Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Renegade vs FORD F 150
How the JEEP Renegade 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
JEEP Renegade vs FORD F 150: The Renegade averages 244.7 complaints per year with 24 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints per year with 151 recalls. The F-150 also has more crash-related complaints (330 vs 79). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Renegade or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Renegade
The Jeep Renegade is a subcompact SUV that averages about 245 complaints per year over nine years, with 24 recalls. Owners frequently report engine and electrical problems, including sudden bangs, shuddering, and warning system glitches. While it has zero reported deaths in the data, the 62 injuries and 79 crash-related complaints suggest some issues can affect safety.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averages about 1,162 complaints per year over ten years, with 151 recalls. Power train and electrical issues dominate, with owners describing transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window shattering. The 297 injuries and 1 death in the data indicate that some problems can have serious consequences.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Renegade | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,202 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 79 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 244.7 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 62 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.
JEEP Renegade
- 01ENGINE850
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM616
- 03POWER TRAIN424
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER419
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM286
Owners report a large bang from underneath during hard acceleration or turns, and some experience shuddering, lurching, and hesitation while driving. These symptoms can make the vehicle feel unpredictable and may lead to costly repairs.
Complaints include lane-keeping and blind-spot alerts going off incorrectly on curves, and in some cases headlights or daytime running lights fail. Electrical glitches can distract the driver and reduce visibility.
Reports describe strong fuel vapor odors, vehicle shutdowns, and loss of headlights. These issues can leave a driver stranded or create fire or crash risks.
The same large bang and no-warning failures are also filed under this category, suggesting owners sometimes cannot pinpoint the cause. This makes diagnosis harder and repairs potentially more expensive.
“First NO WARNINGS Signs of Any Kind were shown at time of 1st & 3rd issues, 1st under hard acceleration or deceleration and sometimes while in turns under acceleration & deceleration you get a Large Bang from underneath the vehicle and it’s not only the sound…”
“The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing difficulty starting. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shuddered, lurched, and hesitated to res…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe a 'lead frame' issue that can cause sudden transmission failure, and some report the truck stuck in 5th gear or entering limp mode. These problems can happen without warning and may lead to loss of power.
The lead frame problem also appears here, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. Electrical faults can disable safety features and leave the truck undrivable.
One owner reported the rear window shattering outward after using the defroster, which could cause injury from flying glass. Such unexpected failures are hard to predict.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting issues are common, though specific examples are not provided. Faulty lights can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
“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.
JEEP Renegade — 24 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, an…
The risk: The incorrect reverse lights may have reduced visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bumper reverse light assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this rec…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, an…
The risk: The incorrect reverse lights may have reduced visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bumper reverse light assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this rec…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, an…
The risk: The incorrect reverse lights may have reduced visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bumper reverse light assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this rec…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.
The risk: A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 82B.
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
JEEP Renegade or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Jeep Renegade has far fewer complaints per year (about 245) than the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but the F-150 is also far more common on the road. In practice, the Renegade may have fewer reported issues overall, but the F-150's higher volume means more owners experience problems, especially with the power train.
Key differences
- The Jeep Renegade averages about 245 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages about 1,162 per year, but the F-150 sells in much higher numbers.
- Ford F-150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, while Jeep Renegade owners describe engine bangs and electrical warning glitches.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 24 for the Renegade, indicating more widespread safety campaigns.
- The F-150 data includes 297 injuries and 1 death, while the Renegade has 62 injuries and 0 deaths, though these numbers must be considered relative to vehicle population.
- Listen for a loud bang from underneath during hard acceleration or turns, which owners report as a sign of engine or power train trouble.
- Test all electrical features, especially lane-keeping alerts, blind-spot monitoring, and headlights, as failures are commonly reported.
- Check for transmission shuddering, delayed engagement, or limp mode during a test drive, as these are common power train complaints.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster operation, and ask if the lead frame or output speed sensor has been replaced.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and engine for the specific issues reported by owners.
- Test drive on varied roads, including curves and highway speeds, to feel for hesitation or limp mode.
- Verify that all electrical systems, including lights and driver-assist features, work correctly.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission or engine repairs.
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 | JEEP Renegade | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 26 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 67 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 62 | 44 |
| 2019 | 79 | 52 |
| 2018 | 442 | 79 |
| 2017 | 565 | 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 JEEP Renegade or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Renegade vs FORD F 150
- JEEP Renegade total complaints
- 2,202
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- JEEP Renegade total recalls
- 24
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- JEEP Renegade avg complaints/year
- 244.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- JEEP Renegade
- JEEP Renegade top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN