Head-to-head reliability
Maserati Spyder vs FORD F 150
How the Maserati Spyder 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 Spyder vs FORD F 150: The Spyder has 0 complaints and 7 recalls over 4 years, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls over 10 years. F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and rear window shattering; the Spyder has no owner complaint text. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Maserati Spyder or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Maserati Spyder
The Maserati Spyder is a low-volume Italian sports car with no owner complaints filed with NHTSA over four years, but seven recalls. The recalls focus on fuel system hoses and steering, suggesting potential safety defects that were addressed by the manufacturer. For a buyer, this means very little real-world failure data from owners, but a need to verify that all recall work was completed.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with 11,621 complaints over ten years, averaging 1,162 per year. The most common problem areas are the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting, with reports of transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window shattering. These patterns indicate that while many trucks serve reliably, a notable number experience recurring and sometimes dangerous issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Maserati Spyder | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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 Spyder
No component data available.
Recalls cite fuel delivery hoses, lines, piping, and fittings. A leak in these parts could cause fuel odor or fire risk, so buyers should confirm the recall fix was performed.
Steering system recalls suggest possible loss of steering control. No owner complaints describe the exact symptom, but any steering recall should be resolved before purchase.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmissions stuck in limp mode or 5th gear, often linked to lead frame or output speed sensor failures. These can cause sudden loss of power and near-collisions.
The same lead frame issue appears in electrical complaints, plus rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the back glass. Electrical faults may leave the truck undrivable or create safety hazards.
Complaints include rear window exploding outward after defroster use, with no external impact. This is a serious safety concern that can happen without warning.
This is a top complaint area, though sample texts do not detail specific failures. Lighting problems can reduce visibility and increase crash risk, so check all lights function properly.
“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 Spyder — 7 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL LINES CAN DISCONNECT AND CAUSE LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINES AND ATTACHMENTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY OR FEBRUARY 2004. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, TWO OF THE FOUR SECURING BOLTS IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE HAD A LOCKING COMPOUND APPLIED TO THE THREADS PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. AS A RESULT, THE BOLTS MAY BECOME LOOSE WHEN THE CARS ARE DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY.
The risk: SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES COULD LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN VEHICLE CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO AFFECTED BOLTS. THE RECALL BEGAN MARCH 5, 2004. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL LINES CAN DISCONNECT AND CAUSE LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LINES AND ATTACHMENTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY OR FEBRUARY 2004. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, TWO OF THE FOUR SECURING BOLTS IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE HAD A LOCKING COMPOUND APPLIED TO THE THREADS PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. AS A RESULT, THE BOLTS MAY BECOME LOOSE WHEN THE CARS ARE DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY.
The risk: SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES COULD LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN VEHICLE CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO AFFECTED BOLTS. THE RECALL BEGAN MARCH 5, 2004. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737.
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 Spyder or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Maserati Spyder has far fewer issues per year (0 complaints vs. 1,162 for the F-150), but that comes from very low ownership data and seven recalls. In practice, the F-150 has a well-documented pattern of recurring transmission and electrical faults, while the Spyder's main risks are unaddressed recalls.
Key differences
- The F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years; the Maserati Spyder has 0 complaints over 4 years.
- Ford F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures; Maserati Spyder has no owner complaint text, only fuel and steering recalls.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries; the Spyder has 0 crash-related, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls; the Spyder has 7 recalls, mostly for fuel system and steering.
- Check for open fuel system recalls on hoses, lines, piping, and fittings; a leak could be dangerous.
- Verify steering recall repairs were completed, as steering loss is a serious safety risk.
- Test drive for transmission shudder, delayed engagement, or limp mode; lead frame and output speed sensor failures are common.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or prior shattering, as owners report the glass exploding outward.
Before you buy
- For either vehicle, run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls and confirm they were fixed.
- On the Maserati Spyder, ask for service records showing fuel and steering recall remedies were performed.
- On the Ford F-150, scan for transmission trouble codes (like P0722) and test drive at highway speeds to check for limp mode.
- On the Ford F-150, inspect the rear window and defroster operation, and look for any signs of prior glass replacement.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on the reported problem areas.
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 Spyder or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Maserati Spyder vs FORD F 150
- Maserati Spyder total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Maserati Spyder total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Maserati Spyder avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Maserati Spyder
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN