Head-to-head reliability
Nissan 350Z vs FORD F 150
How the Nissan 350Z 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
Nissan 350Z vs FORD F 150: The 350Z averaged 94 complaints per year over 7 years, while the F-150 averaged 1,131 per year over 10 years. The F-150 also had 145 recalls versus 12 for the 350Z. Both reported 1 death. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan 350Z or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan 350Z
The Nissan 350Z is a two-seat sports car that, over seven years, generated 657 owner complaints—about 94 per year—along with 12 recalls. The most common trouble spots are suspension, power train, and tires, with owners reporting clutch failure, sudden tire blowouts, and air bag problems. Because it is a performance car, worn parts and aggressive driving may accelerate wear, so a used example needs a careful mechanical inspection.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that, over ten years, drew 11,311 complaints—roughly 1,131 per year—and 145 recalls. Power train and electrical issues dominate, with owners describing hard or delayed transmission shifts, sudden power loss, and warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction.' With so many trucks on the road, the volume of reports is high, but the pattern points to specific systems to check before buying.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan 350Z | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 657 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 28 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 93.9 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 20 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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.
Nissan 350Z
- 01SUSPENSION148
- 02POWER TRAIN133
- 03TIRES123
- 04AIR BAGS87
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING76
Owners report suspension problems that can affect handling and ride comfort, though the sample complaints do not detail specific parts. For a sports car like the 350Z, worn suspension components can make the car feel unstable, so a pre-purchase inspection should check for leaks, clunks, and uneven tire wear.
Complaints include clutch failure where the pedal stays on the floor and the car won't go into gear, as well as a loss of power when climbing hills. These issues can leave a driver stranded, so testing the clutch and transmission during a test drive is essential.
One owner reported a tire blowout at highway speed with sidewall damage that looked like it was cut open. Since tires are a safety-critical item, buyers should check the age, brand, and tread depth of all tires, and look for signs of uneven wear that could indicate suspension problems.
Complaints mention missing or faulty air bag components, including a case where a passenger-side air bag was absent. Air bags are a key safety system, so verify that all air bag warning lights work and that no air bag has been deployed or removed.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners of the 10R80 automatic transmission report hard or delayed shifts, jerking between gears, and occasional total power loss while driving. These symptoms can be dangerous in traffic, so a thorough test drive should include both slow and highway speeds to feel for harsh shifting.
Complaints include warning messages such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs from the transmission area. Electrical glitches can disable driver-assist features, so check that all warning lights turn off after starting and that cameras and sensors work.
Engine-related complaints are less detailed in the sample, but the high number of engine recalls suggests potential issues. Buyers should listen for unusual noises, check for leaks, and review recall history for engine-related fixes.
Headlight problems are common enough to be a top complaint category and a recall subject. Faulty headlights reduce visibility at night, so test all lights, including high beams and turn signals, and look for condensation or flickering.
“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.
Nissan 350Z — 12 recalls
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CON…
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFI…
The defect: ZF SERVICE IS RECALL CERTAIN CLUTCH KIT ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBER SX: K70358-01, SHIPPED TO WHOLESALERS AS SERVICE PARTS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2010, AND MARCH 8, 2011. THESE SERVICE PARTS ARE INTENDED FOR USE ON MODEL YEAR 2003-2006 NISSAN 350Z AND INFINITI G35 VEHICLES. THE SX: K70358-01 CLUTCH KIT C…
The risk: AN OVERSIZED CLUTCH DISC COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY ON THE INITIAL START-UP, IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND FAILS TO USE THE SERVICE BRAKES WHILE THE HAND BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED. UNINTENT…
The fix: ZF SERVICE NOTIFY WHOLESALERS TO RETURN ANY AFFECTED CLUTCH KIT ASSEMBLIES STILL IN INVENTORY FOR FREE REPLACEMENT KITS. THIS CONDITION WILL CORRECT ITSELF AFTER THE FIRST START-UP AND USAGE OF THE CLUTCH KIT. HOWEVER, IF AN OWNER IS NOT S…
The defect: ZF SERVICE IS RECALL CERTAIN CLUTCH KIT ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBER SX: K70358-01, SHIPPED TO WHOLESALERS AS SERVICE PARTS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2010, AND MARCH 8, 2011. THESE SERVICE PARTS ARE INTENDED FOR USE ON MODEL YEAR 2003-2006 NISSAN 350Z AND INFINITI G35 VEHICLES. THE SX: K70358-01 CLUTCH KIT C…
The risk: AN OVERSIZED CLUTCH DISC COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY ON THE INITIAL START-UP, IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND FAILS TO USE THE SERVICE BRAKES WHILE THE HAND BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED. UNINTENT…
The fix: ZF SERVICE NOTIFY WHOLESALERS TO RETURN ANY AFFECTED CLUTCH KIT ASSEMBLIES STILL IN INVENTORY FOR FREE REPLACEMENT KITS. THIS CONDITION WILL CORRECT ITSELF AFTER THE FIRST START-UP AND USAGE OF THE CLUTCH KIT. HOWEVER, IF AN OWNER IS NOT S…
The defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
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
Nissan 350Z or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan 350Z has far fewer complaints per year (about 94) than the Ford F-150 (about 1,131), but that partly reflects the F-150's much higher sales volume. In practice, the 350Z's issues tend to be sports-car-specific like clutch and tire failures, while the F-150's are often transmission and electrical problems that can affect daily driving.
Key differences
- The 350Z averages about 94 complaints per year; the F-150 averages about 1,131 per year, but the F-150 sells in much larger numbers.
- 350Z owners frequently report clutch failure and tire blowouts; F-150 owners report hard transmission shifts and electrical warnings.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls versus 12 for the 350Z, covering systems like headlights, batteries, and engines.
- Both have 1 death reported, but the F-150 has 287 injuries and 328 crash-related complaints compared to 20 injuries and 28 crash-related for the 350Z.
- Check the clutch pedal feel and engagement; a pedal that sticks to the floor or a transmission that won't go into gear matches owner complaints.
- Inspect all tires for sidewall cuts, bubbles, or uneven wear, and verify the air bag system has no missing components or warning lights.
- Test drive the truck at various speeds and watch for hard or delayed shifts, jerking, or sudden power loss from the 10R80 transmission.
- Start the truck and confirm no 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' messages appear, and check that all headlights work.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the 350Z's clutch, suspension, and tires, or the F-150's transmission and electrical system.
- During the test drive, listen for unusual noises, feel for harsh shifting, and test all lights, cameras, and driver-assist features.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and clutch or suspension work on the 350Z.
- Verify that all air bags are present and functional, and that no warning lights remain on after starting the vehicle.
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 Nissan 350Z or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan 350Z vs FORD F 150
- Nissan 350Z total complaints
- 657
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Nissan 350Z total recalls
- 12
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Nissan 350Z avg complaints/year
- 93.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Nissan 350Z
- Nissan 350Z top complaint area
- SUSPENSION
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN