Head-to-head reliability
Lexus LS vs FORD F 150
How the Lexus LS 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
Lexus LS averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Lexus LS has 18 complaints and 11 recalls on record; FORD F 150 has 11,102 complaints and 144 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus LS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 18 Better | 11,102 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 144 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 319 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.8 Better | 1110.2 |
| 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.
Lexus LS
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 02WHEELS4
- 03SEATS3
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- 05ENGINE2
“APEAL AGAINST THE RECALL DONE BY LEXUS TOYOTA ON MAY 16TH, 2019, I TOOK MY CAR LEXUS 2018 LS 500 TO THE DEALER, LEXUS OF WOODLAND HILLS, WHERE I BOUGHT IT, FOR BEING RECALLED BY THE COMPANY. (NHTSA RECALL NO. 19V-134) AFTER RECALL DEFECTS WERE FIXED, I DROVE…”
“THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM BLOWS FUSES AND STOPS WORKING, BUT THE LIGHT ON THE DASH CONTINUES TO INDICATE THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO WAY TO LEARN THAT THE COLLISION SYSTEM IS OFFLINE UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO SIMULATE A NEAR CE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,492
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,052
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,380
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,150
- 05ENGINE828
“Vehicle Safety Hazard & Recall Remedy Denial Recall: 26S28 / NHTSA Campaign 26V237 Summary of Issue: I am experiencing active, unsafe vehicle symptoms directly tied to Recall 26S28, including intermittent transmission signal loss, warning lights, and abrupt d…”
“I. Vehicle Purchase and Maintenance History In September 2020, I purchased this 2020 Ford F-150 new. II. Chronology of Defect and Repair Attempts Around 33,000 miles, the vehicle began exhibiting severe excessive oil consumption, an audible engine noise, and…”
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.
Lexus LS — 11 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Lexus LS500 and 2018-2020 Lexus LS500 Hybrid vehicles equipped with the "Executive Package." The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that can cause the Occupant Classif…
The risk: Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 7, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 2…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Lexus LS500 and 2018-2020 Lexus LS500 Hybrid vehicles equipped with the "Executive Package." The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that can cause the Occupant Classif…
The risk: Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 7, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 2…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Lexus LS vehicles equipped with run-flat tires with a sidewall reinforcement layer inside the tire. The tire-on-wheel assembly process may have caused the reinforcement layer to crack, possibly resulting in the tire tread l…
The risk: If the tire tread layer separates from the vehicle, vehicle handling and stability may be affected, increasing the risk of crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will replace the affected tires, free of charge. The recall began April 26, 2019. Owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. The Toyota number for this recall is KLC.
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Lexus LS500 and 2018-2020 Lexus LS500 Hybrid vehicles equipped with the "Executive Package." The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that can cause the Occupant Classif…
The risk: Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 7, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 2…
FORD F 150 — 144 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 trucks equipped with 17-inch spare tires. The spare tire could have been damaged when it was installed on the rim.
The risk: The damage can cause the tire to rapidly lose air pressure or detach from the wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spare tire, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S55.
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 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or dist…
The risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may…
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 | Lexus LS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 16 |
| 2025 | 1 | 324 |
| 2024 | 0 | 607 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1484 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3388 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5162 |
| 2020 | 0 | 25 |
| 2019 | 1 | 31 |
| 2018 | 10 | 38 |
| 2017 | 0 | 27 |
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 Lexus LS or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus LS vs FORD F 150
- Lexus LS total complaints
- 18
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,102
- Lexus LS total recalls
- 11
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 144
- Lexus LS avg complaints/year
- 1.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1110.2
- More reliable overall
- Lexus LS
- Lexus LS top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN