Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ CLE vs FORD F 150
How the Mercedes BENZ CLE 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 CLE vs FORD F 150: The CLE has 10 complaints over 3 years (3.3/year) and 1 recall, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 297 injuries and 1 death, versus none for the CLE. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ CLE or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ CLE
The Mercedes-Benz CLE is a luxury coupe/convertible with a low complaint volume—10 over 3 years (about 3.3 per year). Owners mainly report throttle delay and unpredictable acceleration, plus electrical glitches like static from speakers and a blank instrument cluster. There is 1 recall for the instrument cluster, and 1 crash-related complaint but no injuries or deaths. Living with it means dealing with occasional electronic and drivability quirks, but the overall reported problem rate is low.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint volume—11,621 over 10 years (about 1,162 per year). The most common issues are power train (3,648), electrical system (2,100), and exterior lighting (1,224). Owners describe serious problems like transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window explosions. There are 151 recalls, 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death. This suggests a much higher frequency of safety and reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ CLE | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 10 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.3 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.
Mercedes BENZ CLE
- 01ENGINE4
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 04POWER TRAIN2
- 05TIRES1
Owners report severe throttle delay and unpredictable acceleration, especially when pulling away from intersections or traffic lights. The car may hesitate or fail to move forward promptly, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Complaints include audio static and sparking through speakers, and a digital instrument cluster that can go completely black while driving, removing speed and fuel information. One recall addresses the instrument cluster.
Similar to engine complaints, owners describe throttle lag and delayed response from a stop, linked to transmission and turbo behavior. This can make merging or crossing traffic feel unpredictable.
One owner reported the 12.3-inch driver display going black while driving, losing critical telemetry. Another complaint was about distracted driving, not a vehicle defect, so it is less relevant to reliability.
“SEVERE THROTTLE DELAY & UNPREDICTABLE ACCELERATION When applying pressure to the accelerator pedal at intersections or traffic lights, there is a substantial "dead zone" delay where the vehicle fails to respond or move forward. To prompt movement in normal tr…”
“THROTTLE LAG With the 2026 Mercedes CLE 300, throttle lag is driven by a combination of software programming, transmission behavior, and turbocharger dynamics working simultaneously.The following situation is when it usually occurs:Transitioning from a slow r…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report recurring transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. Some say the issue has persisted for over a decade without a permanent fix.
Complaints include lead frame issues affecting transmission sensors and output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. These electrical faults can leave the truck undrivable or cause unsafe highway behavior.
One owner described the rear window shattering outward after using the defroster, with no external impact. This suggests a possible defect in the rear defroster or glass that could cause injury.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting is a top concern, though specific failure details are not in the sample. Buyers should check for recalls or service bulletins on lighting.
“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 CLE — 1 recall
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024-2026 AMG GT, C-Class, E-Class, SL, CLE, and GLC vehicles. The infotainment control unit may reset while the vehicle is in motion and cause the instrument panel display to go blank.
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the infotainment control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 29, 2026. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2026050004. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Ve…
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 CLE or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz CLE has far fewer complaints per year (about 3.3) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162). The F-150 also has many more recalls, crashes, injuries, and a death reported. In practice, the CLE appears to have a much lower reported rate of problems, while the F-150 has a long history of serious, recurring issues.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years versus just 10 for the Mercedes-Benz CLE over 3 years, a massive difference in reported problem volume.
- F-150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures, while CLE owners mainly report throttle delay and electrical glitches.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints, compared to 1 recall and 1 crash-related complaint for the CLE.
- The F-150 has 297 injuries and 1 death reported, while the CLE has 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
- Test the throttle response from a stop—look for any delay or hesitation that could indicate the reported dead zone.
- Check the instrument cluster and infotainment: ensure the display does not flicker, go black, or produce static through the speakers.
- Scan for transmission trouble codes (especially P0722 for output speed sensor) and test drive for limp mode or harsh shifting.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or signs of stress, and ask if the rear window has ever shattered or been replaced.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are completed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and look for repeated transmission or electrical repairs.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who specializes in the brand.
- Test drive extensively, including stop-and-go traffic, highway merging, and use of all electronics.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and software updates.
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 CLE | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 35 |
| 2025 | 1 | 345 |
| 2024 | 7 | 638 |
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 CLE or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ CLE vs FORD F 150
- Mercedes BENZ CLE total complaints
- 10
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Mercedes BENZ CLE total recalls
- 1
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Mercedes BENZ CLE avg complaints/year
- 3.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ CLE
- Mercedes BENZ CLE top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN