Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Wagoneer S vs FORD F 150
How the JEEP Wagoneer S 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 Wagoneer S vs FORD F 150: The Wagoneer S has 76 complaints over 3 years (25.3/year) and 13 recalls, while the F 150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131.1/year) and 145 recalls. The F 150 also has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, versus 2 and 0 for the Wagoneer S. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Wagoneer S or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Wagoneer S
The JEEP Wagoneer S is a newer electric SUV with a relatively low number of complaints (76 over 3 years) but a high rate of recalls (13). Owners frequently report electrical and software glitches that can cause the vehicle to shut down or display false warnings, as well as transmission and brake issues. Living with this vehicle may mean dealing with frequent dealer visits for unresolved electronic problems.
FORD F 150
The FORD F 150 is a long-running, high-volume pickup with a large number of complaints (11,311 over 10 years) and recalls (145). The most common problems involve the transmission, electrical system, and engine, with reports of harsh shifting, loss of power, and warning lights. While many trucks may be reliable, the sheer volume of complaints suggests that some owners experience significant and recurring issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Wagoneer S | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 76 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 25.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
JEEP Wagoneer S
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM56
- 02POWER TRAIN18
- 03SERVICE BRAKES17
- 04ENGINE14
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE12
Owners report keyless entry and auto lock/unlock failures, CarPlay navigation not syncing, and sudden flickering of all service lights followed by the vehicle shutting down while driving. These glitches can leave you stranded and are hard to diagnose.
Complaints include warnings like 'Service Electric Vehicle System' and 'Stop Safely – Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon,' as well as transmission service alerts and inability to shift gears. Some owners had to have the car towed at low mileage.
Brake-related complaints often overlap with electrical issues, such as the car lurching forward when coming to a stop or brake lights malfunctioning. These symptoms can affect stopping confidence.
Owners describe sudden lurching, multiple dashboard warnings (including airbag and service lights), and severe electronic glitches that impact drivability. These issues can appear without warning and may require dealer intervention.
“1) Keyless entry/auto lock/unlock has been an issue since we leased the car, and it remains. CarPlay maps on the dashboard are not in sync with reality (even on the short ride home) often displaying the steering wheel icon and/or “0 m” directions that make no…”
“The first time this happened I was pulling into a parking lot and all service lights started flickering and it said to turn turn off car immediately as I was driving, I pulled into the nearest parking lot and it just stopped driving. The second time, which wa…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a frequent source of complaints: hard or delayed shifts, jerking between gears, and occasional loss of power while driving. Some owners report the truck shutting off and drifting, which is a serious safety concern.
Owners report warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing every time the truck starts. Others hear loud bangs or popping sounds from the transmission or rear suspension, often linked to electrical faults.
Headlight and brake light issues are common, with recalls for headlights and brake lights. Malfunctioning lights can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
Engine-related complaints include stalling, rough running, and various warning lights. While not as frequent as transmission issues, they can lead to costly repairs.
“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.
JEEP Wagoneer S — 13 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Jeep Wagoneer S battery electric (BEV) vehicles. The headlight vertical aim adjustment is not accessible, and the horizontal aim adjustment is not covered as intended. As a result, the headlights may not be able to be adjusted properly. As such,…
The risk: Incorrectly adjusted headlights can reduce driver visibility or create a glare for oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will remove the plugs from the vertical aim and install plugs on the horizontal aim, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 3, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. C…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Jeep Wagoneer S vehicles. The liftgate hinge cover may not be properly clipped into position and may detach from the vehicle.
The risk: A detached hinge cover can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealer will inspect, repair, or replace the hinge cover as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 1, 2026. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this reca…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Jeep Wagoneer S, 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, Ram 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2026 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. Due to an improperly designed trailer tow module, the trailer lights…
The risk: Trailer brake lights and turn signals that do not illuminate reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, trailer brakes that fail increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the trailer tow module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning March 17, 2026. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 03D. V…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Dodge Charger and Jeep Wagoneer S electric vehicles. An incorrectly installed spring may cause the loss of the park function when the vehicle’s gear selector is placed in the park (P) position, which can result in a vehicle rollaway. As such, th…
The risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the electric drive module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 63C. Vehicle Iden…
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
JEEP Wagoneer S or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The JEEP Wagoneer S has far fewer complaints per year (25.3) than the FORD F 150 (1,131.1), but the Wagoneer S has a higher recall rate relative to its short time on the road. In practice, the F 150's issues are more numerous and widespread, while the Wagoneer S's problems tend to be concentrated in electrical and software systems that can cause sudden shutdowns.
Key differences
- The JEEP Wagoneer S has 76 complaints over 3 years, while the FORD F 150 has 11,311 over 10 years—far more per year.
- Wagoneer S owners report sudden shutdowns and false warnings from electrical/software glitches; F 150 owners report harsh transmission shifts and loss of power.
- The F 150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, compared to 2 crash-related and 0 injuries for the Wagoneer S.
- Both have recalls for headlights, but the F 150 also has recalls for battery cables, engine, and seat recliners, while the Wagoneer S has recalls for hatch hinges and park pawl.
- Check for any history of electrical system repairs, especially keyless entry, infotainment, and warning light issues—these are the most common complaints.
- Test drive at low speeds and during stops to feel for lurching or sudden power loss, and verify that all software updates have been applied.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: look for hard shifts, jerks, or delays, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears.
- Check for recurring dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' and listen for loud bangs from the transmission or rear suspension.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed.
- For the Wagoneer S, ask the dealer to demonstrate that the latest software updates are installed and test all electronic features.
- For the F 150, take an extended test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission issues.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on the transmission (F 150) or electrical system (Wagoneer S).
- Check NHTSA's website for any open recalls on the specific VIN before buying.
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 Wagoneer S | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 48 | 329 |
| 2024 | 28 | 617 |
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 Wagoneer S or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Wagoneer S vs FORD F 150
- JEEP Wagoneer S total complaints
- 76
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- JEEP Wagoneer S total recalls
- 13
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- JEEP Wagoneer S avg complaints/year
- 25.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- JEEP Wagoneer S
- JEEP Wagoneer S top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN