Head-to-head reliability
Jaguar XF vs FORD F 150
How the Jaguar XF 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
Jaguar XF vs FORD F 150: The XF has 35 complaints and 12 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. The XF's issues include steering lock-up and power loss; the F-150's include transmission limp mode and rear window shattering. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Jaguar XF or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Jaguar XF
The Jaguar XF is a luxury sedan with relatively few complaints—35 over 10 years—but the pattern shows serious, unpredictable failures. Owners report steering lock-ups, sudden power loss, and unintended acceleration, often tied to electrical or engine faults. With 12 recalls and only 1 injury reported, the XF demands vigilance despite low complaint volume.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with 11,621 complaints over 10 years, dominated by power train and electrical issues. Owners describe recurring transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window shattering. With 151 recalls and 297 injuries, the F-150's popularity means many reported problems, but also a wide range of documented fixes.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Jaguar XF | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 35 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.5 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Jaguar XF
- 01ENGINE8
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
- 03STEERING5
- 04POWER TRAIN4
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
Owners report sudden power loss and breakdowns, such as oil leaking onto the alternator causing failure. This can leave you stranded and is a major safety concern.
Complaints include seatbelt locking mechanism failure and battery not charging warnings. Electrical gremlins can disable safety features and strand the car.
Drivers describe the steering wheel locking up while driving, sometimes with a 'battery not charging' message. This loss of control is extremely dangerous.
Reports include unintended acceleration while stopped and transmission issues. These faults can cause crashes, as noted in one complaint where the car veered and accelerated.
“On May 2, 2026, ten days after purchasing the vehicle, the driver‑side seatbelt locking mechanism failed while I was driving. The vehicle was inspected the next day at CarMax Tuscaloosa. Their mechanic confirmed two separate safety defects: 1. The driver‑side…”
“My vehicle has about 68k miles, I have always serviced the vehicle properly. While driving the car my steering locked up and my vehicle lost all power on a busy road with my children in the car. Luckily we are safe but this is very dangerous. I have had the c…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The 'lead frame' issue causes transmission to go into limp mode, stuck in 5th gear, or fail to shift. Owners report near-collisions and recurring problems even after repairs.
Output speed sensor failures trigger limp mode and code P0722, often after recall software updates. Electrical faults can leave you stranded or in reduced power.
Rear window defroster shorts can cause the back window to explode outward. This is a shocking safety hazard with no warning.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting issues are common, though specific failure patterns aren't detailed in the sample. Faulty lights reduce visibility and can lead to accidents.
“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.
Jaguar XF — 12 recalls
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2022 Jaguar F-Type, F-Pace, and XF vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belt pretensioners may be damaged, which can cause the seat belts to not properly restrain occupants.
The risk: Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 15, 2022. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for thi…
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Jaguar XF and F-Pace, 2016-2017 Jaguar XJ and 2018 Jaguar XE vehicles. The instrument cluster (IC) may intermittently go blank.
The risk: A blank instrument cluster will not show important information like vehicle speed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 19, 2017. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this recall is H0…
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2018 Jaguar XE, XF, E-PACE, F-PACE and F-TYPE vehicles equipped with a 2.0L gasoline engine. The fuel rail end caps may leak, possibly resulting in fuel vapor or liquid fuel leaking into the engine bay.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail, free of charge. The recall began on March 8, 2018. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this recall is H081.
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2018 XF Sportbrake vehicles. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) calibration may be incorrect, possibly causing the frontal air bags to deploy improperly in a low speed crash.
The risk: In the event of a crash, the driver and the front seat passenger may not be properly protected by the frontal air bags, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag system, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 6, 2018. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this r…
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
Jaguar XF or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Jaguar XF has far fewer complaints per year (3.5 vs. 1,162.1 for the F-150), but its failures are often sudden and severe, like steering lock-up. The F-150's higher volume means more reported issues, but also more known remedies and recalls. In practice, the XF may be less likely to leave you stranded, but when it does, it can be catastrophic.
Key differences
- The Jaguar XF has 35 complaints over 10 years; the Ford F-150 has 11,621—a massive difference in reported problems.
- XF owners report steering lock-up and sudden power loss; F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and rear window shattering.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls vs. 12 for the XF, meaning more potential fixes but also more known defects.
- Crash-related complaints: 2 for XF, 330 for F-150; injuries: 1 vs. 297, reflecting the F-150's higher volume and usage.
- Check for any history of steering lock-up or 'battery not charging' warnings—test drive and listen for electrical oddities.
- Inspect for oil leaks around the alternator, as one owner reported oil leaking onto it and causing a breakdown.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in 5th gear—especially on 2017 models with the 6-speed automatic.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and look for any signs of shorting or previous window replacement due to shattering.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to check for open recalls on both the Jaguar XF and Ford F-150.
- For the XF, have a mechanic inspect the steering system, alternator, and battery charging system.
- For the F-150, scan for transmission codes (especially P0722) and test drive at highway speeds to check for limp mode.
- Ask for service records showing any lead frame or transmission repairs on the F-150, and electrical repairs on the XF.
- Take a long test drive on both vehicles, including stops and starts, to feel for unintended acceleration or steering issues.
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 | Jaguar XF | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 638 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 2 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 2019 | 0 | 52 |
| 2018 | 2 | 79 |
| 2017 | 5 | 59 |
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 Jaguar XF or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Jaguar XF vs FORD F 150
- Jaguar XF total complaints
- 35
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Jaguar XF total recalls
- 12
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Jaguar XF avg complaints/year
- 3.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Jaguar XF
- Jaguar XF top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN