Head-to-head reliability
Oldsmobile Intrigue vs FORD F 150
How the Oldsmobile Intrigue 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 Intrigue vs FORD F 150: The Intrigue averages 130 complaints per year over 3 years, while the F-150 averages 1,131 per year over 10 years. The Intrigue's top issues are electrical and steering, whereas the F-150's are transmission-related. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Oldsmobile Intrigue or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Oldsmobile Intrigue
The Oldsmobile Intrigue, a mid-size sedan from the early 2000s, shows a reliability profile dominated by electrical and lighting issues, with owners frequently reporting flickering headlights and other exterior light failures that can be distracting or reduce visibility. Steering problems, including loss of power steering and clicking noises, are also common, along with engine and transmission complaints. With an average of 130 complaints per year over three years, it's a vehicle that may require frequent attention to electrical and steering components.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a full-size pickup with a much larger sample over ten years, averages over 1,100 complaints per year, reflecting its popularity and widespread use. The most frequent issues are in the powertrain, particularly harsh shifting and transmission failures, often involving the 10-speed automatic. Electrical system problems, including camera and sensor malfunctions, are also notable. While the F-150 has more complaints overall, its per-year rate is higher, indicating a higher frequency of reported problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Oldsmobile Intrigue | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 391 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 21 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 130.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 Better | 287 |
| 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.
Oldsmobile Intrigue
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM145
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING100
- 03STEERING52
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING49
- 05POWER TRAIN29
Owners report flickering headlights that can distract oncoming drivers, and the security system may lock unexpectedly. These issues can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, affecting visibility and convenience.
Headlights flicker in intensity, and tail lamps may fail to illuminate, reducing visibility to other drivers. This is a safety concern, especially at night.
Power steering can fail, often on left turns, making the vehicle hard to steer. A clicking noise in the steering column is also reported, which may persist despite repairs.
Some owners report a clicking sound from the engine area, and there are complaints about mechanical issues that may not be properly addressed by dealers. Overheating or cooling system problems could be a concern.
“I HAVE A 02 OLDS INTRIGUE AND IT HAS A FLICKERING IN INTENSITY ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A DRIVING DISTRACTION NOT JUST FOR ME BUT ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME ...AS THEY MAY FEEL BRIGHTED OR IT MAY DISTRACT THEM AND THEY MAY VERE AWAY FROM ME. I HAVE HAD P…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT KICK INTO FIRST GEAR UNTIL AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM LOCK. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKES JERKE…”
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 and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power. These issues can be dangerous in traffic and may require transmission repair or replacement.
Owners report warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear on startup. These electronic glitches can disable safety features and be annoying.
Headlight issues are common, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample. Given the high complaint count, expect potential problems with headlight bulbs, wiring, or switches.
Engine-related complaints are numerous, but the sample does not specify exact issues. Look for potential problems with engine performance, stalling, or unusual noises.
“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 Intrigue — 14 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: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN…
The risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-24…
The defect: DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED D…
The risk: IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
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 Intrigue or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Oldsmobile Intrigue has far fewer complaints per year (130) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Intrigue's problems are concentrated in electrical and steering systems, which can be safety-relevant. The F-150's higher complaint rate is partly due to its popularity, but the transmission issues are serious and widespread.
Key differences
- The Intrigue's most common issues are electrical (flickering headlights, security system) and steering (power steering failure, clicking), while the F-150's top issue is transmission harshness and failure.
- The F-150 has a much higher complaint rate per year (1,131 vs 130), but it's a more popular vehicle with more years of data.
- The Intrigue has no reported deaths in the data, while the F-150 has one death, but both have crash and injury reports.
- The F-150's transmission problems can lead to sudden loss of power, which is a safety hazard, whereas the Intrigue's issues are more about visibility and steering control.
- Inspect the headlights for flickering or dimming, and check all exterior lights for proper operation.
- Test the power steering by turning left and right at low speeds, and listen for any clicking noises from the steering column.
- Take a thorough test drive to feel for hard shifts, jerks, or clunks, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears.
- Check for warning messages on the dash, such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available'.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission on the F-150, including a scan for trouble codes and a road test.
- For the Intrigue, check the battery and alternator, as electrical issues can stem from them.
- Verify all recalls have been performed on both vehicles by checking the VIN with NHTSA.
- Ask for service records, especially for transmission repairs on the F-150 and steering or electrical fixes on the Intrigue.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic familiar with these models.
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 Intrigue or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Oldsmobile Intrigue vs FORD F 150
- Oldsmobile Intrigue total complaints
- 391
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Oldsmobile Intrigue total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Oldsmobile Intrigue avg complaints/year
- 130.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Oldsmobile Intrigue
- Oldsmobile Intrigue top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN