Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu Vehicross vs FORD F 150
How the Isuzu Vehicross 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 Vehicross vs FORD F 150: The Vehicross has 41 complaints over 3 years (about 14 per year) and 0 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 330 crash-related incidents, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the Vehicross reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu Vehicross or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu Vehicross
The Isuzu Vehicross is a niche, low-volume SUV with a very small complaint pool: 41 complaints over 3 years, or about 14 per year. Most owner reports center on the power windows binding or failing, plus occasional electrical shorts and frame rust. There are no recalls on record, but the lack of recalls doesn't mean no problems—it means fixes are likely on your dime. For a buyer, this is a quirky vehicle where window and electrical repairs are common, and rust is a serious concern.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume truck with a huge complaint pool: 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 1,162 per year, plus 151 recalls. Owners frequently report transmission problems (rough shifting, limp mode, stuck gears) and electrical issues like the lead frame and rear window defroster shorts. There are also 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death in the data. For a buyer, this means many reported issues, but also many recalls that may have already been addressed.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu Vehicross | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 41 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 13.7 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 297 |
| 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 Vehicross
- 01VISIBILITY35
- 02STRUCTURE2
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
- 05LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
Owners repeatedly report power window mechanisms failing, with the window binding or the track alignment breaking. This can leave a window stuck open or unable to close, which is a daily annoyance and a security concern.
One owner reported the frame rusting out, comparing it to the Isuzu Rodeo's materials. Another noted moisture leaking from the door post or firewall. Rust and leaks can worsen over time and are expensive to fix.
Owners describe electrical shorts affecting turn signals, backup lamps, power windows, and even the transmission mode selector. One owner linked these failures to rough shifting in the automatic transmission. Electrical gremlins can be hard to trace and costly.
A complaint filed under this category also mentions power window mechanism failure on the driver's side. This reinforces that window problems are a recurring theme across multiple complaint categories.
“I OWN TWO 2001 ISUZU VEHICROSS'S. I BOUGHT THEM USED 1 AND 2 YEARS AGO, RESPECTIVELY. MY FIRST ONE WAS PURCHASED WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE SECOND ONE WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT. UPON PURCHASE OF MY FIRST ONE, THE POWER WINDOW MECHANISM ON BOTH SIDES HAD T…”
“I OWN A 2000 VEHICROSS BY ISUZU. I BOUGHT IT NEW 1/01. ON 1/15/03 @ 22,449 MILES THE POWER WINDOW MECHANISM ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HAD TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE TRACK ALIGNMENT. *AK IT COST ME $0 TO FIX AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, I…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report serious transmission issues, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and rough shifting. One owner described a lead frame issue that nearly caused a collision. These problems can affect drivability and safety.
The lead frame issue also appears here, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. Another owner reported a rear window defroster short that caused the back window to shatter. Electrical faults can be unpredictable and dangerous.
A complaint about the rear window defroster short leading to the window exploding outward is filed here. This shows that even non-obvious electrical problems can have severe consequences.
Although no sample text is provided for this component, it is a top complaint area with 1,224 reports. Buyers should be aware that lighting issues are commonly reported, though the exact failure pattern is not detailed in the sample.
“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 Vehicross
No recalls on record.
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
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 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…
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-…
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…
Buyer analysis
Isuzu Vehicross or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Isuzu Vehicross has far fewer complaints per year (about 14) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162). In practice, this means the Vehicross owner may face fewer reported problems overall, but the F-150 has many recalls that could address some issues. The F-150's higher volume also means more data, so the comparison is not perfectly equal.
Key differences
- The Isuzu Vehicross has 41 complaints over 3 years and 0 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years and 151 recalls.
- Vehicross owners most often report power window failures and frame rust, while F-150 owners report transmission limp mode, lead frame issues, and rear window shattering.
- The F-150 data includes 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the Vehicross data shows 0 in all those categories.
- The Vehicross has no recalls on record, meaning any fixes are likely out-of-pocket, while the F-150's many recalls may offer free repairs if not already done.
- Test the power windows multiple times on both sides; listen for binding or grinding, and check if they close completely and smoothly.
- Inspect the frame and underbody for rust, especially around the door posts and firewall, as owners reported moisture leaks and frame rot.
- During a test drive, watch for rough shifting, delayed engagement, or the transmission stuck in a single gear (limp mode).
- Check the rear window defroster for any signs of shorting or overheating, and ask if the lead frame or output speed sensor recalls have been performed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls, especially on the Ford F-150.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the specific known trouble areas: power windows and frame rust on the Vehicross; transmission and electrical system on the F-150.
- For the Vehicross, test all electrical components including turn signals, backup lamps, and cruise control.
- For the F-150, ask for proof that transmission-related recalls and software updates have been completed.
- Budget for potential repairs: window regulators on the Vehicross, and transmission or electrical fixes on the F-150.
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 Vehicross or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu Vehicross vs FORD F 150
- Isuzu Vehicross total complaints
- 41
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Isuzu Vehicross total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Isuzu Vehicross avg complaints/year
- 13.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu Vehicross
- Isuzu Vehicross top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN