Head-to-head reliability
Nissan JUKE vs FORD F 150
How the Nissan JUKE 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 JUKE vs FORD F 150: The JUKE averaged 59.8 complaints per year over 8 years, while the F-150 averaged 1,131.1 over 10 years. The JUKE had 14 recalls and 18 injuries; the F-150 had 145 recalls and 287 injuries. Both show transmission and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan JUKE or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan JUKE
The Nissan JUKE is a subcompact crossover that averaged about 60 complaints per year over eight years, with 14 recalls. The most common owner complaints involve the engine, power train, fuel system, and electrical system, often describing transmission slipping, loss of power, and fuel odors. These patterns suggest that living with a JUKE may require vigilance for transmission and fuel-related issues.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averaged over 1,100 complaints per year over ten years, with 145 recalls. Owners frequently report power train issues such as hard shifting and loss of power, along with electrical problems like warning lights and camera malfunctions. The high volume of complaints and recalls indicates that while popular, the F-150 can have recurring reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan JUKE | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 478 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 59.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 18 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.
Nissan JUKE
- 01ENGINE178
- 02POWER TRAIN75
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM73
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM72
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER55
Owners report transmission issues that prevent acceleration, even on the highway, and instances where the car jumps or loses power. These problems can be dangerous if they occur in traffic.
Complaints describe transmission slipping and the car losing power, sometimes requiring stopping on the highway shoulder. This suggests potential safety risks and costly repairs.
Owners mention fog or steam from the hood and warranty notifications about clogged evaporative emission vapor vent tubes. These issues can lead to fuel odors or performance problems.
Electrical complaints often relate to transmission failure symptoms, such as the car revving without accelerating. This indicates that electrical faults may contribute to drivability issues.
“2016 NISSAN JUKE SL AWD AUG 2017, I TRADED-IN A 2011 NISSAN JUKE SL FOR A NEW 2016 JUKE SL 1. TRANSMISSION CATCHES: 2016 JUKE HAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING EVEN WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH RESULTS IN DRIVER/PASSENGER…”
“APPROX 1:00 P.M. I PULLED INTO THE WENDY'S DRIVE THROUGH AND THE LINE WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE BUILDING. THERE WAS A LARGE LIKE FORD TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I SAT THERE MAYBE 1 MIN AND I THOUGHT FELT MY CAR JUMP (AND I THOUGHT 'WHAT WAS THAT'), THEN THE TRUCK PUL…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard and delayed shifts, loss of power, and the vehicle shutting off while driving. These transmission problems can be sudden and dangerous.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission, popping sounds from the rear suspension, and warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These electrical glitches can affect safety features.
This category captures miscellaneous issues not classified elsewhere, which can include various noises or malfunctions. Buyers should be aware that unexplained problems may arise.
There are complaints about exterior lighting, though specific details are not provided in the sample. Lighting failures can reduce visibility and safety.
“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 JUKE — 14 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Juke Nismo RS vehicles. Due to a problem within the brake master cylinder, brake fluid may leak into the brake booster, reducing brake performance.
The risk: If brake fluid leaks into the brake booster it can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Juke Nismo RS vehicles. Due to a problem within the brake master cylinder, brake fluid may leak into the brake booster, reducing brake performance.
The risk: If brake fluid leaks into the brake booster it can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2018. 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 North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Nissan Juke, 2012-2013 Infiniti M56, QX56, and 2014-2015 Infiniti Q70 (V8 engine vehicles only), and QX80 vehicles. The fuel pressure sensors may not have been sufficiently tightened during production. As a result, the fu…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could cause a vehicle fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-torque the fuel pressure sensors free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
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 JUKE or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan JUKE has far fewer complaints per year (about 60) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), but both have notable transmission and electrical issues. In practice, the JUKE may be easier to manage due to lower complaint volume, but the F-150's issues are more frequently reported and could be more widespread.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the Nissan JUKE has under 500 in 8 years, indicating a much higher reported issue rate for the F-150.
- Both vehicles have power train complaints, but the F-150's include hard shifting and loss of power, while the JUKE's involve transmission slipping and failure to accelerate.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls versus 14 for the JUKE, suggesting more frequent safety-related fixes for the Ford.
- The JUKE's top issues are engine and power train, while the F-150's are power train and electrical, with electrical complaints often tied to transmission noises and warning lights.
- During a test drive, accelerate hard and listen for transmission slipping or hesitation, as owners report loss of power and failure to accelerate.
- Check for fuel odors or visible steam from the hood, which could indicate fuel system or evaporative emission issues.
- Test the transmission for hard or delayed shifts, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and listen for clunks or bangs.
- Look for warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard, as these are common electrical complaints.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission for the JUKE (slipping) and the F-150 (hard shifts, loss of power).
- For the JUKE, check the fuel system for leaks or clogged vent tubes.
- For the F-150, test all electrical features, including cameras and collision assist, and listen for unusual noises from the transmission and suspension.
- Review NHTSA complaints for the specific model year you are considering to identify common patterns.
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 | Nissan JUKE | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 56 |
| 2017 | 14 | 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 Nissan JUKE or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan JUKE vs FORD F 150
- Nissan JUKE total complaints
- 478
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Nissan JUKE total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Nissan JUKE avg complaints/year
- 59.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Nissan JUKE
- Nissan JUKE top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN