Head-to-head reliability
Mclaren P1 vs FORD F 150
How the Mclaren P1 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 P1 vs FORD F 150: Over 10 years, the P1 had 0 complaints and 4 recalls, while the F-150 had 11,621 complaints, 151 recalls, 330 crash-related reports, and 297 injuries. The F-150's reported issues include transmission limp mode and lead frame failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mclaren P1 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mclaren P1
The Mclaren P1 is a limited-production plug-in hybrid hypercar, so ownership is defined by rarity and specialized service rather than daily-driver reliability. Over 10 years, NHTSA logged 0 owner complaints, meaning there is no pattern of reported failures from the road. However, it has 4 recalls, all for the passenger-side frontal air bag inflator module and the hood latch, which are safety-related items a buyer should confirm were fixed. Living with a P1 means relying on recall history and pre-purchase inspections, not complaint volume.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume full-size pickup used for work, family duty, and towing, so it accumulates many more miles and owners than a hypercar. Over 10 years, NHTSA recorded 11,621 complaints, 151 recalls, 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death. The most common complaint areas are power train, electrical system, exterior lighting, and engine. Owner reports describe recurring transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and electrical glitches that can affect daily driving.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mclaren P1 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 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.
Mclaren P1
No component data available.
The P1 has recalls for the passenger-side frontal air bag inflator module. A buyer should verify the recall repair was completed, because an unrepaired inflator can pose a safety risk in a crash.
The P1 also has recalls for the hood latch. If the latch fails, the hood could open while driving, so confirming the recall fix is important before purchase.
There are no owner complaints on record for the P1, so there is no reported symptom pattern to describe. That does not prove the car is problem-free; it means buyers must rely on recall checks and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmission problems such as going into limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame issues. One owner said a lead frame problem 'nearly ended my life' after a near collision, and another described daily limp mode in a 2017 V8 with the 6-speed automatic.
Electrical complaints include the same lead frame issue and an output speed sensor failure that triggered highway limp mode. One owner also reported a rear window defroster short that caused the back window to shatter outward.
This category includes the rear window defroster short and shattered back window. Such failures can be sudden and costly, and they matter because they may not be covered by a recall.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint area with 1,224 reports. Lighting failures can affect visibility and safety, so a buyer should test all lights and check for related recalls.
“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 P1 — 4 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 model year 2014-2015 P1 hybrid vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to October 31, 2015. The affected vehicles have a secondary hood latch that may not properly re-engage. As a result, if the primary latch is released inadvertently, the…
The risk: If the hood opens while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood latch with a newly-designed latch, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2016. 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 model year 2014-2015 P1 hybrid vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to October 31, 2015. The affected vehicles have a secondary hood latch that may not properly re-engage. As a result, if the primary latch is released inadvertently, the…
The risk: If the hood opens while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood latch with a newly-designed latch, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2016. 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 P1 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mclaren P1 has far fewer issues per year on paper: 0 complaints per year versus about 1,162 per year for the Ford F-150. In practice, the P1's low complaint count reflects its tiny owner population and limited road use, while the F-150's high count reflects millions of trucks doing daily work. The F-150's reported problems are more likely to affect routine driving, while the P1's main documented issues are two safety recalls.
Key differences
- The Mclaren P1 has 0 owner complaints and 4 recalls, all for air bag inflator and hood latch issues, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls across many systems.
- Ford F-150 owners report real driving symptoms like transmission limp mode, stuck 5th gear, lead frame failure, and output speed sensor failure; the P1 has no complaint text on record.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death in the data, while the P1 has 0 in each of those categories.
- The F-150's top complaint areas are power train, electrical, unknown/other, exterior lighting, and engine; the P1's only documented issues are the two recall subjects.
- Confirm both the passenger-side frontal air bag inflator and hood latch recalls were repaired, and ask for documentation.
- Since there are no owner complaints, have a marque specialist inspect the car thoroughly, especially safety systems and latches.
- Test drive for transmission shudder, delayed engagement, or limp mode, and scan for codes like P0722 related to output speed sensor failure.
- Check the rear window defroster and back window for cracks or prior shattering, and verify all exterior lights work.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see open recalls for either vehicle and confirm repairs were done.
- For the Ford F-150, ask for transmission service records and test drive long enough to reach highway speeds and check for limp mode.
- For the Mclaren P1, get a pre-purchase inspection from a shop that knows the model, focusing on air bag and hood latch recall work.
- On the F-150, check the rear window defroster, all lights, and scan for stored engine and transmission codes.
- Compare the number of prior owners and mileage; the F-150's complaint rate is tied to high-volume use, so a well-maintained example matters.
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 P1 | 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 P1 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mclaren P1 vs FORD F 150
- Mclaren P1 total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Mclaren P1 total recalls
- 4
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Mclaren P1 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Mclaren P1
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN