Head-to-head reliability
Mazda Tribute vs FORD F 150
How the Mazda Tribute 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 Tribute vs FORD F 150: The Tribute averaged 216 complaints per year with 56 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,131 complaints and 145 recalls. The Tribute's top issues are speed control and structure; the F-150's are power train and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda Tribute or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda Tribute
The Mazda Tribute is a compact SUV that averaged 216 complaints per year over a 10-year span, with 56 recalls. Owners frequently report issues with the gas pedal feel and unintended acceleration, tailgate failures, and suspension problems. While the overall complaint count is lower than the F-150, the rate of crashes and injuries relative to complaints is notable.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that generated 11,311 complaints over 10 years—about 1,131 per year—along with 145 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the transmission (hard shifts, loss of power) and electrical glitches (warning lights, camera malfunctions). With far more vehicles on the road, the raw numbers are higher, but the pattern shows recurring powertrain and electrical frustrations.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda Tribute | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,160 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 56 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 113 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 216.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 96 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 5 | 1 Better |
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 Tribute
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING355
- 02VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL344
- 03STRUCTURE290
- 04SUSPENSION250
- 05POWER TRAIN235
Owners describe a strange gas pedal feel and instances where the vehicle accelerates on its own, even with cruise control engaged. This can lead to unexpected speed increases, raising crash risk.
The rear tailgate or hatch often fails to open when the button is pressed, sometimes requiring the entire pump to be replaced. This can trap items or hinder emergency exit from the rear.
Complaints in this area are the most numerous, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should be aware that engine-related issues are a common owner concern.
Front wheel bearing problems are serious enough to have triggered recalls. A failing wheel bearing can affect steering and stability, so any noise or play should be checked immediately.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard, delayed, or jerky shifts, especially with the 10-speed automatic transmission. Some experience a sudden loss of power or loud bangs, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Common complaints include repeated warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These can distract the driver and may indicate broader electrical faults.
Headlight issues are frequent enough to be a top complaint category. Problems may include flickering, premature failure, or poor visibility, which affects nighttime driving safety.
Engine-related complaints are common, though the sample does not specify the exact failures. Given the high number, buyers should have any engine noises or performance issues thoroughly inspected.
“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 Tribute — 56 recalls
The defect: The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have…
The risk: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured October 5, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system cou…
The risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured March 3, 2009, to May 26, 2011. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety recall were mailed on…
The defect: The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have…
The risk: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
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 Tribute or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mazda Tribute has far fewer complaints per year (216 vs. 1,131 for the F-150), but the F-150 is a much more popular vehicle, so higher totals are expected. In practice, the Tribute's issues tend to cluster around speed control and structural access, while the F-150's are more often powertrain and electrical. Neither is problem-free, but the Tribute's lower volume means fewer reported incidents overall.
Key differences
- The Mazda Tribute has 216 complaints per year on average, while the Ford F-150 has 1,131—about five times more, though the F-150 sells in much higher numbers.
- Tribute owners frequently report unintended acceleration and tailgate failures; F-150 owners more often report transmission jerking and electrical warning lights.
- The Tribute has 56 recalls over 10 years, including suspension and steering; the F-150 has 145 recalls, covering lighting, battery cables, and engines.
- Crash-related complaints are 113 for the Tribute and 328 for the F-150, but the F-150's larger fleet size means the rate per vehicle may be lower.
- Test the gas pedal for any unusual stiffness or sticking, and check for unintended acceleration during a test drive.
- Operate the rear tailgate multiple times to ensure it opens reliably; listen for pump noise or failure.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission shifts—especially between 4th and 5th, and 7th and 8th gears—for jerks or delays.
- Check for any dashboard warning messages related to the front camera or pre-collision assist, and have the electrical system scanned.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission (F-150) or speed control system (Tribute) for signs of the reported issues.
- Test all electrical features, including lights, cameras, and infotainment, to ensure they work consistently.
- For the Tribute, verify the tailgate opens and closes properly; for the F-150, check for transmission fluid leaks or unusual noises.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any repairs related to the top complaint 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 Mazda Tribute or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda Tribute vs FORD F 150
- Mazda Tribute total complaints
- 2,160
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mazda Tribute total recalls
- 56
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mazda Tribute avg complaints/year
- 216.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mazda Tribute
- Mazda Tribute top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN