Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Pathfinder vs FORD F 150
How the Nissan Pathfinder 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 Pathfinder vs FORD F 150: Over 10 years, the Pathfinder averaged 77 complaints per year with 16 recalls and 0 deaths, while the F-150 averaged 1,162 complaints per year with 151 recalls and 1 death. The F-150's power train complaints are far more frequent. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Pathfinder or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder is a three-row family SUV that averages about 77 complaints per year over the past decade, with 16 recalls and no reported deaths in that period. Owner complaints cluster around engine running lean, brake and forward emergency braking warnings, and electrical gremlins like stalling or doors locking unexpectedly. It's a vehicle where many issues are annoying and potentially costly, but the data shows fewer crash-related reports than the Ford. Buyers should expect to stay on top of maintenance and verify any open recalls.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that generates roughly 1,162 complaints per year, with 151 recalls and one death reported over the same 10-year window. The dominant theme is power train trouble, especially transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, plus electrical and lighting problems. This is a high-volume truck with a long list of recurring, sometimes safety-critical issues. A used F-150 demands a very thorough pre-purchase inspection and recall check.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Pathfinder | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 774 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 77.4 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 22 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 Pathfinder
- 01ENGINE186
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER176
- 03SERVICE BRAKES142
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM128
- 05POWER TRAIN110
Owners report a 'running too lean' condition and repeated emissions failures because the oxygen sensor monitor won't set to ready, even without a check-engine light. This can mean failed inspections and potential drivability issues that are hard to diagnose.
Complaints describe the ABS, traction control, and forward emergency braking warning lights coming on, sometimes after the ABS/AEB system was already replaced. This matters because the safety systems may not work when you need them.
Reports include the car stalling and dying in traffic, requiring police to push it off the road, and doors locking inadvertently with the key fob inside. These are serious reliability and safety concerns that can leave you stranded.
Owners describe jerking, shuddering, and shaking while accelerating, and in one case the vehicle suddenly locked up and lost power. A separate report notes a panoramic sunroof exploding and shattering glass onto occupants. These unpredictable failures are alarming for a family vehicle.
“On April 7, 2025, the dealership attempted to sell me a vehicle that was experiencing an engine condition running too lean. I declined that vehicle due to safety concerns. On April 8, 2025, the salesperson contacted me again and stated that a different vehicl…”
“I own a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder with approximately 55,000 miles. The vehicle repeatedly failed Indiana emissions testing because the oxygen sensor monitor would not set to “ready,” despite multiple complete drive cycles and no check‑engine light or stored faul…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The most common complaint is transmission limp mode, often stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that owners say have persisted for over a decade. One owner reported a near-collision because of it. This can leave you without power in traffic.
Owners link electrical issues to the same lead frame problem and to output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode, even after a recall software update. A rear window defroster short was reported to cause the back window to explode outward. These faults can disable the truck or create sudden hazards.
A specific report describes the rear window shattering outward after using the defroster, with no external cause. This is a rare but frightening event that could injure passengers and is expensive to fix.
While less frequent than power train complaints, engine issues appear in the top components and recalls. Buyers should still check for rough running, warning lights, and any open engine-related recalls.
“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 Pathfinder — 16 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Murano, Pathfinder, and INFINITI QX60 vehicles. One or both front brake caliper assemblies may have reduced strength and could break. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…
The risk: A broken front brake caliper can cause a loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake caliper assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or INFINITI's customer servi…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The lap belt pretensioner in the left-side front seat belt assembly may be improperly secured, due to a missing rivet. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor V…
The risk: An unsecured lap belt pretensioner will not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left-side front lap seat belt pretensioner assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. O…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Pathfinder vehicles. Insufficient welds may allow the secondary hood latch retainer bracket to detach from the front bumper assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…
The risk: A detached secondary hood latch may allow the hood to open if the primary hood latch is not engaged, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the secondary hood latch bracket as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 17, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for thi…
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-…
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 Pathfinder or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan Pathfinder has far fewer complaints per year (about 77 vs. 1,162 for the Ford F-150) and fewer recalls (16 vs. 151). In practice, that means a used Pathfinder is likely to have fewer reported problems overall, but it still has notable brake, engine, and electrical complaints. The F-150's much higher volume and recurring transmission issues make it a higher-risk used purchase unless it has been carefully maintained and had all recalls addressed.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has about 15 times more complaints per year than the Nissan Pathfinder (1,162 vs. 77), with power train issues dominating.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 16 for the Pathfinder, including engine, seat belt, door latch, and airbag inflator subjects.
- Pathfinder owners report brake and forward emergency braking warnings, while F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions.
- The F-150 data includes 1 death and 297 injuries in crash-related reports, compared to 0 deaths and 22 injuries for the Pathfinder.
- Check for a history of lean engine codes or failed emissions tests, and ask if the oxygen sensor monitor sets to ready during a test drive.
- Test the forward emergency braking and ABS systems for warning lights, and verify any related repairs or recalls were completed.
- Scan for transmission codes like P0722 and test drive for limp mode, harsh shifting, or getting stuck in 5th gear.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or prior replacement, and confirm the lead frame and output speed sensor recalls were performed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were fixed.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission or engine hesitation.
- Have a trusted mechanic scan all computer modules for stored codes, even if no warning light is on.
- For the Pathfinder, specifically test the ABS, traction control, and forward emergency braking systems.
- For the F-150, ask for transmission service records and check for any lead frame or output speed sensor repairs.
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 Pathfinder | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 35 |
| 2025 | 51 | 345 |
| 2024 | 82 | 638 |
| 2023 | 104 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 135 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 53 | 44 |
| 2019 | 76 | 52 |
| 2018 | 77 | 79 |
| 2017 | 186 | 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 Pathfinder or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Pathfinder vs FORD F 150
- Nissan Pathfinder total complaints
- 774
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Nissan Pathfinder total recalls
- 16
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Nissan Pathfinder avg complaints/year
- 77.4
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Nissan Pathfinder top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN