Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu I 370 vs FORD F 150
How the Isuzu I 370 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 I 370 vs FORD F 150: The Isuzu averaged 4.5 complaints/year with 2 recalls, while the Ford averaged 1,131 complaints/year with 145 recalls. The Isuzu's main issue is no-start electrical faults; the Ford's is transmission problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu I 370 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu I 370
The Isuzu I 370 is a mid-size pickup that, based on owner complaints, suffers from frustrating no-start problems tied to the electrical system and security key cylinder. With only 9 complaints over 2 years, the overall complaint volume is low, but the pattern is consistent: trucks that crank but won't start, often requiring 10-minute waits to reset. Recalls for brake light switches add another layer of ownership attention.
FORD F 150
The Ford F 150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint history: over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, averaging more than 1,100 per year. The dominant theme is transmission trouble—hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden loss of power—alongside electrical glitches like camera and pre-collision warnings. With 145 recalls and 328 crash-related reports, it's a vehicle that demands diligent maintenance and recall checks.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu I 370 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 9 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 4.5 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 I 370
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 03SERVICE BRAKES1
- 04AIR BAGS1
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
Owners repeatedly report the truck fails to start, often with a security light flashing and a 'key code incorrect' fault. Some say it can take 10 minutes or more of waiting to reset before it might start, leaving them stranded.
Complaints duplicate the no-start issue, describing the theft-deterrent light flashing for 10–12 minutes and the engine light coming on. This suggests the problem is widespread enough that owners aren't sure which system to blame.
One owner of a related model reported ABS kicking in at low speeds (5–10 mph) and an ABS fault light, which multiple shops couldn't fix. This points to potential brake sensor or module issues that can affect stopping confidence.
A complaint describes a rollover crash where the air bags did not deploy. While this is a single report, it's a serious safety concern that any buyer should investigate via recall status.
“MY 2007 ISUZU I 370 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCK HAS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH NOT STARTING. IT HAS FAILED TO START AT LEAST 7 TIMES IN LESS THAN 4 DAYS. THE DEALERSHIP AND ISUZU MOTOR CORPORATION ARE CLUELESS AND TO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH IT. I WORK AS A TRUCK MECHAN…”
“CODE B2960 KEY CODE INCORRECT BUT VALID. WHICH MEANS A FAULTY IGNITION KEY CYLINDER. SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES, ENGINE CRANKS, FAILS TO START. HAVE TO WAIT 10 OR MORE MINUTES TO RESET. STILL FAILS TO START. WAIT ANOTHER 10 OR MORE MINUTES FOR RESET. AFTER MORE T…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners of 10R80-equipped trucks report hard, jerky shifts between gears (e.g., 4-5, 5-6, 7-8) and occasional sudden loss of power. Some describe the truck shutting off and drifting, then restarting with a violent jerk—a clear safety risk.
Complaints include warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing every start, plus loud bangs from the transmission area. These electrical gremlins can disable driver-assist features and are hard to diagnose.
Many owners file under 'unknown' because symptoms overlap—transmission noises, power loss, and warning lights—making it tough to pinpoint. This volume of vague complaints suggests systemic issues that dealers may struggle to fix.
With over 1,100 complaints, lighting problems are common, though specific failure modes aren't detailed in the sample. Recalls for headlights and brake light switches indicate persistent lighting defects that can affect visibility and safety.
“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 I 370 — 2 recalls
The defect: GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSI…
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE…
The defect: GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSI…
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE…
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 I 370 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Isuzu I 370 has far fewer issues per year (4.5 complaints/year) compared to the Ford F 150 (1,131 complaints/year). In practice, the Isuzu's problems are mostly no-start annoyances, while the Ford's include serious transmission failures that can cause power loss. However, the Ford's much larger sales volume means more data; the Isuzu's low count may reflect fewer trucks on the road.
Key differences
- The Isuzu I 370's main reported issue is a no-start condition tied to the security key cylinder, while the Ford F 150's top complaint is hard shifting and sudden power loss from the 10-speed transmission.
- Ford F 150 has 145 recalls versus 2 for the Isuzu, meaning the Ford requires far more recall monitoring.
- The Isuzu has 1 crash-related complaint and 1 injury; the Ford has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, indicating a much higher volume of reported safety incidents.
- Electrical problems on the Isuzu center on starting, while on the Ford they involve driver-assist warnings and transmission noises.
- Test the ignition key cylinder thoroughly: insert the key, try to start, and see if the security light flashes or the truck fails to crank. If it does, expect potential no-start episodes.
- Check for ABS warning lights and test brakes at low speeds to see if ABS kicks in unexpectedly, as one owner reported.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8 gears. Jerks, clunks, or delayed engagement are warning signs.
- Start the truck and look for warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dash; these indicate electrical issues that may be costly.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to confirm all recalls are completed, especially the brake light switch on the Isuzu and the numerous Ford recalls.
- For the Isuzu, have a mechanic inspect the ignition key cylinder and security system for fault codes like B2960.
- For the Ford, test-drive extensively in stop-and-go and highway conditions to feel for transmission shudder or hard shifts.
- Ask for maintenance records; the Ford's transmission may need fluid changes, and the Isuzu's electrical gremlins may have prior repair attempts.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with the specific model to scan for hidden codes and check for pending failures.
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 I 370 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu I 370 vs FORD F 150
- Isuzu I 370 total complaints
- 9
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Isuzu I 370 total recalls
- 2
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Isuzu I 370 avg complaints/year
- 4.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu I 370
- Isuzu I 370 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN