Head-to-head reliability
Maserati Levante vs FORD F 150
How the Maserati Levante 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 Levante vs FORD F 150: The Levante has 28 complaints over 8 years (3.5/year) and 12 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The Levante's issues often involve engine shutdowns, whereas the F-150's are mainly transmission-related. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Maserati Levante or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Maserati Levante
The Maserati Levante is a luxury SUV with a low complaint volume—28 over 8 years—but the pattern is troubling. Owners repeatedly report the engine shutting off while driving, often accompanied by an electronic throttle warning or a shift into neutral. Electrical and engine issues dominate, and some complaints mention brakes failing at low speeds. This suggests that when problems occur, they can be sudden and safety-relevant, even if they are not widespread.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint count—11,621 over 10 years—but that reflects its huge sales volume. The most common issues involve the power train, especially transmission problems like limp mode and stuck gears, and electrical glitches such as the lead frame failure. Some owners report serious incidents, including a rear window shattering. Overall, the F-150 has many reported problems, but they are spread across a large fleet.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Maserati Levante | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 28 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.5 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Levante
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
- 02ENGINE12
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER9
- 04SERVICE BRAKES3
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
Owners report the vehicle unexpectedly shifting into neutral and shutting off while driving, often with an electronic throttle control warning light. This can leave a driver without power in traffic, which is a serious safety concern.
Complaints describe the engine shutting off in traffic or at low speeds, sometimes linked to a recall for similar symptoms. One owner said the car shut down in the middle of the street, requiring a restart.
Some owners report brakes failing and making a recoiling sound when hitting a bump or pothole at low speeds, leading to loss of braking control. Another complaint mentions the vehicle trying to engage the emergency brake at slow speed.
Several complaints duplicate the stalling and shutdown issues, indicating owners are unsure where to categorize these dangerous failures. This suggests a systemic problem that may not be fully captured by specific component labels.
“MY VEHICLE HAS TWO FAULTS THAT I BELIEVE ARE UNSAFE. FIRST, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS PUT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE MOST RECENT…”
“MY CURRENT VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP STILL BEING WORKED ON FOR THE INITIAL AND PAST ISSUES NOT CORRECTED. I HAD TO BRING MY LOANER VEHICLE OF SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR BECAUSE THE LOANER HAD SIMILAR ISSUES TO MY OWN VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH MY WIF…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners frequently report transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and failures related to the lead frame. One owner said the issue nearly ended their life, highlighting the safety risk.
The lead frame issue is a recurring electrical problem that can cause transmission malfunctions and limp mode. Another complaint describes a rear window defroster short that caused the back window to shatter.
Some complaints are hard to categorize, such as the rear window shattering, which owners report happening without impact. This indicates unexpected failures that can be costly and dangerous.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should check all lights and related wiring for signs of trouble.
“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 Levante — 12 recalls
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 2021 Quattroporte, Ghibli, 2021-2022 Levante, and 2022 MC20 vehicles. The fuel line sensor housing may crack and leak fuel.
The risk: A fuel leak may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A fuel leak also increases the risk of fire in the presence of an ignition source.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel line sensor housing, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2021. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is 442.
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 2018 Maserati Quattroporte, Ghibli, and Levante vehicles. The welds on the front sub frame may be incomplete, which can result in the welds breaking.
The risk: If the welds fracture, it can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the sub frame for incomplete welds, replacing the sub frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2…
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 Levante or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Maserati Levante has far fewer complaints per year (3.5) than the Ford F-150 (1,162.1), but the Levante's issues often involve sudden engine shutdowns and brake failures that could be catastrophic. The F-150's higher count reflects its popularity, but its problems are also serious, especially transmission limp mode. In practice, the Levante may have fewer problems overall, but when they occur, they can be severe.
Key differences
- The Maserati Levante has 28 complaints over 8 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 over 10 years—a huge difference in reported volume.
- Levante owners frequently report engine shutdowns and electrical faults causing stalls, whereas F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints, compared to the Levante's 12 recalls and 2 crash-related complaints.
- Brake failure at low speeds is a specific concern for the Levante, while the F-150's most common issue is power train problems.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or electronic throttle control warnings; test drive at low speeds and in traffic if possible.
- Inspect brake function, especially over bumps or potholes, for any unusual noises or loss of braking.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in gear; check for lead frame replacement history.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or signs of shattering, and check all exterior lights.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model.
- For the Levante, ask about any software updates or recalls related to engine stalling.
- For the F-150, test the transmission under various conditions and check for lead frame issues.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been performed and ask for documentation.
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 Levante | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 2 | 44 |
| 2019 | 5 | 52 |
| 2018 | 4 | 79 |
| 2017 | 15 | 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 Maserati Levante or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Maserati Levante vs FORD F 150
- Maserati Levante total complaints
- 28
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Maserati Levante total recalls
- 12
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Maserati Levante avg complaints/year
- 3.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Maserati Levante
- Maserati Levante top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN