Head-to-head reliability
Lexus RC vs FORD F 150
How the Lexus RC 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 RC vs FORD F 150: The Lexus RC has 9 complaints over 10 years (0.9/year) and 7 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints (1,131/year) and 145 recalls. The F-150 also reports 287 injuries and 1 death, versus none for the RC. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus RC or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus RC
The Lexus RC is a luxury sports coupe that sees very few owner complaints—just 9 over 10 years, or about 0.9 per year. The main recurring issue is a fuel pump failure that led to multiple recalls and long waits for parts. Other complaints involve a shattered sunroof, distorted window glass, and squeaky brakes. Overall, it's a low-volume model with a handful of notable but infrequent problems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint volume: 11,311 over 10 years, averaging over 1,100 per year. The most common trouble spots are the transmission (hard shifts, loss of power) and electrical glitches (camera warnings, battery cables). There are also many recalls and crash-related reports. This suggests a complex vehicle with frequent, sometimes serious, reliability issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus RC | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 9 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.9 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.
Lexus RC
- 01FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 03VISIBILITY/WIPER2
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1
- 05WHEELS1
Owners report fuel pump failures that cause the vehicle to stall or not start, often leading to a recall. One owner waited nearly four months for a fix because parts were unavailable. This is the most common complaint and a major inconvenience if it happens.
Some owners complain of severe optical distortion and a foggy, grid-like pattern in the side window glass, which impairs visibility especially at night. This can make driving uncomfortable and potentially risky in low light.
Reports include a sunroof that shattered spontaneously while driving and a car sold with wrong-size tires after a collision repair. These are rare but serious quality and safety concerns.
Brake pads may squeak even when new, and dealers sometimes say it's normal despite a service bulletin for replacement. Annoying but not a safety failure based on the complaint.
“On March 26, 2026 my vehicle was towed to dealership and diagnosed with a bad fuel pump. On April 8 it was recalled for this pump. It has been sitting at the dealership since then, almost 4 months, with Lexus claiming they do not know when they can fix it due…”
“On March 26, 2026 my vehicle was towed to dealership and diagnosed with a bad fuel pump. On April 8 it was recalled for this pump. It has been sitting at the dealership since then, almost 4 months, with Lexus claiming they do not know when they can fix it due…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners frequently report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and even sudden loss of power with the 10-speed automatic transmission. Some describe clunking noises and transmission failure while driving, which can be dangerous.
Common complaints include false warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as battery cable issues. These can distract the driver and may indicate broader electrical gremlins.
Many complaints involve headlight problems, though specific details are not in the sample. Given the high count, buyers should check for flickering, condensation, or premature failure.
Engine-related complaints are less frequent than transmission issues but still notable. Recalls include engine problems, so regular maintenance and recall checks are important.
“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.
Lexus RC — 7 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2015-2022 Lexus RC, 2016-2020 GS, and 2022 IS vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's cust…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2015-2022 Lexus RC, 2016-2020 GS, and 2022 IS vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's cust…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2015-2022 Lexus RC, 2016-2020 GS, and 2022 IS vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's cust…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2015-2022 Lexus RC, 2016-2020 GS, and 2022 IS vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's cust…
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
Lexus RC or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Lexus RC has far fewer issues per year (0.9 vs. 1,131.1), meaning you're much less likely to face frequent repairs. The Ford F-150's high complaint volume, especially for transmission and electrical problems, suggests a higher risk of costly and potentially dangerous failures. In practice, the RC is a lower-hassle choice if reliability is your top priority.
Key differences
- The Lexus RC averages 0.9 complaints per year; the Ford F-150 averages 1,131.1—over 1,000 times more.
- Ford F-150 owners report serious transmission issues like hard shifts and sudden power loss; Lexus RC's main issue is a fuel pump that can fail but is subject to recall.
- The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries; the RC has 1 crash-related complaint and no injuries.
- Both have recalls, but the F-150 has 145 vs. the RC's 7, covering more systems like electrical, engine, and lighting.
- Check for any open fuel pump recall and confirm it has been replaced; ask for documentation.
- Inspect side window glass for distortion or haze, especially on 2025 models, and test at night.
- Test drive at various speeds to feel for hard or delayed shifts, especially between 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8 gears.
- Check for recurring dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' and have the electrical system scanned.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle.
- For the Lexus RC, ask if the fuel pump recall has been completed and get proof.
- For the Ford F-150, have a mechanic inspect the transmission for shifting issues and check for stored error codes.
- Test all electrical features, including cameras, sensors, and lights, and look for any warning messages.
- Request a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic familiar with the model.
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 RC | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 329 |
| 2024 | 0 | 617 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 2 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 1 | 33 |
| 2019 | 1 | 36 |
| 2018 | 1 | 56 |
| 2017 | 1 | 43 |
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 RC or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus RC vs FORD F 150
- Lexus RC total complaints
- 9
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Lexus RC total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Lexus RC avg complaints/year
- 0.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Lexus RC
- Lexus RC top complaint area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN