Head-to-head reliability
Pontiac G5 vs FORD F 150
How the Pontiac G5 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
Pontiac G5 vs FORD F 150: The G5 averages 95 complaints per year with 6 deaths, while the F-150 averages 1,131 complaints per year with 1 death. The G5's issues include power steering loss and fuel leaks; the F-150's include transmission problems and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Pontiac G5 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Pontiac G5
The Pontiac G5 is a compact car with a troubling reliability record: 381 complaints over 4 years, averaging about 95 per year. Owners frequently report sudden loss of power steering, fuel leaks, and airbag warning lights. These issues can be dangerous and costly, making the G5 a risky choice for a first-time buyer.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume—11,311 over 10 years, averaging about 1,131 per year. Common problems include rough shifting transmissions, electrical glitches, and lighting failures. While the F-150 is popular, the sheer number of complaints suggests owners face frequent repairs.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Pontiac G5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 381 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 21 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 40 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 95.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 36 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 6 | 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.
Pontiac G5
- 01FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM97
- 02STEERING96
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM77
- 04AIR BAGS67
- 05FUEL SYSTEM35
Owners report strong gasoline smells and drips from under the car, often traced to a retaining clip on the fuel/brake lines. This can lead to fuel leaks, posing a fire risk and requiring immediate repair.
Sudden loss of power steering assist while driving is a common complaint, with the warning light coming on unexpectedly. This makes steering very difficult, especially at low speeds, and has led to near-miss accidents.
Issues include problems with the ignition switch and power steering motor, sometimes after recall repairs. Owners report the car not starting or losing power steering, indicating persistent electrical faults.
The airbag warning light may stay on, indicating the airbags are disabled and won't deploy in a crash. Owners have been told there is no recall, leaving them without a clear fix.
“AROUND 127000 MILES I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, AND A SMALL DRIP FROM UNDER MY CAR, AFTER TAKING A CLOSER LOOK I NOTICED THAT IT WAS GAS, AND IT WAS COMING FROM THE RETAINING CLIP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL/BRAKE LINES IN PLACE, I WAS NOT FINANCIALLY STABL…”
“My 2009 Pontiac G5 was driven to work this morning 6-10-21and parked in a Michigan State vehicle garage. Security notified me at work that my vehicle had a puddle of gas under and near a rear tire. I removed vehicle frome parking garage and parked it in a rem…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners experience hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and clunking from the transmission, sometimes losing power entirely. This can happen at highway speeds, increasing crash risk.
Complaints include warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as battery cable issues. These glitches can disable safety features and cause frustration.
Headlight failures are frequently reported, which can reduce visibility and increase the chance of an accident, especially at night.
Engine-related complaints include various performance issues, though specific patterns are less clear from the sample. These can lead to costly repairs and downtime.
“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.
Pontiac G5 — 21 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignitio…
The risk: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission…
The fix: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cu…
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 replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later v…
The defect: UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year…
The risk: If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.
The fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should cont…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignitio…
The risk: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission…
The fix: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cu…
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
Pontiac G5 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Pontiac G5 has far fewer complaints per year (about 95) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131), but the G5's issues are often severe, like sudden power steering loss and fuel leaks. The F-150's higher volume means more frequent problems, but many are less immediately dangerous. In practice, the G5 may be riskier per incident, while the F-150 demands more overall attention.
Key differences
- The Pontiac G5 has sudden power steering loss and fuel leaks, while the Ford F-150 commonly suffers transmission jerking and electrical glitches.
- The G5 averages about 95 complaints per year; the F-150 averages about 1,131 per year, indicating more frequent issues with the truck.
- Airbag warning lights are a recurring problem in the G5, potentially disabling safety systems; the F-150 has more complaints about exterior lighting failures.
- The G5 has 6 reported deaths and 36 injuries in its data; the F-150 has 1 death and 287 injuries, showing different risk profiles.
- Check for gasoline odors or drips under the car, especially near the rear tires, as fuel leaks are a known issue.
- Test the power steering at low speeds and listen for warning chimes; sudden loss of assist is a common complaint.
- Test drive at various speeds to feel for hard or delayed transmission shifts, jerking, or clunking, especially between gears 4-5 and 5-6.
- Check that all exterior lights, including headlights, work properly and look for any dashboard warnings about camera or collision assist malfunctions.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the G5's ignition and airbag recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Pontiac G5 for fuel line leaks, power steering function, and airbag system health.
- For the Ford F-150, have a mechanic check transmission operation, electrical system codes, and exterior lighting.
- Test drive both vehicles extensively, including highway speeds, to reproduce reported issues like power steering loss or transmission jerking.
- Verify that any recall repairs have been completed and ask for documentation.
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 Pontiac G5 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Pontiac G5 vs FORD F 150
- Pontiac G5 total complaints
- 381
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Pontiac G5 total recalls
- 21
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Pontiac G5 avg complaints/year
- 95.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Pontiac G5
- Pontiac G5 top complaint area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN