Head-to-head reliability
Lexus TX vs FORD F 150
How the Lexus TX 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 TX vs FORD F 150: The Lexus TX averages 57 complaints per year with 12 recalls, while the Ford F-150 averages 1,131 complaints per year with 145 recalls. The Ford's higher volume is largely due to transmission issues, while the Lexus has fewer but sometimes safety-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus TX or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus TX
The Lexus TX is a newer three-row luxury SUV with only three years of complaint history, averaging 57 complaints per year. Owners most often report air bag clock spring noise, electronic throttle and transmission control failures, and air conditioning condenser damage from road debris. While the complaint volume is low, the types of failures—especially those affecting acceleration and safety systems—can be serious and occur even on very low-mileage vehicles.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a long-running full-size pickup with a decade of data and an average of 1,131 complaints per year. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with reports of harsh shifting, delayed engagement, and sudden loss of power. Electrical glitches, such as camera and pre-collision assist warnings, are also common. The high complaint count reflects both the truck's popularity and persistent powertrain problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus TX | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 171 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 57.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 8 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 TX
- 01AIR BAGS52
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER46
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
- 04ENGINE16
- 05POWER TRAIN14
Owners report an intermittent crackling noise from the SRS spiral cable assembly (clock spring) behind the steering column. This can affect air bag deployment, so it's a safety concern that should be inspected.
Complaints describe failures of the electronic throttle control, vehicle speed control, and powertrain/transmission control system, leading to a loss of acceleration even when the pedal is pressed. This can leave a driver unable to accelerate in traffic.
Some owners report the air conditioning condenser being punctured by road debris, causing sudden AC failure. Others note the engine not activating from electric mode when accelerating, resulting in no power.
There are reports of transmission control issues that can cause the vehicle to not accelerate or to hesitate. This is a drivability and safety concern, especially when merging or pulling out.
“The SRS spiral cable assembly (clock spring), located directly behind the driver's instrument display in the steering column, is producing an intermittent crackling noise. The component is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: The clock spring i…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is the most complained-about component, with owners reporting hard shifts, jerks, clunks, and even sudden loss of power while driving. This can be dangerous and often requires costly repairs.
Owners frequently see warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on startup. These electrical glitches can disable driver-assist features and are a recurring annoyance.
There are many complaints about exterior lighting, particularly headlights. While not detailed in the sample, the high count suggests owners experience premature bulb failures or condensation, which can affect visibility.
Engine-related complaints are less common than transmission issues but still present. Some owners report engine problems that may lead to stalling or reduced performance, though specifics are not provided in the sample.
“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 TX — 12 recalls
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 2024-2025 Toyota Tundra, Tacoma Hybrid, Tacoma, RAV4 Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Lexus GX550, 2024-2026 Tundra Hybrid, 2025 Sequoia Hybrid, Crown Signia, Grand Highlander, Lexus TX500 Hybrid, Lexus NX350 Hybrid, 2025-2026 Grand…
The risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the load carrying capacity modification label, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 26, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26LB04, 26LA04…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX Plug-In Hybrid, TX Hybrid, TX, Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, and Grand Highlander vehicles. The rear axle carriers may have been manufactured with insufficient material strength and could break.
The risk: A broken rear axle carrier can cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rear axle carrier sub-assembly code, and replace the sub-assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 23, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service a…
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 TX or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Lexus TX has far fewer complaints per year (57 vs. 1,131 for the Ford F-150), but its issues often involve safety-critical systems like air bags and throttle control. The Ford F-150's much higher complaint rate is largely driven by widespread transmission problems that can cause sudden power loss. In practice, the Lexus TX may have fewer overall problems, but the Ford F-150's issues are more frequently reported and can be more disruptive.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has a much higher complaint rate (1,131 per year) compared to the Lexus TX (57 per year), but the Lexus TX's complaints often involve safety systems like air bags and throttle control.
- Transmission problems dominate Ford F-150 complaints, with reports of harsh shifting and sudden power loss, while Lexus TX complaints are more varied, including air bag clock spring noise and AC condenser damage.
- The Ford F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, versus 12 recalls for the Lexus TX over 3 years, indicating more frequent manufacturer-issued fixes for the Ford.
- Both vehicles have reports of acceleration issues: the Lexus TX from electronic throttle control failures, and the Ford F-150 from transmission failures, but the Ford's are more numerous.
- Listen for an intermittent crackling noise from the steering column, which could indicate a failing clock spring in the air bag system.
- Test acceleration from a stop and at highway speeds; any hesitation or lack of power could point to electronic throttle or transmission control issues.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears; jerks, clunks, or delayed engagement are red flags.
- Check for warning messages on the dashboard such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' when starting the truck.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website for the specific VIN.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the air bag system and steering column for the Lexus TX, and the transmission for the Ford F-150.
- Test drive the vehicle extensively, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to replicate common failure conditions.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission repairs or software updates for the Ford F-150.
- For the Lexus TX, check the air conditioning system for proper operation and inspect the condenser for damage from road debris.
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 TX | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 24 |
| 2025 | 32 | 329 |
| 2024 | 127 | 617 |
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 TX or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus TX vs FORD F 150
- Lexus TX total complaints
- 171
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Lexus TX total recalls
- 12
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Lexus TX avg complaints/year
- 57.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Lexus TX
- Lexus TX top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN