Head-to-head reliability
KIA Amanti vs FORD F 150
How the KIA Amanti 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
KIA Amanti vs FORD F 150: The Amanti averages 41.2 complaints per year with 4 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints per year with 151 recalls. The F-150 also has 330 crash-related complaints versus 22 for the Amanti. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA Amanti or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
KIA Amanti
The KIA Amanti is a low-volume sedan with 247 complaints over six years, averaging about 41 per year. Owners frequently report sudden acceleration, airbag warning lights, transmission shifting problems, and electrical gremlins like dead batteries and sunroofs opening on their own. With four recalls all for brake light switches, the Amanti's ownership experience is marked by intermittent, sometimes scary, faults rather than constant breakdowns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with 11,621 complaints over ten years, averaging about 1,162 per year. The dominant theme is powertrain trouble, especially transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, plus electrical issues and rear window shattering. With 151 recalls covering engines, seat belts, door latches, and airbags, the F-150 demands more frequent attention to safety campaigns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA Amanti | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 247 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 22 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 41.2 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 21 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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.
KIA Amanti
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL56
- 02AIR BAGS39
- 03POWER TRAIN38
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM34
- 05ENGINE24
Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, such as a car accelerating while braking into a parking spot and not responding to the brake. This is the most common complaint category and poses a serious risk in low-speed maneuvers.
The airbag warning light may stay on constantly, and some owners are told their vehicle is not covered by a recall. This means the airbag may not deploy in a crash, leaving occupants unprotected.
Transmission shifting problems and engine stalling at highway speed are reported, with one owner describing the engine dying to idle at 65 mph. These failures can leave you without power in fast traffic.
Owners report batteries draining when the car sits, sunroofs opening by themselves, and electronic panels failing. These faults can leave you stranded and are frustrating to diagnose.
“THE DATE BELOW REFERS TO MOST RECENT EVENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AROUND 10 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE (2007 KIA AMANTI PURCHASED NEW). IN THE MOST RECENT EVENT I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR FROM RUNNING A RED LIGHT, ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AND NEARLY HAD A…”
“When pulling into a parking spot and with my foot on the break, the car suddenly accelerated. The car did not react to my breaking. The car kept moving forward over a sidewalk, over the curb on the street, into the back end of a pickup parked on the road I wa…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The most common complaint is transmission limp mode, often stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause near collisions. Owners describe recurring, dangerous loss of power or gear engagement.
Lead frame issues also appear here, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. These electrical faults can disable the truck's ability to shift properly.
A reported short in the rear window defroster can cause the back window to shatter outward. This is a surprising and potentially injurious failure that owners have experienced.
While specific complaint text is not provided, this is a top component category. Lighting failures can affect visibility and safety, especially if brake lights or headlights stop working.
“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.
KIA Amanti — 4 recalls
The defect: HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE…
The risk: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
The defect: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 201…
The risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved…
The fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's…
The defect: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 201…
The risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved…
The fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's…
The defect: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 201…
The risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved…
The fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's…
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
KIA Amanti or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The KIA Amanti has far fewer complaints per year (about 41) than the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but the F-150 is far more common on the road. In practice, the Amanti's lower volume means fewer reported issues overall, but the F-150's higher count reflects its popularity and a wider range of problems, especially with the transmission.
Key differences
- The KIA Amanti's top complaint is sudden acceleration, while the Ford F-150's is transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The Amanti has 4 recalls, all for brake light switches; the F-150 has 151 recalls covering engines, seat belts, door latches, and airbags.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, compared to 22 crashes and 21 injuries for the Amanti.
- Electrical issues are common in both, but the F-150 also has a reported rear window shattering defect.
- Test the brakes and accelerator for any sticking or unintended acceleration, especially at low speeds.
- Check that the airbag warning light is not illuminated and confirm whether any open recalls apply to the specific VIN.
- Scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive for limp mode or harsh shifting, especially in 2017 V8 models.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or signs of shattering, and verify all recalls have been performed.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN-specific recall check on the NHTSA website and confirm all open recalls are fixed.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with the model's common issues.
- For the Amanti, test drive at parking speeds and check for sudden acceleration or brake response.
- For the F-150, test drive at highway speeds and check for transmission limp mode or stuck gears.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and electrical repairs.
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 KIA Amanti or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA Amanti vs FORD F 150
- KIA Amanti total complaints
- 247
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- KIA Amanti total recalls
- 4
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- KIA Amanti avg complaints/year
- 41.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- KIA Amanti
- KIA Amanti top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN