Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Quest vs FORD F 150
How the Nissan Quest 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 Quest vs FORD F 150: the Quest logged 526 complaints over 10 years (about 53 per year) and 8 recalls, while the F-150 logged 11,621 complaints (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. The Quest's reports center on sudden power loss and transmission failure; the F-150's on limp mode and lead frame faults. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Quest or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Quest
The Nissan Quest is a minivan that, in ownership terms, shows a moderate but steady stream of complaints — about 53 per year over the past decade, with 8 recalls. The pattern owners describe is not cosmetic: it centers on the fuel/propulsion system, power train, and electrical system, with reports of jerking on acceleration, sudden loss of all power, and transmissions failing without a warning light. For a family-hauling van, those are the kinds of failures that affect daily confidence, so a used Quest deserves a careful mechanical inspection rather than a quick lot test drive.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume — roughly 1,162 per year over ten years and 151 recalls — which partly reflects how many are on the road, but the pattern is still telling. Owners repeatedly describe power train problems (limp mode, stuck gears, lead frame failures) and electrical faults, including a rear-window defroster short that shattered glass. The truck is capable, but a used example should be treated as a vehicle where transmission and electrical history matter more than mileage alone.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Quest | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 526 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 15 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 52.6 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 18 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 Quest
- 01FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM121
- 02POWER TRAIN85
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM83
- 04ENGINE65
- 05FUEL SYSTEM64
Owners report jerking or hesitation when accelerating from a stop, and in some cases the entire vehicle powers off without warning — steering, lights, and brakes included — while the fuel gauge still reads a quarter tank. That kind of sudden shutdown is the most serious thing to screen for on a used Quest.
Complaints describe the van losing all propulsion after a brief acceleration, and transmissions needing replacement with no check engine light beforehand. A buyer should expect to test the transmission thoroughly and ask for service records.
Owners describe intermittent electrical faults that dealers could not diagnose, including the same total power-off event reported under fuel/propulsion. Electrical gremlins that resist diagnosis can mean repeated shop visits.
Reports include bad noises and hesitation while driving with children aboard, and overheating with jerking and smoke at highway speed. These are signs of engine trouble that can strand a family, so a pre-purchase inspection should include a cold start and a highway test.
“I'VE NOTICED THAT IN 2016 AT ABOUT THE TIME I PURCHASED MY VAN IT HAD A JERKING WHENEVER YOU ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP OR EVEN TO JUST ACCELERATE I TOOK IT BACK TO THE PLACE I GOT IT THEY TEST DRIVE THE VAN WHILE I SAT IN IT WITH THEM BUT EVE…”
“THE FOLLOWING HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE POWERS OFF, WITHOUT WARNING ~ STEERING, LIGHT,S BRAKES, ETC. THE VEHICLE SLOWLY STOPS AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. (IMMEDIATELY PRIOR, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS 1/4 A TANK AND THE TRIP COMPUTER SHOWS 60 MIL…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The dominant theme is transmission trouble: trucks going into limp mode and sticking in 5th gear almost daily, and repeated lead frame failures that owners say have gone unresolved for over a decade. One owner described a near collision, so transmission behavior on a test drive is critical.
The lead frame issue also appears under electrical complaints, along with an output speed sensor failure that triggered highway limp mode on a truck covered by a safety recall. Buyers should confirm recall work was actually performed.
One owner reported the rear window exploding outward minutes after using the defroster, attributed to a short in the rear defroster circuit. It is a good reminder to check the rear glass and defroster operation.
Engine-related complaints appear in the top components and recall subjects, though the sample text is thinner here than for the transmission. Ask for maintenance records and listen for unusual noises on a cold start.
“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 Quest — 8 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
The risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
The fix: Dealers will replace the drivers airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINITI QX56, AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES. THE BRAKE PEDAL PIVOT PIN END WAS NOT SPIN-FORMED TO SPECIFICATION DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THE PIVOT PIN COULD SLIDE AND CAUSE THE…
The risk: THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE UNUSUAL AND NOTICEABLE LOOSENESS IN THE PEDAL AND A REDUCTION IN BRAKING FORCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE PIVOT PIN HAD BEEN FORMED PROPERLY AND WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 29, 2010, THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2012. DUE TO SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING, WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR IDLING ON A DECLINE WITH ¼ TANK FUEL OR LESS, THERE MAY BE AN INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. A…
The risk: VEHICLE STALLING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINITI QX56, AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES. THE BRAKE PEDAL PIVOT PIN END WAS NOT SPIN-FORMED TO SPECIFICATION DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THE PIVOT PIN COULD SLIDE AND CAUSE THE…
The risk: THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE UNUSUAL AND NOTICEABLE LOOSENESS IN THE PEDAL AND A REDUCTION IN BRAKING FORCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE PIVOT PIN HAD BEEN FORMED PROPERLY AND WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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 Quest or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan Quest has far fewer complaints per year — about 53 versus roughly 1,162 for the F-150 — and 8 recalls versus 151. In practice, that means a used Quest is less likely to send you back to the shop repeatedly, while the F-150's much larger population and transmission/electrical pattern mean a used truck needs a more thorough history check.
Key differences
- Complaint volume per year is dramatically lower on the Quest (about 53) than the F-150 (about 1,162), though the F-150's much larger fleet size partly explains the gap.
- The Quest's reported failures cluster around sudden power loss and transmission failure without warning, while the F-150's cluster around limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 8 for the Quest, including engine, seat belt pretensioner, door latch, and air bag inflator subjects.
- Both vehicles show electrical complaints, but the F-150's include a rear defroster short that shattered a window, while the Quest's include undiagnosed total power-offs.
- Test acceleration from a complete stop repeatedly and watch for jerking or hesitation, which owners link to the fuel/propulsion system.
- Ask whether the van has ever shut off while driving, and have a mechanic check the electrical system and transmission for stored codes, since owners report failures with no warning light.
- During the test drive, watch for limp mode, harsh shifting, or getting stuck in a gear — owners describe these as recurring transmission symptoms.
- Check that recall work, including the output speed sensor software recall, was completed, and test the rear defroster and inspect the rear window for cracks or prior replacement.
Before you buy
- Pull the full NHTSA recall history by VIN for the specific vehicle and confirm each recall was remedied.
- Have a independent mechanic scan for stored transmission and electrical codes, not just check for a lit warning light.
- On the Quest, do a cold start and a highway test to check for overheating, noises, and hesitation.
- On the F-150, drive at highway speed and through several stop-and-go cycles to provoke limp mode or gear sticking.
- Request service records for transmission fluid changes and any prior transmission or electrical 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 Quest | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 6 | 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 Quest or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Quest vs FORD F 150
- Nissan Quest total complaints
- 526
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Nissan Quest total recalls
- 8
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Nissan Quest avg complaints/year
- 52.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Quest
- Nissan Quest top complaint area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN