Head-to-head reliability
Mazda MX 5 vs FORD F 150
How the Mazda MX 5 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
Mazda MX 5 vs FORD F 150: The MX-5 has 50 complaints over 10 years (5/year) and 13 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints (1,131/year) and 145 recalls. The F-150 also reports 287 injuries vs. 4 for the MX-5. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda MX 5 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda MX 5
The Mazda MX-5 is a lightweight sports car with a relatively low complaint volume: 50 complaints over 10 years, averaging 5 per year. Most owner-reported issues center on the power train, electrical system, and steering, with specific symptoms like sticky steering and transmission synchronizer failures. Recalls address fuel pump, traction control, and air bag software, but overall the MX-5 shows fewer reported problems than the F-150. For a buyer, this suggests a simpler, more reliable used sports car, though any used vehicle should be inspected.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,131 per year. Owners frequently report power train issues such as hard shifts and loss of power, along with electrical problems like warning lights and camera malfunctions. With 145 recalls and 287 injuries reported, the F-150 has a much higher rate of reported safety-related defects. A used F-150 may require more careful inspection and maintenance.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda MX 5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 50 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 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.
Mazda MX 5
- 01POWER TRAIN15
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
- 03STEERING5
- 04AIR BAGS5
- 05VISIBILITY/WIPER5
Owners report manual transmission synchronizer failures causing erratic shifting and inability to change gears, which could lead to an accident. Some also note warning lights and power loss at speed.
Complaints include stalling or unintended acceleration when shifting in and out of drive, and stability control not activating during tire spin. These issues can affect drivability and safety.
Drivers describe sticky steering at higher speeds that requires extra pressure to break free, and ABS/brake warning lights linked to a steering angle sensor. This can make steering feel unpredictable.
Reports include air bag warning lights and instances where air bags did not deploy in crashes, such as a low-speed loss of control. This raises concerns about restraint system reliability.
“The contact owns a 2024 Mazda MX-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The contact stated that while driving at 60 M…”
“Manual transmission synchronizers fail, causing erratic gear shift operation and the inability to change gears, which could result in an accident. The ND Mazda Miata Owners Group on Facebook has polled its owners and found a 10% failure rate of manual transmi…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and clunking from the 10-speed automatic transmission, with some experiencing sudden loss of power. These symptoms can occur while driving and may increase crash risk.
Common complaints include loud bangs from the transmission, popping sounds from the rear suspension, and persistent warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These can distract drivers and indicate sensor failures.
With 1,164 complaints, exterior lighting issues are frequent, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample. Buyers should check all lights for proper function.
Engine-related complaints number 847, and recalls include engine defects. While sample texts don't specify symptoms, the high count suggests potential for costly repairs.
“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.
Mazda MX 5 — 13 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mazda MX-5 vehicles. The Traction Control System (TCS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) indicator light may fail to illuminate as intended due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehi…
The risk: An indicator light that does not illuminate may fail to warn the driver of a TCS or DSC system issue, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the DSC unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7425E.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2019 MX-5 (Miata) vehicles with automatic transmissions. Due to incorrect programming of the Transmission Control Module (TCM), certain conditions may cause the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift and abruptly decelerate.
The risk: If the vehicle abruptly downshifts, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the TCM with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is…
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
Mazda MX 5 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mazda MX-5 has far fewer issues per year (5 vs. 1,131 for the F-150), meaning a used MX-5 is likely to have fewer reported problems and lower repair frequency. In practice, the F-150's higher complaint and recall volume suggests a greater chance of encountering transmission, electrical, or engine issues.
Key differences
- The MX-5 averages 5 complaints per year versus 1,131 for the F-150, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- MX-5 owners report specific steering and transmission synchronizer issues, while F-150 owners report hard shifting and loss of power from the 10-speed automatic.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls and 287 injuries reported, compared to 13 recalls and 4 injuries for the MX-5.
- Electrical problems in the MX-5 include stalling and stability control failures, while the F-150 has camera and pre-collision assist warnings.
- During a test drive, check for sticky steering at highway speeds and any ABS or brake warning lights on the dash.
- Listen for grinding or difficulty shifting the manual transmission, which could indicate synchronizer wear.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between gears 4-5 and 5-6.
- Check for persistent dashboard warnings like '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 open recalls on both models.
- For the MX-5, test drive at varying speeds and temperatures to feel for steering stickiness and transmission issues.
- For the F-150, test drive in stop-and-go traffic and on highways to detect transmission harshness or power loss.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the specific components mentioned in complaints (transmission, electrical, steering).
- Verify that all safety systems (air bags, ABS, stability control) function properly and have no warning lights.
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 | Mazda MX 5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 24 |
| 2025 | 3 | 329 |
| 2024 | 5 | 617 |
| 2023 | 7 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 5 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 1 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 3 | 33 |
| 2019 | 11 | 36 |
| 2018 | 3 | 56 |
| 2017 | 11 | 43 |
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 Mazda MX 5 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda MX 5 vs FORD F 150
- Mazda MX 5 total complaints
- 50
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mazda MX 5 total recalls
- 13
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mazda MX 5 avg complaints/year
- 5.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mazda MX 5
- Mazda MX 5 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN