Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Titan vs FORD F 150
How the Nissan Titan 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 Titan vs FORD F 150: The Titan has 753 complaints over 10 years (75/yr) versus 11,311 for the F-150 (1,131/yr). Titan issues often involve engine wiring recalls, while F-150s frequently report transmission hard shifting and power loss. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Titan or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan, with 753 complaints over 10 years (about 75 per year), shows a pattern of engine and powertrain issues, often tied to specific recalls and service bulletins. Owners report check engine lights, hesitation, and power control failures, suggesting that while not as numerous as some rivals, the problems can be serious and may require repeated dealer visits. Electrical and fuel system complaints also appear, but less frequently.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year, with powertrain issues dominating. Owners frequently describe hard shifting, jerking, and even sudden loss of power, particularly with the 10-speed automatic transmission. Electrical system problems, including camera and sensor malfunctions, are also common, indicating that the F-150's advanced features can be a source of frustration.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Titan | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 753 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 34 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 75.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 1 Better |
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 Titan
- 01ENGINE298
- 02POWER TRAIN213
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM111
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM76
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER75
Owners report check engine lights soon after purchase, often linked to wiring harness issues (recall PC773). Hesitation on acceleration and power control failures are also described, which can affect drivability and safety.
Complaints mirror engine issues, with references to the same harness recall and transmission/engine power control problems. Some owners mention the dealer couldn't duplicate the issue, leaving them without a fix.
Electrical complaints are tied to the same wiring harness problems, causing warning lights and potential engine performance issues. This suggests a systemic electrical vulnerability.
Owners report hesitation and lack of smooth acceleration, which may be related to fuel delivery or engine control. These issues can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
“The problem I am writing about concerns this vehicle and recall #PC773 EGI HARNESS. Reference must also be made to Nissan #NTB20-89 dated December 8, 2020. I purchased this vehicle from Bates Nissan (5501 East Central Texas Expressway, Killeen TX 76543, 254-7…”
“Worst dealership my husband and I ever dealt with. We purchased a 2019 Nissan XD Titan Diesel with warranty. Two days after purchase, the check engine light came on. I called Spencer from the service department to let them know. They took the truck the very n…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is hard and delayed shifting, especially in the 10-speed automatic transmission. Owners describe jerks, clunks, and even sudden loss of power, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Frequent warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available appear on the dash, indicating sensor or software issues. These can disable safety features.
Headlight-related recalls and complaints suggest potential visibility problems, which are critical for night driving safety.
Engine complaints are less frequent but still present, possibly related to transmission interactions or separate issues. Owners may experience performance problems that require dealer attention.
“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 Titan — 33 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012-2017 NV Cargo and NV Passenger Van, 2013-2015 Titan and Armada and 2011-2012 Infiniti QX56 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the air bag inflator may not function properly or may rupture during deployment.
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-62…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
The risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's nu…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Titan and Titan XD pickup trucks. The engine wiring harness could contain an exposed wire that can cause an electrical short or arcing if it contacts another wire.
The risk: An electrical short can impair the performance of the engine, transmission, or fuel pump, increasing the risk of an engine stall and a crash. An electrical short or arcing increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine harness, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
The risk: Inoperable front turn signals cannot alert on-coming drivers and/or pedestrians that the vehicle will be turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bulbs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PM986 and P…
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 Titan or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan Titan has far fewer complaints per year (75 vs 1,131), suggesting a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Titan's problems often involve engine and powertrain reliability, which can be costly. The F-150's high volume reflects its popularity, but the transmission issues are widespread and can be severe.
Key differences
- The Titan has significantly fewer complaints per year, but its issues are concentrated in engine and powertrain, often linked to specific recalls.
- The F-150's transmission problems are more frequent and can cause sudden power loss, a serious safety concern.
- Electrical system issues are more common in the F-150, affecting driver-assist features, while the Titan's electrical problems are tied to wiring harness recalls.
- The F-150 has a higher number of recalls (145 vs 33), indicating more widespread manufacturing issues.
- Check for any open recalls, especially the EGI harness recall (PC773), and ensure it has been performed.
- Test drive for hesitation or surging during acceleration, and listen for any unusual engine or transmission noises.
- Pay close attention to transmission shifting, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, for hard shifts or clunks.
- Verify that all camera and sensor warnings are absent, as they may indicate electrical issues that could disable safety features.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the engine and transmission, including a test drive on varied roads.
- For the Titan, specifically ask about the EGI harness recall and any related repairs.
- For the F-150, test the transmission thoroughly, including highway speeds, and check for any warning lights.
- Review service records to see if the transmission has been serviced or replaced.
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 Titan | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 | 617 |
| 2023 | 52 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 26 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 110 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 21 | 33 |
| 2019 | 46 | 36 |
| 2018 | 90 | 56 |
| 2017 | 172 | 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 Titan or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Titan vs FORD F 150
- Nissan Titan total complaints
- 753
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Nissan Titan total recalls
- 33
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Nissan Titan avg complaints/year
- 75.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Titan
- Nissan Titan top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN