Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Maxima vs FORD F 150
How the Nissan Maxima 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 Maxima vs FORD F 150: The Maxima averages 48.8 complaints per year with 16 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints and 151 recalls. Both show power train and electrical issues, but the F-150's are more frequent. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Maxima or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Maxima
The Nissan Maxima is a large sedan that averages about 49 complaints per year over the past decade, with 16 recalls. Owners most often report power train problems like stalling or sudden acceleration, plus air bag and electrical glitches. It's a lower-volume vehicle, so issues are less frequent but still worth checking carefully.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint rate—about 1,162 per year—and 151 recalls over the same period. Power train and electrical problems dominate, including transmission limp mode and lead frame failures. The sheer number of trucks on the road means more reported issues, but the pattern shows recurring, sometimes serious, problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Maxima | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 488 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 35 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 48.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 32 Better | 297 |
| 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 Maxima
- 01POWER TRAIN97
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER88
- 03AIR BAGS75
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63
- 05SERVICE BRAKES53
Owners report the engine making abnormal sounds, the vehicle jerking, and stalling in the middle of the road without warning lights. Some also describe the gear shifter failing to shift into park and sudden acceleration, which can lead to crashes.
Complaints include air bags not deploying in a crash, causing facial injuries, and collision sensors malfunctioning so the car brakes on its own while reversing. These are safety-critical failures that could affect you in a collision or parking maneuver.
Drivers report the instrument panel dimming intermittently and the car stalling with no warning lights. Electrical gremlins like these can be hard to diagnose and may leave you stranded.
There are 53 brake-related complaints, and recalls cover antilock/traction control issues. Owners may experience reduced braking performance or unexpected brake activation, which matters for everyday stopping.
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle jerked before stalling in the middle of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. The Police were calle…”
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while her husband was attempting to park and turn off the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to shift into park, the STOP button failed to respond, and the vehicle suddenly accelerated, crashed into…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The most common complaint is transmission problems: trucks going into limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and failing to shift. A recurring 'lead frame' issue has been reported for over a decade, sometimes causing near collisions.
Owners report the same lead frame problem affecting electrical signals, plus rear window defroster shorts that can cause the back window to shatter. These electrical faults can disable safety systems and lead to costly repairs.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting issues are frequent—likely failing bulbs, flickering lights, or moisture in housings. Poor lighting affects visibility and can be a safety concern, especially at night.
There are 880 engine complaints, and recalls cover engine problems. Owners may face stalling, rough running, or other engine malfunctions that require immediate attention.
“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 Maxima — 16 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
The risk: Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-60…
The risk: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer s…
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 Maxima or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan Maxima has far fewer complaints per year (about 49 vs. 1,162 for the F-150), but both have serious power train and electrical issues. In practice, the Maxima may be less likely to overwhelm you with problems, while the F-150's higher volume means more reported failures and recalls.
Key differences
- The F-150 has about 24 times more complaints per year than the Maxima, largely because it's a much higher-volume vehicle.
- Power train complaints dominate both, but the F-150's are often transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, while the Maxima's include stalling and sudden acceleration.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls vs. 16 for the Maxima, covering engines, seat belts, door latches, and air bag inflators.
- Air bag non-deployment is a reported issue on the Maxima, while the F-150 has electrical shorts that can shatter the rear window.
- During a test drive, listen for abnormal engine sounds and feel for jerking or hesitation; these could signal the stalling issue owners report.
- Check that the gear shifter engages park properly and that the car doesn't accelerate unexpectedly when shifting or braking.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: look for delayed engagement, getting stuck in gear, or limp mode warnings on the dash.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for signs of shorting, and ask if the lead frame has been replaced or if any transmission software updates were done.
Before you buy
- Ask for a complete maintenance history, especially any transmission or electrical repairs.
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both models, and confirm they were fixed.
- Have a mechanic inspect the power train and electrical systems, including a scan for stored trouble codes.
- For the F-150, specifically test the transmission through all gears and check for lead frame-related symptoms.
- For the Maxima, verify air bag function and check for any dashboard warning lights related to brakes or sensors.
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 Maxima | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 5 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 3 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 22 | 44 |
| 2019 | 18 | 52 |
| 2018 | 36 | 79 |
| 2017 | 103 | 59 |
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 Maxima or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Maxima vs FORD F 150
- Nissan Maxima total complaints
- 488
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Nissan Maxima total recalls
- 16
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Nissan Maxima avg complaints/year
- 48.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Maxima
- Nissan Maxima top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN