Head-to-head reliability
Mclaren 650S vs FORD F 150
How the Mclaren 650S 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
Mclaren 650S vs FORD F 150: The Mclaren 650S had 2 complaints and 3 recalls over 10 years, while the Ford F-150 had 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reported 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, versus none for the Mclaren. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mclaren 650S or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mclaren 650S
The Mclaren 650S is a low-volume exotic sports car, so it sees very few miles and few complaints. Over 10 years, owners filed only 2 complaints, with no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported. The main issues are small cracks in the headlight lenses and a passenger airbag recall that some dealers couldn't fix due to missing parts. Living with it means dealing with rare but potentially expensive cosmetic and safety recall issues.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup used for everything from commuting to heavy work, so it accumulates many more complaints. Over 10 years, owners filed 11,621 complaints, including 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death. The most common trouble spots are the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Living with it means staying on top of frequent recalls and known transmission and electrical faults.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mclaren 650S | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.2 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.
Mclaren 650S
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
- 02AIR BAGS1
One owner reported that the front headlight lenses developed very small spider web cracks on the interior section over time. This can reduce visibility and may require costly replacement of the entire headlight assembly.
Owners received recall letters warning that the passenger airbag inflator may explode with shrapnel, injuring or killing the passenger. Some dealers told owners they did not have the parts to perform the fix, leaving the recall unresolved.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MCLAREN 650S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OVER TIME THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT LENSES HAD DEVELOPED VERY SMALL SPIDER WEB CRACKS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CRACKS WERE LOCATED ON THE INTERIOR SECTION OF THE LENSE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report a recurring 'lead frame' issue that can cause the transmission to malfunction, sometimes nearly causing collisions. Others describe their truck going into limp mode and getting stuck in 5th gear almost daily, requiring expensive repairs.
The same lead frame problem is often reported under electrical system complaints, with trucks entering highway limp mode due to output speed sensor failure. This can happen without warning and may require a software update or hardware replacement.
One owner reported that the rear window defroster shorted and caused the back window to explode outward and shatter. This is a serious safety concern because it can happen while driving and may injure occupants.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting is a common trouble spot, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should check all lights for moisture, cracks, or intermittent operation.
“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.
Mclaren 650S — 3 recalls
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2012-2013 MP4-12C, 2014-2016 650s, 2015-2016 675 LT, 2014-2015 P1 and 2015-2017 570 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or r…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bags, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2012-2013 MP4-12C, 2014-2016 650s, 2015-2016 675 LT, 2014-2015 P1 and 2015-2017 570 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or r…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bags, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2012-2013 MP4-12C, 2014-2016 650s, 2015-2016 675 LT, 2014-2015 P1 and 2015-2017 570 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or r…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bags, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
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
Mclaren 650S or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mclaren 650S has far fewer issues per year (0.2 complaints/year) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,162.1 complaints/year). In practice, the F-150 is much more likely to experience a wide range of problems, including crashes and injuries, while the Mclaren's issues are rare but can be serious when they occur.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years versus only 2 for the Mclaren 650S, a massive difference in reported problems.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death, while the Mclaren has none of these reported.
- The F-150's top issue is the power train (3,648 complaints), often described as a 'lead frame' problem causing limp mode and stuck gears, while the Mclaren's top issues are headlight cracks and an airbag recall.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls, including engine, seat belt, door latch, and airbag issues, compared to 3 recalls for the Mclaren, all for the passenger airbag inflator.
- Inspect both headlight lenses for small spider web cracks on the interior surface, as reported by an owner.
- Check if the passenger airbag inflator recall has been completed; if not, confirm parts availability with a dealer before purchase.
- Test drive the truck and watch for transmission shudder, delayed engagement, or sudden limp mode, especially in 2017 V8 models with the 6-speed automatic.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and window for signs of shorting or shattering, and check for any electrical gremlins.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls have been remedied.
- For the Mclaren, have a pre-purchase inspection by a marque specialist focusing on headlights and airbag recall status.
- For the F-150, test drive at highway speeds and scan for transmission trouble codes like P0722.
- Check the NHTSA website for any new recalls or complaints specific to the model year you are considering.
- Budget for potential repairs: the F-150 may need transmission work, while the Mclaren may need expensive headlight replacements.
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 | Mclaren 650S | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
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 Mclaren 650S or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mclaren 650S vs FORD F 150
- Mclaren 650S total complaints
- 2
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Mclaren 650S total recalls
- 3
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Mclaren 650S avg complaints/year
- 0.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Mclaren 650S
- Mclaren 650S top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN