Series has 0 complaints and 5 recalls over 4 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls over 10 years. The Ford's complaints often involve power train and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu H Series or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu H Series
The Isuzu H Series is a commercial truck, so it's likely used for work rather than daily commuting. Over four years, it has zero owner complaints on file, but five recalls—mostly for air brake compressors and parking brakes. That means the main reliability concern isn't from driver-reported breakdowns, but from safety defects that Isuzu has had to fix. For a buyer, this suggests a vehicle with little owner feedback, so you'll rely heavily on recall history and a thorough mechanical inspection.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that's hugely popular, so there's a lot of owner feedback. Over ten years, it has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls, with power train and electrical issues dominating. Owners report hard shifts, loss of power, and warning lights. While many trucks serve well, the volume of complaints means certain years and configurations have known trouble spots.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu H Series | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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 H Series
No component data available.
Recalls show problems with the air brake compressor, which can affect braking performance. For a buyer, this means the truck may have had brake system repairs or could still have an unresolved defect.
The parking brake has been recalled, meaning it might not hold the truck properly. This is a safety risk when parked on a slope, so check that any recall work was done.
General air brake issues are listed in recalls, which could lead to reduced braking power. Since there are no owner complaints, it's unclear how often this happens in real use, but it's a critical system to inspect.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and even sudden loss of power, often linked to the 10-speed automatic transmission. This can be dangerous if it happens in traffic and may require expensive repairs.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as odd noises. These electrical glitches can disable safety features and be hard to diagnose.
Headlight issues are common enough to be a top complaint category and have been recalled. Poor lighting affects visibility at night, so check that recalls are done and lights work properly.
Engine problems are frequently reported and have led to recalls. Symptoms aren't detailed in the sample, but engine trouble can mean costly repairs and downtime.
“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 H Series — 5 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." AN INTERNAL CONTROL AND CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE AIR BRAKE APPLICATION VALVE ASSEMBLY WAS CONFIGURED IMPROPERLY, PREVENTING AIR FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AS DESIGNED.…
The risk: IF STOPPING DISTANCE WAS LIMITED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BRAKE APPLICATION VALVE ASSEMBLY ON C-SERIES OR REROUTE THE AIR BRAKE LINES ON T-SERIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9…
The defect: ON CERTAIN STRAIGHT TOWING OR NON-TOWING TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX AIR BRAKES, THE AIR BRAKE PARK CONTROL VALVE MAY DEVELOP EITHER AN INTERNAL AIR LEAK OR AN AIR RESTRICTION. THE PARK BRAKE MAY NOT RELEASE OR MAY RELEASE ONLY PARTIALLY.
The risk: IF THE VEHICLE IS ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE, THE PARK BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE AND COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CONDITION DOES NOT AFFECT NORMAL SERVICE BRAKING.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE EXTERNAL CHECK VALVE ON THE AIR BRAKE PARK CONTROL VALVE IF THE INSPECTION DETERMINES THE EXTERNAL CHECK VALVE IS DAMAGED, THE AIR BRAKE PARK CONTROL VALVE WILL BE REPLACED AND MAY REQUIRE THE REPLACEME…
The defect: GM IS RECALLING 1,880 MODEL YEAR 2007 CHEVROLET KODIAK AND T-SERIES, GMC TOPKICK AND T-SERIES, AND ISUZU F-SERIES AND H-SERIES PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 7.8L DIESEL ENGINE. THE AIR COMPRESSOR IN SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BUILD ENOUGH AIR PRESSURE TO SUPPORT THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM. IF THIS…
The risk: IF THE DRIVER IGNORES THESE WARNINGS AND CONTINUES TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND IF THERE WAS A CONTINUED LOSS OF PRESSURE, THE REAR SPRING PARKING BRAKES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY APPLY, PREVENTING THE TRUCK FROM BEING DRIVEN.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR COMPRESSOR FOR ITS ABILITY TO BUILD AIR PRESSURE, AND EITHER MODIFY THE AIR COMPRESSOR BY ELIMINATION OF THE SUPPRESSION VALVE OR REPLACE THE AIR COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BE…
The defect: ON CERTAIN STRAIGHT TOWING OR NON-TOWING TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX AIR BRAKES, THE AIR BRAKE PARK CONTROL VALVE MAY DEVELOP EITHER AN INTERNAL AIR LEAK OR AN AIR RESTRICTION. THE PARK BRAKE MAY NOT RELEASE OR MAY RELEASE ONLY PARTIALLY.
The risk: IF THE VEHICLE IS ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE, THE PARK BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE AND COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CONDITION DOES NOT AFFECT NORMAL SERVICE BRAKING.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE EXTERNAL CHECK VALVE ON THE AIR BRAKE PARK CONTROL VALVE IF THE INSPECTION DETERMINES THE EXTERNAL CHECK VALVE IS DAMAGED, THE AIR BRAKE PARK CONTROL VALVE WILL BE REPLACED AND MAY REQUIRE THE REPLACEME…
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 H Series or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Isuzu H Series has far fewer issues per year—zero complaints versus over a thousand for the Ford F-150. But the Isuzu's five recalls mean it's not problem-free; it just has less owner-reported data. In practice, the Ford F-150 has many known trouble spots, while the Isuzu H Series requires careful checking of recall repairs.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has thousands of owner complaints about real driving issues like transmission jerking and electrical failures, while the Isuzu H Series has none on record.
- The Isuzu H Series has five recalls focused on air brakes and parking brakes, which are critical safety systems for a commercial truck.
- The Ford F-150's complaints include sudden power loss and hard shifts, which can be dangerous; the Isuzu's issues are known only through recalls, not owner reports.
- The Ford F-150 has 145 recalls across many systems, while the Isuzu H Series has 5, but both require checking that recall work was completed.
- Check for any open recalls on the air brake compressor and parking brake—if not fixed, these can affect stopping and holding the truck.
- Inspect the air brake system for leaks or weak performance, since recalls suggest possible defects even without owner complaints.
- Test drive at various speeds and watch for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears.
- Check for warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on startup, and verify all electrical features work.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall site to see if all recalls for the specific vehicle have been repaired.
- For the Isuzu H Series, have a mechanic inspect the air brake system and parking brake, including the compressor.
- For the Ford F-150, test drive extensively and scan for transmission trouble codes or stored electrical faults.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially any transmission or brake work, to see if known issues have been addressed.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on the top complaint areas.
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 H Series or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu H Series vs FORD F 150
- Isuzu H Series total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Isuzu H Series total recalls
- 5
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Isuzu H Series avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu H Series
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN