Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ A Class vs FORD F 150
How the Mercedes BENZ A Class 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
Mercedes BENZ A Class vs FORD F 150: The A-Class has 80 complaints over 4 years (20/year) and 0 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The A-Class reports sudden shutdowns; the F-150 reports power train and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ A Class or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ A Class
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a compact luxury car with a low annual complaint rate of 20 per year over four years, but the complaints describe serious issues like sudden engine shutdowns while driving and transmission malfunctions. With no recalls on record, owners are left to deal with these problems on their own. For a used buyer, this means the A-Class may have fewer overall complaints, but the ones reported are often severe and can happen without warning.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive 1,162 complaints per year over ten years, showing widespread and persistent problems. Power train issues, especially transmission and lead frame failures, dominate the reports, and there are 151 recalls covering major safety systems. For a used buyer, this means the F-150 has a high likelihood of needing repairs, but many issues are well-documented and may have recall remedies.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ A Class | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 80 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 20.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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.
Mercedes BENZ A Class
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
- 03ENGINE21
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9
- 05BACK OVER PREVENTION9
Owners report the vehicle completely shutting down while in motion with no warning, often in dangerous situations like intersections. This can leave you stranded and at risk of a crash, and the cause may be hard to diagnose.
Complaints include the car entering 'limp mode' and not exceeding 9 mph, as well as engine shutdowns. A motor mount snapping on the freeway was also reported, leading to major repairs and ongoing drivability issues.
Owners describe the car unexpectedly shutting off and shifting into Neutral while stopped, with all warning lights on. This can happen at red lights or while driving, requiring a restart and creating a safety hazard.
Recurring transmission malfunctions cause the car to suddenly stall and shift erratically on highways and main streets. This pattern, starting as early as 15,000 miles, suggests a persistent defect that affects drivability and safety.
“While driving my lease vehicle on two separate days, it completely shut down while in motion with no prior warning. The first incident occurred while crossing a MAX train intersection in downtown Portland. The engine stopped mid intersection, emitted a strong…”
“August 2024 the dealership had my vehicle for over a month for major engine repairs after the motor mount snapped on the freeway and since then I only drove 3661 miles and I’m now convinced that they miss diagnosed and missed something It never drove the same…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The lead frame issue is a long-standing problem that can cause sudden loss of power or near collisions, and some owners report it nearly ended their life. Transmission malfunctions also cause the truck to go into limp mode and get stuck in 5th gear almost daily.
Lead frame failures and output speed sensor issues trigger limp mode and error codes like P0722, even after recall software updates. These electrical faults can leave the truck undrivable and require costly repairs.
A short in the rear window defroster can cause the back window to explode outward, posing a risk of injury. This is a surprising and dangerous failure that owners have reported after using the defroster briefly.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting problems are common, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. This can affect visibility and safety, and may lead to repeated bulb or assembly replacements.
“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.
Mercedes BENZ A Class
No recalls on record.
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
Mercedes BENZ A Class or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class has far fewer complaints per year (20 vs. 1,162 for the F-150), but its issues often involve sudden shutdowns and transmission failures that can be terrifying. The F-150's problems are more numerous and include many recalls, but they are widely known and sometimes addressed by recalls. In practice, the A-Class may have fewer problems overall, but the ones it has can be severe and unpredictable.
Key differences
- The A-Class has no recalls, while the F-150 has 151 recalls covering engine, seat belts, latches, and air bags.
- A-Class complaints often describe sudden engine shutdowns and transmission stalls, while F-150 complaints center on lead frame failures and limp mode.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, compared to 3 crash-related and 3 injuries for the A-Class.
- The A-Class averages 20 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1,162 per year, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Check for any history of sudden engine shutdowns or electrical failures, especially during test drives; ask if the car has ever stalled in motion.
- Inspect the transmission for jerking, stalling, or shifting into Neutral unexpectedly, as owners report these symptoms starting around 15,000 miles.
- Test the transmission for limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, or harsh shifting, which are common lead frame and speed sensor symptoms.
- Check the rear window defroster for any signs of shorting or prior replacement, as a short can cause the window to shatter.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls, especially on the F-150.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and electrical system, focusing on the specific failure patterns reported for each model.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, limp mode, or unexpected stalling or shifting.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for transmission or engine repairs.
- For the F-150, verify that recall 26S28 (or similar) has been performed and check if the lead frame has been replaced.
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 | Mercedes BENZ A Class | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 10 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 21 | 44 |
| 2019 | 46 | 52 |
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 Mercedes BENZ A Class or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ A Class vs FORD F 150
- Mercedes BENZ A Class total complaints
- 80
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Mercedes BENZ A Class total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Mercedes BENZ A Class avg complaints/year
- 20.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ A Class
- Mercedes BENZ A Class top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN