Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Xterra vs FORD F 150
How the Nissan Xterra 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 Xterra vs FORD F 150: The Xterra has 157.7 complaints per year, while the F-150 has 1131.1. Xterra owners report engine seizures and coolant leaks, while F-150 owners face transmission hard shifts and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Xterra or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Xterra
The Nissan Xterra, a compact SUV, shows a reliability picture dominated by powertrain and fuel system complaints. Owners report issues like a failing rubber stopper under the clutch pedal that can prevent starting, coolant leaking into the transmission, and engine seizures due to oil loss without warning. These problems suggest that while the Xterra may be capable off-road, its engine and transmission require vigilant maintenance and inspection.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a full-size pickup, has a much higher complaint volume, with powertrain and electrical system issues leading the list. Owners frequently describe hard shifts and jerking from the 10-speed automatic transmission, sometimes leading to a loss of power. Electrical gremlins like camera malfunctions and pre-collision assist errors are also common, indicating that the F-150's advanced systems 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 Xterra | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,577 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 29 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 157.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 34 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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 Xterra
- 01POWER TRAIN578
- 02FUEL SYSTEM457
- 03GASOLINE383
- 04ENGINE231
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING192
Owners report a rubber stopper under the clutch pedal failing, which prevents the vehicle from starting, and coolant leaking into the transmission fluid, causing loss of power around 40 mph.
With 457 complaints, fuel system issues are frequent, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample. This could include leaks or fuel delivery problems.
Engine seizures have occurred due to oil loss without any warning light, and oil leaks from connectors are reported. This suggests potential for sudden engine failure.
“1) Rubber stopper under clutch pedal has failed multiple times, preventing vehicle from starting in various locations, usually parking lots and mostly after dark which presents potential safety concerns. This is a rubber part that allows vehicle to start only…”
“I PURCHASED THIS 1 OWNER TRADE IN 4/11/19. AS OF 5/9/19 I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE PRONOUNCED ISSUES WITH LOSING POWER AROUND 40 MPH . DIAGNOSTICS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE COOLING COIL WHICH RESULTED IN COOLANT IN MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH DA…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard shifts, jerks, and clunks between gears, and in some cases, a complete loss of power while driving.
Electrical issues include loud bangs from the transmission and popping sounds from the rear suspension, as well as persistent dashboard warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available.
With 1164 complaints, headlight problems are common, though specific symptoms are not in the sample. This could involve dimming, flickering, or failure.
“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 Xterra — 30 recalls
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 INFINITI FX, MODEL YEAR 2012 INFINITI M, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN FRONTIER, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN XTERRA, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN NV VEHICLES. SOME OF THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER AND THE…
The risk: IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Xterra two-wheel drive vehicles manufactured from June 19, 2012, through July 12, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with front wheel hubs that may not meet the design hardness specifications. A wheel hub that was manufa…
The risk: If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replaced the left and right side front wheel hub assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on October 22, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, AR…
The risk: IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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.
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 Xterra or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan Xterra has far fewer complaints per year (157.7) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Xterra's engine and transmission problems can be severe, while the F-150's issues are more numerous but often less catastrophic. In practice, the Xterra may require less frequent trips to the shop, but when problems occur, they can be more serious.
Key differences
- The Xterra has a much lower complaint rate (157.7/yr) than the F-150 (1131.1/yr).
- Xterra owners report engine seizures and coolant contamination, while F-150 owners report transmission hard shifting and electrical system failures.
- The F-150 has more recalls (145) and crash-related complaints (328) compared to the Xterra (30 recalls, 29 crash-related).
- Fuel system issues are prominent in the Xterra, while exterior lighting problems are notable in the F-150.
- Check for oil leaks around the engine and ensure the oil level is correct, as engine seizures have occurred without warning lights.
- Inspect the clutch pedal rubber stopper for wear, as failure can prevent the vehicle from starting.
- Test drive the F-150 and pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, for hard jerks or clunks.
- Check for any dashboard warning lights related to the front camera or pre-collision assist, as these are common electrical issues.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the Xterra's transmission fluid for coolant contamination, which can cause failure.
- For the F-150, ask for a transmission service history and check for any recalls or TSBs related to shifting.
- On the Xterra, verify that the engine oil level is correct and look for any signs of leaks under the vehicle.
- For the F-150, test all electrical features, including cameras and sensors, to ensure they work properly.
- Check the NHTSA website for open recalls on both vehicles and ensure they have been addressed.
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 Xterra or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Xterra vs FORD F 150
- Nissan Xterra total complaints
- 1,577
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Nissan Xterra total recalls
- 30
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Nissan Xterra avg complaints/year
- 157.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Xterra
- Nissan Xterra top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN