Head-to-head reliability
Lexus RX vs FORD F 150
How the Lexus RX 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 RX vs FORD F 150: The RX averages 63.5 complaints per year with 17 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 73 for the RX. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus RX or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus RX
The Lexus RX is a luxury SUV that averages about 64 complaints per year over the last decade, with 17 recalls and no reported deaths in the data. The most common owner complaints involve air bags, electrical system issues like 12-volt battery drain, and occasional unintended acceleration. Living with one means dealing with fewer overall complaints than the Ford F-150, but some electrical and air bag concerns can be serious and costly.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averages over 1,160 complaints per year, with 151 recalls and one reported death. Power train problems, especially transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, dominate owner reports, along with electrical and lighting issues. Living with one means a much higher volume of complaints and a wide range of recurring mechanical and electrical faults.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus RX | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 635 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 73 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 63.5 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 67 Better | 297 |
| 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 RX
- 01AIR BAGS260
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER107
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM83
- 04ENGINE51
- 05STRUCTURE37
Owners report unintended acceleration leading to crashes, and some say the rear seat belt reminder does not alert when a back-seat passenger is unbuckled. These issues matter because they can contribute to collisions or fail to warn about an unbuckled occupant.
Complaints describe a 12-volt battery that drains completely or dies suddenly, even on new vehicles with very low mileage. This can leave a buyer stranded and require jump-starts or dealer visits.
Some owners report a check engine light with a Drive-Start Control Malfunction warning and a turbocharger wastegate actuator fault code. This can lead to reduced power or drivability problems that need dealer diagnosis.
Reports include sudden power loss after pressing a seat cooler button and unintended acceleration in a drive-thru. These unpredictable events are hard to reproduce and can be frightening for a driver.
“The contact owns a 2025 Lexus RX 350. The contact stated that while driving into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and drove forward at a high rate of speed before crashing into the brick wall of an office building. Dur…”
“The car does not alert when a seat belt is not worn in the back seats. This feature is mentioned in the owner's manual, but the car fails to alert when a rear passenger does not buckle their seat belt. I have raised the complaint twice and proved to lexus ser…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe a recurring lead frame issue and transmissions that go into limp mode, stick in 5th gear, or fail due to an output speed sensor. These problems can cause sudden loss of power or unsafe driving conditions.
The same lead frame problem is also reported under electrical system complaints, along with other electrical faults. This overlap means electrical gremlins can be tied to transmission behavior, making diagnosis tricky.
One owner reported the rear window shattering outward after using the defroster, with no external impact. This is a safety concern because it can happen unexpectedly and create a hazard.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint area, though specific sample text is not provided. Buyers should still check for lighting malfunctions, as they are frequently reported on this truck.
“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.
Lexus RX — 17 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Camry, 2019 Lexus NX300, and 2019 RX350L 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. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TA01 and 25LA01.
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lexus NX350, NX250, 2023-2026 RX350, and 2024-2026 TX350 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federa…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX350, RX500 Hybrid, TX500 Hybrid, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Grand Highlander Hybrid vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can result in…
The risk: A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckles, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's num…
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
Lexus RX or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Lexus RX has far fewer complaints per year (about 64) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,160), and fewer recalls (17 vs. 151). In practice, a used RX buyer is likely to encounter fewer reported problems overall, while an F-150 buyer should expect a higher chance of recurring power train and electrical issues.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has roughly 18 times more complaints per year than the Lexus RX, with power train issues like limp mode and lead frame failures dominating.
- The Lexus RX has zero reported deaths in the data, while the Ford F-150 has one death and more crash-related complaints (330 vs. 73).
- Lexus RX complaints often involve air bags and 12-volt battery drain, while Ford F-150 complaints center on transmission and electrical problems.
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls versus 17 for the Lexus RX, covering areas like engines, seat belts, and air bags.
- Check for any history of unintended acceleration or sudden power loss, especially after using seat cooler or in low-speed maneuvers.
- Test the 12-volt battery health and ask if it has ever drained or died suddenly, as this is a common complaint.
- Test drive for transmission shudder, limp mode, or getting stuck in 5th gear, and ask about lead frame replacement history.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for any cracks or signs of shattering, and check for electrical faults.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- For the Lexus RX, have a mechanic test the 12-volt battery and check for any air bag or electrical fault codes.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for transmission codes like P0722 and ask about lead frame or output speed sensor repairs.
- Test drive both vehicles extensively, including highway speeds and low-speed parking maneuvers, to feel for power loss or transmission issues.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission or electrical work on the F-150.
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 RX | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 35 |
| 2025 | 24 | 345 |
| 2024 | 59 | 638 |
| 2023 | 66 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 42 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 281 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 154 | 44 |
| 2019 | 0 | 52 |
| 2018 | 0 | 79 |
| 2017 | 0 | 59 |
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 RX or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus RX vs FORD F 150
- Lexus RX total complaints
- 635
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Lexus RX total recalls
- 17
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Lexus RX avg complaints/year
- 63.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Lexus RX
- Lexus RX top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN