Head-to-head reliability
Oldsmobile Alero vs FORD F 150
How the Oldsmobile Alero 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
Oldsmobile Alero vs FORD F 150: The Alero averages 306.8 complaints per year with 17 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1 complaints per year with 145 recalls. The Alero's top issue is electrical (515 complaints), and the F-150's is power train (3,553). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Oldsmobile Alero or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Oldsmobile Alero
The Oldsmobile Alero is a compact car that averages about 307 complaints per year, with electrical and lighting issues dominating owner reports. Many complaints describe the key being removable while the car is still running, windshield leaks causing electrical shorts and stalling, and brake failures after engine stalls. With 17 recalls, including multiple ignition recalls, living with an Alero means staying on top of safety fixes and expecting electrical gremlins.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averages about 1,131 complaints per year, with power train and electrical problems most common. Owners frequently report hard or delayed transmission shifts, sudden loss of power, and warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction.' With 145 recalls, the F-150 has many safety campaigns, so checking for completed recalls is essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Oldsmobile Alero | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,534 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 76 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 306.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 70 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 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.
Oldsmobile Alero
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM515
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING315
- 03SERVICE BRAKES236
- 04HYDRAULIC205
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING177
Owners report the ignition key can be pulled out while the car is still running and in gear, and windshield leaks can cause electrical shorts that lead to stalling. These issues can leave you stranded or unable to shut off the car properly.
Complaints include turn signals that work intermittently and starting problems where the engine fails to crank, often accompanied by a grinding noise. Failing lights make you less visible to other drivers, increasing crash risk.
Several owners describe the engine stalling without warning, which causes the power brakes and steering to fail, leading to crashes. This is a serious safety concern because you lose control when you need it most.
Hydraulic-related complaints often involve brake or power steering fluid leaks that can cause sudden loss of assist. A leak can make steering heavy and braking difficult, especially at low speeds.
“I OWN A 2004 ALERO OLDSMOBILE I PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN 2008. IT LATER ONLY HAD ONE RECALL WHICH WAS FOR THE IGNITION ISSUES. WHILE THE CAR IS ON AND IN DRIVE THE KEY IS STILL ABLE TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR STILL REMAINS ON AND IN DRIVE.…”
“NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSE TO LEAK ON EQUIPMENT UNDER INSIDE AND OUT DASHBOARD WITCH CAUSED EROSION AND DEFECTS TO OTHER OPERATING EQUIPMENT LEAD TO CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING,SOME OPERATIONS OF WILL WORK, SOME WON'T. IT HAS A MIND OF IT'S…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard, delayed, or jerky shifts from the 10-speed automatic transmission, and some experience a sudden loss of power while driving. These transmission problems can leave you in dangerous situations on busy roads.
Complaints include warning messages such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs from the transmission area. These electrical glitches can disable driver-assist features you may rely on.
Headlight-related recalls and complaints suggest lighting failures that reduce visibility at night. Dim or flickering headlights make it harder to see and be seen.
Engine complaints often involve stalling or loss of power, sometimes linked to other systems. An unexpected stall can be frightening and dangerous, especially at highway speeds.
“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.
Oldsmobile Alero — 17 recalls
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
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
Oldsmobile Alero or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Oldsmobile Alero has far fewer complaints per year (about 307) than the Ford F-150 (about 1,131), but the Alero's issues often involve critical safety systems like brakes and ignition. The F-150's higher volume reflects its popularity and longer production run, but its transmission and electrical problems are frequent and can be costly. In practice, the Alero may need fewer repairs overall, but the F-150 offers more modern features and parts availability.
Key differences
- The Alero's top complaint is electrical (515), often involving ignition keys and stalling, while the F-150's top complaint is power train (3,553), mainly transmission shifting problems.
- The Alero has 2 deaths and 70 injuries reported, while the F-150 has 1 death and 287 injuries, showing different crash patterns.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, versus 17 for the Alero over 5 years, meaning more safety campaigns to track.
- Alero owners report brake failure after engine stalls, while F-150 owners report sudden power loss and hard transmission shifts.
- Check if the ignition key can be removed while the car is running and in gear—this is a reported defect that can lead to theft or rollaway.
- Inspect for water leaks around the windshield and dashboard, as leaks can cause electrical shorts and stalling.
- Test drive at various speeds to feel for hard or delayed transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears.
- Check for warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard when starting the truck.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are completed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to check transmission and engine behavior.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brakes, steering, and electrical system for leaks or worn components.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and ignition repairs on the Alero.
- Check for water damage or leaks in the Alero's interior, and for aftermarket electrical modifications in either vehicle.
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 Oldsmobile Alero or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Oldsmobile Alero vs FORD F 150
- Oldsmobile Alero total complaints
- 1,534
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Oldsmobile Alero total recalls
- 17
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Oldsmobile Alero avg complaints/year
- 306.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Oldsmobile Alero
- Oldsmobile Alero top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN