Head-to-head reliability
Nissan CUBE vs FORD F 150
How the Nissan CUBE 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 CUBE vs FORD F 150: the CUBE logged 217 complaints over 6 years (about 36 per year) with 7 recalls, while the F-150 logged 11,621 complaints over 10 years (about 1,162 per year) with 151 recalls. The F-150's recurring transmission limp mode and lead frame faults stand out, while the CUBE's door-lock and no-start reports are notable. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan CUBE or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan CUBE
The Nissan CUBE is a small, low-volume hatchback, and its complaint record reflects a quirky car with a handful of recurring, sometimes serious annoyances. Owners most often flag electrical gremlins, transmission and power-loss behavior, and steering or engine-mount failures. With about 36 complaints per year over six years, it is not a high-volume problem car, but the reports that do exist describe failures that can strand or lock in a driver. Buyers should treat it as a niche used car that needs a careful mechanical once-over.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume full-size pickup, and its complaint volume is enormous in absolute terms, averaging over 1,100 per year across ten years. The dominant themes are power train and electrical faults, especially transmission limp mode and the well-known lead frame issue, plus lighting and engine concerns. Because so many trucks are on the road, even a small failure rate produces many reports, but the recurring transmission and electrical patterns are real ownership risks. A used F-150 demands a thorough transmission and electrical inspection.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan CUBE | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 217 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 36.2 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 297 |
| 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 CUBE
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM52
- 02POWER TRAIN49
- 03STEERING42
- 04AIR BAGS24
- 05ENGINE21
Owners report multiple door lock actuators failing at once, leaving doors stuck locked, and push-button ignition cars that intermittently fail to start without warning. These are everyday-use failures that can trap occupants or leave you stranded.
Reports describe the Cube losing power or failing to respond to the accelerator after slowing from highway speeds, sometimes dropping from 70 to 20 mph with no warning light. That kind of sudden power loss is a serious concern in traffic.
One owner reported the engine mount (dogbone) breaking while driving, which damaged the transmission bracket and axle and cost over $1,100 to repair. A broken mount can affect steering and drivability, so mounts deserve a close look.
Owners report the passenger air bag warning light coming on even when the seat is occupied and belted, and one crash report notes air bags failing to deploy. Warning-light faults mean the system may not be working when needed.
“Problem # 1- is 3 out of 4 door lock actuators all of a sudden stopped working at the exact same time, except the driver door. This is a huge safety issue and causes the door to remain locked. This causes someone getting locked inside the vehicle or locked ou…”
“SINCE NOV OF 2014 I HAVE DEALT WITH PERSISTENT START-UP ISSUE WITH MY 2011 NISSAN CUBE. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY CAN FAIL TO START AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM JACKIE COOPER & NISSAN NORTH…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe recurring transmission limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and the long-running lead frame issue that some say persisted for over a decade. These faults can cause sudden loss of power or gear engagement while driving.
The lead frame problem also shows up as an electrical complaint, and one owner reported an output speed sensor failure that triggered highway limp mode. Electrical faults here can directly disable the transmission.
One owner reported the rear window defroster shorting and the back window shattering outward shortly after use. That is an unusual but alarming failure that a buyer should check for.
Exterior lighting is among the most-complained components, indicating owners frequently deal with lighting faults. Lighting problems affect visibility and can be a recurring repair nuisance.
“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.
Nissan CUBE — 7 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Versa Sedan vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013, to January 29, 2014, 2013-2014 Cube vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 21, 2013, and 2013-2014 Juke vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 22, 2013. When exp…
The risk: If the engine start/stop button gets stuck in the housing, road vibrations may cause the engine to shut off unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the start/stop switch housing, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Versa Sedan vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013, to January 29, 2014, 2013-2014 Cube vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 21, 2013, and 2013-2014 Juke vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 22, 2013. When exp…
The risk: If the engine start/stop button gets stuck in the housing, road vibrations may cause the engine to shut off unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the start/stop switch housing, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 NISSAN CUBE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 30, 2009 THROUGH JULY 30, 2010. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ROTATED FOLLOWING A REAR MOVING…
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SPECIAL PROTECTOR AND ATTACH IT TO THE GASOLINE RECIRCULATION TUBE AT THE LOCATION OF THE FILLER NECK CONNECTOR. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MA…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Cube vehicles. The driver’s air bag inflator may rupture or detach from the steering wheel during air bag deployment.
The risk: A driver's air bag that ruptures or detaches can strike the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the front air bag inflator serial number, and replace the inflator as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan…
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
Nissan CUBE or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan CUBE has far fewer complaints per year, about 36 versus roughly 1,162 for the F-150, though the F-150's much larger sales volume inflates its raw count. In practice, the Cube's problems are fewer but can include sudden power loss and door-lock failures, while the F-150's recurring transmission and electrical faults are a bigger ongoing ownership burden. Neither record is clean, but the Cube presents a smaller, more contained set of issues.
Key differences
- The CUBE averages about 36 complaints per year; the F-150 averages about 1,162, a roughly 32-fold difference in reported volume.
- The F-150's dominant story is transmission limp mode and the lead frame issue, reported across both power train and electrical categories.
- The CUBE's standout reports are door lock actuators failing together and intermittent no-start with push-button ignition.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 7 for the CUBE, reflecting its much larger production and longer model run.
- Test every door lock actuator, especially the passenger doors, since owners report several failing at once and leaving doors stuck locked.
- Check engine and transmission mounts for cracks or movement, and confirm the car starts reliably with the push-button ignition on repeated tries.
- Scan for transmission codes and test-drive through full acceleration and highway speeds to check for limp mode or getting stuck in a gear.
- Inspect the rear window defroster operation and look for any signs of shorting or prior window replacement.
Before you buy
- Pull a full OBD-II scan on both vehicles and read any stored transmission or body-control codes before buying.
- On the CUBE, test all door locks and repeat cold starts to check the ignition switch behavior.
- On the F-150, drive at highway speed and confirm smooth shifting with no limp mode or warning lights.
- Ask for recall completion records, especially ignition switch and air bag recalls on the CUBE and engine and seat belt recalls on the F-150.
- Have a mechanic inspect engine and transmission mounts on the CUBE and the transmission lead frame service history on the F-150.
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 CUBE or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan CUBE vs FORD F 150
- Nissan CUBE total complaints
- 217
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Nissan CUBE total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Nissan CUBE avg complaints/year
- 36.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Nissan CUBE
- Nissan CUBE top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN