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 78 complaints per year, mostly about battery defects and fire risk, while the F-150 averages 1,131 complaints, mainly transmission and electrical issues. The LEAF has 30 recalls, the F-150 has 145. 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 all-electric compact car, and its complaint history is dominated by high-voltage battery issues. Owners report battery defects, fires, and restrictions on DC fast charging due to recall 25V655. Other issues include unintended acceleration and traction control problems, but the battery is the primary concern for buyers.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck with a high volume of complaints, averaging over 1,100 per year. The most common issues are transmission problems, particularly hard shifting and loss of power, along with electrical glitches like camera malfunctions. These issues affect the driving experience and reliability.
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 | 782 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 37 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 78.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 16 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 LEAF
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM478
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER166
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM132
- 04POWER TRAIN57
- 05SERVICE BRAKES53
Owners report high-voltage battery defects leading to fires and rapid heating, especially during fast charging. Some also experience unintended acceleration, which is a serious safety concern.
Many complaints reference the same battery issues, including physical degradation and fire risk, often linked to recall 25V655. This suggests a systemic problem with the battery pack.
The 62kWh battery pack shows degradation and is subject to recall, restricting DC fast charging. Owners complain about lack of remedy and reduced usability.
Traction control issues and momentary loss of traction during acceleration have been reported, which could be related to the battery or motor control.
“*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…”
“On Saturday, June 20, I was driving my son to soccer. We stopped at a stoplight. When the light turned green, I pressed the accelerator and we went forward. However, when I took my foot off the accelerator, the car continued to accelerate. Luckily it slowed d…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard shifts, jerks, clunks, and even loss of power and shutdown. This can be dangerous in traffic.
Owners report camera malfunctions and pre-collision assist failures, which disable safety features. There are also reports of loud bangs from the transmission and rear suspension, possibly electrical or mechanical.
Many complaints are unspecified but likely relate to the transmission and electrical issues, contributing to the high complaint count.
Headlight issues are common, though specific details are not provided in the sample. This could affect 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 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 2026 LEAF vehicles. The outer rear seat belt automatic locking retractors (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent a child restraint system (CRS) from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fed…
The risk: An improperly secured child restraint system may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear outboard seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in Dece…
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…
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 LEAF or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan LEAF has far fewer complaints per year (78.2) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1). However, the LEAF's issues are concentrated on the high-voltage battery, which is critical for an EV. The F-150's transmission problems are also serious but more typical of a truck. In practice, the LEAF may have fewer overall issues, but the battery risk is a major consideration.
Key differences
- The LEAF's main issue is the high-voltage battery, with fire risk and fast-charging restrictions, while the F-150's main issue is transmission harshness and failures.
- The F-150 has a much higher complaint rate (1,131/yr) than the LEAF (78/yr), indicating more frequent problems overall.
- The LEAF has no reported deaths, while the F-150 has 1 death and more crash-related complaints, though these are not necessarily due to defects.
- The F-150's electrical issues include camera malfunctions, while the LEAF's electrical issues are primarily battery-related.
- Check for any signs of battery degradation or previous fire incidents, and verify if recall 25V655 has been performed.
- Test the DC fast charging capability to ensure it is not restricted, and ask about battery health (Hx).
- Test drive the truck and pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, for hard shifts or clunks.
- Check if the front camera and pre-collision assist warnings appear on startup, as they indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the LEAF, ask for the battery's state of health report and confirm recall 25V655 remedy is applied.
- For the F-150, perform a thorough test drive including highway speeds to assess transmission behavior.
- Check for any open recalls on both vehicles via NHTSA's website.
- Inspect the LEAF's charging port and cables for damage, and the F-150's electrical connectors for corrosion.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with EVs or trucks.
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 | 24 |
| 2025 | 14 | 329 |
| 2024 | 10 | 617 |
| 2023 | 19 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 184 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 54 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 164 | 33 |
| 2019 | 253 | 36 |
| 2018 | 66 | 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 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
- 782
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Nissan LEAF total recalls
- 30
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Nissan LEAF avg complaints/year
- 78.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Nissan LEAF
- Nissan LEAF top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN