Head-to-head reliability
Nissan LEAF vs FORD F 150
How the Nissan LEAF 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 LEAF vs FORD F 150: The LEAF averages 75.3 complaints per year, mostly battery-related, with 0 deaths. The F-150 averages 2755.2 complaints per year, with powertrain and electrical failures causing 10 deaths. The LEAF's battery risk is more contained, while the F-150's issues are more frequent and varied. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan LEAF or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan LEAF
The Nissan LEAF is an electric compact hatchback that, in ownership terms, has a reliability picture dominated by its high-voltage battery. Owners frequently report battery failures, including sudden power loss, fire risks, and degradation that limits DC fast charging. The complaint pattern shows that the electrical system—specifically the traction battery—is the primary source of trouble, with many reports tied to recall 25V655 for lithium deposits causing overheating.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 2,700 per year. Owners report widespread powertrain issues, including transmission problems like the shifter getting stuck in drive and engine troubles such as turbo wastegate failures. Electrical system complaints include sudden loss of power while driving, disabling safety systems like brakes and steering, and unintended acceleration incidents.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan LEAF | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 753 Better | 27,552 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 141 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 37 Better | 762 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 75.3 Better | 2755.2 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 16 Better | 714 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 10 |
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 LEAF
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM465
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER162
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM125
- 04POWER TRAIN52
- 05SERVICE BRAKES51
Owners report the high-voltage battery failing, causing fires, sudden power loss, and inability to use Level 3 fast charging due to lithium deposits that increase resistance and heating.
Many complaints involve the high-voltage battery defect, with owners describing physical degradation and fire risks, often linked to recall 25V655.
The 62kWh battery pack shows physical degradation (e.g., 40.07% Hx) tied to cell defects, limiting safe operation and requiring inspection.
Owners report the traction battery causing errors that strand the vehicle, and recall restrictions on DC fast charging reduce practicality.
“*High Voltage Battery defect/failure - this is what was believed to be the issue when it was towed to the dealership. What is left of it is available for inspection at the dealership for now, however the insurance may take it to a salvage yard since the fire…”
“The error occurred on [XXX]. The car got me to my destination. Error occurred past the 1/2 way point. The next day was busy w/ personal issues. Later in the afternoon, I was by the vehicle, I called the Nissan Roadside Assistance number. It was at this point…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN9,967
- 02ENGINE4,861
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,479
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,210
- 05STRUCTURE1,485
The shifter gets stuck in drive when parking, failing to engage park, and turbo wastegate issues cause drivability problems on low-mileage trucks.
Engine problems include the integrated park module failing to engage park, and emissions control label updates needed, with some reports of sudden power loss.
Sudden total power loss while driving disables brakes, steering, and airbags; ABS system noise after brake booster recall work is also reported.
Unintended acceleration at low speeds and severe shake/vibration after repairs are common, affecting safety and comfort.
“When I am parking the truck, I press and hold the brake pedal, While the truck shifter in in "Drive", I press the start/stop button to shut truck down, the shifter gets stuck in "drive" and doesn't automatically shift in to park. The truck locks down and will…”
“My truck is a 2025 Ford F150 STX with 5,900 miles on it. This truck was purchased new at River City Ford in Lavalette, WV The component in questions seems to be involved with the turbos and more specifically the wastegate that attached to the turbos. Also, ye…”
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 LEAF — 30 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect, and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal…
The risk: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nis…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.
The risk: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
The risk: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to use Level 3 quick charging until the remedy is completed. Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 16, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's Customer Service at 1-800-86…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2022 LEAF vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear V…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
FORD F 150 — 141 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may los…
The risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
Buyer analysis
Nissan LEAF or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan LEAF has far fewer complaints per year (75.3 vs 2755.2), but its issues are concentrated on the high-voltage battery, which can be a safety and usability concern. The Ford F-150 has a much higher rate of problems across multiple systems, including powertrain and electrical failures that can lead to loss of control. In practice, the LEAF's battery risk is more predictable, while the F-150's issues are more varied and frequent.
Key differences
- The LEAF's main issue is the high-voltage battery (fire risk, fast charging restrictions), while the F-150's top issue is powertrain (shifter stuck in drive, turbo failures).
- The F-150 has 37 times more complaints per year than the LEAF, with 10 deaths reported versus 0 for the LEAF.
- The LEAF's electrical system complaints (465) are mostly battery-related, whereas the F-150's electrical complaints (3479) include sudden total power loss and ABS issues.
- The F-150 has 141 recalls over 10 years, covering many systems, while the LEAF has 30 recalls, many focused on the battery.
- Check for any signs of battery degradation or swelling, and verify that recall 25V655 (lithium deposits) has been performed.
- Test DC fast charging to ensure it works; if restricted, the vehicle's range and usability are significantly limited.
- Test the transmission park function: after shifting to park, ensure the shifter doesn't stick and the vehicle stays in park.
- Check for any history of sudden power loss or electrical failures, and inspect the ABS system after brake booster recall work.
Before you buy
- For the LEAF: Obtain a battery health report (Hx value) and confirm recall 25V655 completion.
- For the LEAF: Test Level 3 fast charging to ensure it's not restricted.
- For the F-150: Test the park function by shutting off the engine in drive and verifying it shifts to park.
- For the F-150: Check for any open recalls, especially those related to the brake booster and transmission.
- For both: Review the vehicle's service history for any major repairs related to the top complaint areas.
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 LEAF | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 9 |
| 2025 | 7 | 320 |
| 2024 | 8 | 597 |
| 2023 | 19 | 1448 |
| 2022 | 176 | 3285 |
| 2021 | 51 | 4942 |
| 2020 | 159 | 2530 |
| 2019 | 251 | 5718 |
| 2018 | 64 | 5505 |
| 2017 | 14 | 3198 |
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 LEAF or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan LEAF vs FORD F 150
- Nissan LEAF total complaints
- 753
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 27,552
- Nissan LEAF total recalls
- 30
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 141
- Nissan LEAF avg complaints/year
- 75.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 2755.2
- More reliable overall
- Nissan LEAF
- Nissan LEAF top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN