Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi I MIEV vs FORD F 150
How the Mitsubishi I MIEV 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
Mitsubishi I MIEV vs FORD F 150: The I MIEV has 0 complaints over 7 years, while the F-150 has over 11,000 in 10 years, with 328 crash-related incidents. The F-150's transmission and electrical issues are common, whereas the I MIEV's recalls focus on brakes and airbags. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi I MIEV or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi I MIEV
The Mitsubishi I MIEV is an all-electric subcompact with a very low complaint rate—zero owner complaints over seven years—but it has been recalled 16 times, mostly for brake vacuum assist and airbag inflator issues. In practice, this means owners rarely report problems, but the recalls suggest potential safety-related defects that have been addressed by the manufacturer. For a buyer, this translates to a vehicle that is likely to be trouble-free in daily use, but you should verify all recall work has been done.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a high complaint volume—over 11,000 complaints in ten years, averaging over 1,100 per year. The most common issues are in the powertrain (especially the 10-speed automatic transmission) and electrical system, with owners reporting hard shifts, loss of power, and camera malfunctions. This suggests that while the F-150 is popular, it has notable reliability concerns that could affect ownership experience.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi I MIEV | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 287 |
| 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.
Mitsubishi I MIEV
No component data available.
Recalls indicate a potential loss of brake power assist, which could increase stopping distance. Owners have not filed complaints, but the recall suggests a defect that could affect braking performance.
Recalls for airbag inflators point to a risk of improper deployment or metal fragments in a crash. This is a safety-critical component that has been subject to recall, so ensure it's been replaced.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even loss of power, particularly with the 10-speed automatic transmission. This can be dangerous in traffic and may require costly repairs.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission area and dashboard warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available. These electrical gremlins can affect safety systems and require dealer diagnosis.
Recalls for headlights suggest potential visibility issues, which could compromise nighttime driving safety. Owners have not detailed specific failures, but the recall indicates a defect.
“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.
Mitsubishi I MIEV — 16 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2012-2017 i-MiEV vehicles. Water may penetrate the brake assist vacuum pump, causing corrosion and a failure of the brake vacuum pump.
The risk: Without the brake vacuum pump, the driver will experience a sudden loss of braking assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-19-002.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2012-2017 i-MiEV vehicles. Water may penetrate the brake assist vacuum pump, causing corrosion and a failure of the brake vacuum pump.
The risk: Without the brake vacuum pump, the driver will experience a sudden loss of braking assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-19-002.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2012-2017 i-MiEV vehicles. Water may penetrate the brake assist vacuum pump, causing corrosion and a failure of the brake vacuum pump.
The risk: Without the brake vacuum pump, the driver will experience a sudden loss of braking assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-19-002.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2012-2017 i-MiEV vehicles. Water may penetrate the brake assist vacuum pump, causing corrosion and a failure of the brake vacuum pump.
The risk: Without the brake vacuum pump, the driver will experience a sudden loss of braking assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-19-002.
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
Mitsubishi I MIEV or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi I MIEV has far fewer complaints per year (0 vs. 1,131) and no reported crashes or injuries, while the Ford F-150 has a high rate of powertrain and electrical issues. In practice, the I MIEV is likely to be more reliable in terms of owner-reported problems, but the F-150's issues are more frequent and potentially serious.
Key differences
- The I MIEV has zero complaints over 7 years, while the F-150 averages over 1,100 complaints per year.
- The F-150's most common issue is transmission hard shifting and loss of power, which can be a safety hazard; the I MIEV's recalls focus on brakes and airbags, but no owner complaints.
- The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, whereas the I MIEV has none.
- The I MIEV is an electric city car, while the F-150 is a workhorse truck; their intended uses differ greatly.
- Check that all 16 recalls have been performed, especially the brake vacuum assist and airbag inflator recalls, as these affect safety.
- Since there are no owner complaints, inspect the high-voltage battery and charging system for wear, as these are common EV concerns not covered by recalls.
- Test drive the truck and listen for hard shifts or clunks, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, which are common with the 10R80 transmission.
- Check for dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' that may indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the I MIEV: verify all recalls are completed by checking the VIN on the NHTSA website.
- For the F-150: get a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the 10-speed transmission.
- For the F-150: ask for service records related to transmission or electrical repairs.
- For the I MIEV: check the battery health and charging port for any signs of wear.
- For both: review the NHTSA complaint data for the specific model year you're considering.
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 | Mitsubishi I MIEV | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 56 |
| 2017 | 0 | 43 |
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 Mitsubishi I MIEV or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi I MIEV vs FORD F 150
- Mitsubishi I MIEV total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mitsubishi I MIEV total recalls
- 16
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mitsubishi I MIEV avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi I MIEV
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN