Head-to-head reliability
KIA EV6 vs FORD F 150
How the KIA EV6 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 EV6 vs FORD F 150: The EV6 has 543 complaints over 5 years (109/year) and 11 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150's higher rate reflects more power train and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA EV6 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
KIA EV6
The Kia EV6 is an electric crossover that has been on the road for about five years. In that time, owners have filed 543 complaints, with the electrical system being the most common trouble spot. Many complaints mention a 'pop' sound, sudden warning messages like 'Check Electric Vehicle System,' and issues with the charging control unit. While the complaint rate is lower than some vehicles, the electric-specific problems can be concerning for first-time EV buyers.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that has been a best-seller for decades. Over ten years, owners have filed 11,621 complaints, with power train and electrical problems leading the list. Reports include transmission issues like limp mode and lead frame failures, as well as electrical glitches. The high number of complaints reflects both the truck's popularity and a pattern of recurring problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA EV6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 543 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 20 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 108.6 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 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 EV6
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM406
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM98
- 03POWER TRAIN96
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER68
- 05ENGINE40
Owners frequently report sudden electrical faults, often accompanied by a 'pop' sound and messages like 'Check Electric Vehicle System.' These can appear randomly and may clear after restarting, but they indicate potential issues with the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), which is subject to a recall.
Complaints in this area often relate to charging problems or propulsion errors. Some owners describe repeated dealership visits for EV system issues, even after recall repairs, suggesting that the fix may not always be permanent.
Power train complaints often mirror electrical issues, with reports of sudden loss of power or fault messages. These can be alarming while driving and may require towing or dealer service.
Many owners report vague but serious symptoms like error messages after charging or while driving. These can be hard to diagnose and may leave owners feeling uncertain about the vehicle's reliability.
“2024 Kia EV6 leased January 2025. Vehicle is subject to NHTSA Recall 24V-867 / Kia campaign SC327 for the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU). The recall remedy was performed at an authorized Kia dealer in July 2025 (software / operational logic update).…”
“Driving with my wife and [XXX] child, there was a pop sound from under the car, and the car suddenly showed multiple faults, including "Check electric vehicle system”, which cleared on their own. I parked and turned the car off and on again and the faults rea…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Transmission problems are common, including harsh shifting, getting stuck in gears, and limp mode. The 'lead frame' issue is a long-standing problem that can cause sudden downshifts or loss of power, sometimes leading to near-collisions.
Electrical complaints often involve the lead frame as well, plus other issues like rear window defroster shorts that can cause the rear window to shatter. These problems can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
Owners report various unexplained issues, such as windows shattering or sudden electrical failures. These can be unpredictable and may not show up during a test drive.
Exterior lighting complaints are frequent, though specific details are not provided in the sample. Problems with lights can affect visibility and safety, and may be a recurring annoyance.
“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 EV6 — 11 recalls
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2024 EV6 vehicles. The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) may become damaged and stop charging the 12-Volt battery, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the ICCU and its fuse, as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the ICCU software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 29, 2024. Ow…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2024 EV6 vehicles. The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) may become damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the ICCU and its fuse, as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the ICCU software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2024. Owners may co…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2022-2024 EV6 and 2024 EV9 vehicles. The high voltage battery cells may contain misaligned electrodes, which can lead to a fire while parked or driving.
The risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and limit their charge to a maximum of 80% until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery system assembly, free of charge. Owner notification l…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Niro EV and 2023 EV6 vehicles. One of the drive shafts may have been improperly heat-treated, allowing it to break under load and resulting in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the drive shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC295.
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 EV6 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Kia EV6 has far fewer complaints per year (about 109) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162). This means that, on average, EV6 owners report fewer problems, but the EV6's issues tend to be electric-specific and sometimes tied to recalls. The F-150's higher complaint volume reflects a broader range of issues, especially with the power train and electrical systems.
Key differences
- The Kia EV6 has 543 complaints over 5 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 over 10 years, showing a much higher annual complaint rate for the F-150.
- The EV6's top complaint area is the electrical system, often related to charging and propulsion faults, whereas the F-150's top area is the power train, with transmission and lead frame issues.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 11 for the EV6, indicating more frequent recall campaigns for the truck.
- Owner reports for the EV6 often mention sudden warning messages and 'pop' sounds, while F-150 owners describe limp mode, stuck gears, and shattering windows.
- Check for any outstanding recalls, especially the ICCU recall (24V-867), and confirm that the remedy has been applied.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights or messages, and listen for unusual sounds like pops from under the vehicle.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for smooth shifting and any signs of limp mode or getting stuck in gear; ask about lead frame replacement history.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for any cracks or signs of shattering, and check for electrical gremlins like flickering lights.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic experienced with the specific model (EV for Kia, truck for Ford).
- For the EV6, verify the charging system works properly and that all software updates have been performed.
- For the F-150, scan for transmission error codes and test drive at highway speeds to check for limp mode.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any related to recalls or known 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 | KIA EV6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 53 | 345 |
| 2024 | 76 | 638 |
| 2023 | 137 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 277 | 3493 |
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 EV6 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA EV6 vs FORD F 150
- KIA EV6 total complaints
- 543
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- KIA EV6 total recalls
- 11
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- KIA EV6 avg complaints/year
- 108.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- KIA EV6
- KIA EV6 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN