Head-to-head reliability

Isuzu NPR vs FORD F 150

How the Isuzu NPR and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Isuzu NPR4 complaints · 14 recalls Fewer issues per year
FORD F 15011,621 complaints · 151 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Isuzu NPR averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Isuzu NPR has 4 complaints and 14 recalls on record; FORD F 150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryIsuzu NPRFORD F 150
Total complaintsAll model years combined4 Better11,621
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns14 Better151
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints2 Better330
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years0.4 Better1162.1
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better297
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better1

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 NPR

  1. 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
  2. 02ENGINE1
  3. 03TIRES1
  4. 04STRUCTURE1
  5. 05SERVICE BRAKES1
In owners' words — UNKNOWN OR OTHER

“VEHICLE WILL "LURCH" FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATOR NOT IN USE. RPM'S WILL GO FROM AN IDLING 2500, UP TO 4500 WITHOUT WARNING”

FORD F 150

  1. 01POWER TRAIN3,648
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
  4. 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
  5. 05ENGINE880
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

“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.

Isuzu NPR — 14 recalls

Suspension — Rear — Springs — Leaf Spring Assembly — U-Bolt, Leaf Spring To Axle
#21V194000

The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Isuzu NPR, Reach, 2016-2020 Isuzu NPR XD, NPR HD, NQR, 2016-2021 Isuzu NRR, 2017-2020 Chevrolet 4500XD, 4500HD, 5500HD, and 2020 Chevrolet 5500XD vehicles. The U-bolt nuts for the rear axle may not have been properly tig…

The risk: The misalignment may cause the propeller shaft to separate, causing a loss of power to the rear wheels and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Isuzu will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace and tighten the rear axle U-bolt nuts, free of charge. The recall began on April 23, 2021. Owners may contact Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. Isuzu's numb…

Equipment
#17V726000

The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Isuzu NPR, 2008 NPR HD and NPR-HD Gas, 2011-2018 NPR HD and NRR, 2015-2018 NPR XD, 2012-2018 NQR, 2012-2017 NPR Gas and NPR-HD Gas, 2016-2017 Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 3500 HD, 3500 and 4500 and 2017-2018 Chevrolet Low C…

The risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Isuzu will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in December 2017. Owners may contact Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638 or Walter Kid…

Seat Belts — Front — Webbing
#20V025000

The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2020 Isuzu NPR HD, NPR XD, NQR and NRR and Chevrolet 4500HD, 4500XD, 5500HD and 5500XD and 2019 Isuzu NPR HD GAS, NPR GAS and Chevrolet 4500 and Chevrolet 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual mode belt locking mechanism seat belt as…

The risk: In the event of a crash, if the occupant is not properly restrained, there is an increased risk of injury.

The fix: Isuzu will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2020. Owners may contact Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638 or Chevrolet customer serv…

Service Brakes
#20V193000Mar 2020

The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2019 NPR GAS, 2019 NPRHD GAS and 2019 Chevrolet 4500 vehicles. The brake line clips for the rear driver side brake line may have been incorrectly installed, potentially allowing the brake line to contact a grounding bolt, potentia…

The risk: If the rear driver side brake fails, the vehicle may experience reduced braking, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Isuzu will notify owners, and dealers inspect and replace brake line assembly or reposition the brake line into the proper position, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may contact Isuzu customer service at…

FORD F 150 — 151 recalls

Engine
#18V894000

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…

Engine
#19V278000Aug 2019

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…

Seat Belts — Pretensioner
#18V568000

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-…

Latches/Locks/Linkages — Doors — Latch
#17V652000

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…

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.

YearIsuzu NPRFORD F 150
2026035
20250345
20240638
202301527
202203493
2020144
2019152
2018079
2017159
Years to scrutinize: the 2016 Isuzu NPR drew the most complaints (1); the 2021 FORD F 150 drew the most (5,349). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 NPR or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Isuzu NPR vs FORD F 150 — comparison facts
Comparison
Isuzu NPR vs FORD F 150
Isuzu NPR total complaints
4
FORD F 150 total complaints
11,621
Isuzu NPR total recalls
14
FORD F 150 total recalls
151
Isuzu NPR avg complaints/year
0.4
FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
1162.1
More reliable overall
Isuzu NPR
Isuzu NPR top complaint area
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FORD F 150 top complaint area
POWER TRAIN