Head-to-head reliability
Maserati Grecale vs FORD F 150
How the Maserati Grecale 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
Maserati Grecale vs FORD F 150: The Grecale has 4 complaints over 4 years (1.0/year) and 7 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. F-150 reports include 330 crash-related and 297 injuries; Grecale reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Maserati Grecale or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Maserati Grecale
The Maserati Grecale is a low-volume luxury SUV with very few complaints on file—just 4 over 4 years, averaging 1.0 per year. Owners describe a car that can lock itself with the keys inside, and one report notes the vehicle refused to shift into Park even when stopped. The complaint pattern suggests isolated but potentially frustrating electronic and software glitches rather than widespread mechanical failures.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 1,162 per year, plus 151 recalls and 330 crash-related reports. Owners repeatedly describe transmission problems—limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures—along with electrical gremlins like a rear window that shattered after the defroster shorted. The volume and severity of reports point to long-running, recurring issues that can affect daily driving and safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Maserati Grecale | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Maserati Grecale
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
- 02POWER TRAIN1
- 03VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1
- 05LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
One owner reported the car locking itself, sometimes with the keys inside, which could leave the driver stranded or trap children or pets. The dealer confirmed the problem but had no fix, so buyers should test the locking system carefully.
An owner reported the car would not go into Park; the park button flickered and a message said the vehicle was too fast to park even though it was stopped with the brake engaged. This could make it hard to secure the car in a parking lot.
The same Park failure was also filed under vehicle speed control, suggesting the car’s logic may misread speed and block Park engagement. Buyers should verify the Park function works reliably at a stop.
The Park issue was also reported under service brakes, likely because the brake pedal was engaged when the car refused to shift into Park. This overlap hints at a software or sensor interaction that could affect stopping and securing the vehicle.
“CAR KEEPS LOCKING ITSELF, SOMETIMES WITH THE KEYS INSIDE. It is available for inspection. This issue is a major problem as the driver can be left stranded or if there are young children or pets in the car. The dealer has confirmed the problem and has no solut…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe recurring transmission problems: limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that one owner said nearly ended their life. These issues can leave the truck undrivable or dangerously slow on the highway.
The lead frame issue also appears under electrical system complaints, and one owner reported a rear window defroster short that caused the back window to shatter. Electrical faults can affect both drivability and basic safety systems.
A separate complaint describes the rear window exploding outward after the defroster was turned off, with no other cars or rocks involved. This suggests a possible overheating or shorting problem that buyers should check.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint area with 1,224 reports, though the sample text does not detail specific failures. Given the volume, buyers should inspect all lights and check for related recalls.
“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.
Maserati Grecale — 7 recalls
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Grecale and 2024 GranTurismo vehicles. The Central Vision Park Assist Module (CVPAM) software may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…
The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the CVPAM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2024. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is 761.
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Grecale, 2023-2025 MC20 Cielo, 2024 Granturismo, GranCabrio, 2021-2024 Levante, Ghibli, Quattroporte, and 2022-2025 MC 20 vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The radio software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 10, 2025. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is…
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Grancabrio, 2024-2025 Granturismo, and 2023-2025 Grecale vehicles. The headlights may be missing adjustment prevention caps, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with t…
The risk: Improperly aimed headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, reducing the driver's visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Maserati North America will inspect and, if necessary, install one or two caps to cover the horizontal headlight aim adjustment mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 25, 2025. Owners may contact Maserat…
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Grancabrio, 2024-2025 Granturismo, and 2023-2025 Grecale vehicles. The headlights may be missing adjustment prevention caps, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with t…
The risk: Improperly aimed headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, reducing the driver's visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Maserati North America will inspect and, if necessary, install one or two caps to cover the horizontal headlight aim adjustment mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 25, 2025. Owners may contact Maserat…
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
Maserati Grecale or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Maserati Grecale has far fewer issues per year—about 1 complaint annually versus roughly 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, the F-150’s much higher complaint and recall volume means a used buyer is more likely to encounter recurring transmission, electrical, and safety-related problems, while the Grecale’s issues appear rarer but can still be serious when they occur.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years versus just 4 for the Maserati Grecale over 4 years, a massive difference in reported problem volume.
- F-150 owners repeatedly report transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures, while Grecale complaints center on locking and Park-engagement glitches.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death on file; the Grecale has 0 in each category.
- The F-150 carries 151 recalls, including engine, seat belt, and air bag subjects, compared with 7 recalls for the Grecale, mostly for back-over prevention software and headlights.
- Test the keyless locking system multiple times, including leaving keys near the console, to see if the car locks itself unexpectedly.
- With the car fully stopped and brake pedal pressed, try shifting into Park repeatedly and watch for flickering park button or 'too fast to park' messages.
- During a test drive, watch for limp mode, harsh shifting, or getting stuck in a gear—especially on 2017 models with the 6-speed automatic and V8.
- Inspect the rear window defroster operation and look for any signs of overheating, shorting, or prior window replacement.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full NHTSA recall history for the specific VIN and confirm all open recalls have been remedied.
- For the F-150, ask for transmission service records and scan for stored codes like P0722 related to output speed sensor failures.
- For the Grecale, test the Park button, door locks, and keyless entry repeatedly during a cold start and after a short drive.
- Have a independent mechanic inspect the F-150’s lead frame and transmission behavior, and check the Grecale’s software updates and battery health.
- Review the complaint counts and recall subjects for the exact model year you are considering, as patterns can vary by year.
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 | Maserati Grecale | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1527 |
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 Maserati Grecale or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Maserati Grecale vs FORD F 150
- Maserati Grecale total complaints
- 4
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Maserati Grecale total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Maserati Grecale avg complaints/year
- 1.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Maserati Grecale
- Maserati Grecale top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN