Head-to-head reliability
Pontiac Pursuit vs FORD F 150
How the Pontiac Pursuit 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 Pursuit vs FORD F 150: The Pursuit has only 2 complaints over 2 years (1.0/yr) and 2 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131.1/yr) and 145 recalls. The F-150's top issue is powertrain failures, including hard shifts and loss of power. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Pontiac Pursuit or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Pontiac Pursuit
The Pontiac Pursuit is a compact car that, based on NHTSA data, has a very low complaint rate—just two complaints over two years. The issues reported center on intermittent power steering warnings and a tire-related incident, but the sample text suggests the steering/electrical complaint may be the same recurring problem. With only two recalls, both for the ignition switch, this model appears relatively trouble-free in the data, though the low sample size means buyers should still have the car inspected.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher volume of complaints—over 11,000 in ten years—reflecting its popularity and the breadth of issues. The dominant problem area is the powertrain, with owners describing hard shifts, loss of power, and jerking, particularly in the 10-speed automatic transmission. Electrical system complaints are also frequent, including camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions. With 145 recalls, the F-150 has had many safety campaigns, but the complaint data points to transmission and electronic gremlins as the most common owner frustrations.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Pontiac Pursuit | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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.
Pontiac Pursuit
- 01STEERING1
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 03TIRES1
Owners report a persistent issue where the car beeps four times and displays a 'power steering' message on the dashboard, occurring randomly about twice a month. This suggests an intermittent electrical or sensor problem affecting the power steering system, which could cause a momentary loss of assist and is a safety concern if it happens while driving.
The same power steering warning is logged under electrical system, indicating the root cause may be an electrical fault rather than a mechanical steering failure. This could be related to the ignition switch recall, as electrical gremlins often stem from poor connections or faulty switches.
One complaint describes a crash caused by another vehicle blowing a tire, which is not a defect in the Pursuit itself. However, it highlights that tire failures can lead to loss of control, so maintaining proper tire condition is important for any vehicle.
“I AM ACTUALLY FROM OTTAWA, ONTARIO CANADA. I COULD NOT ENTER THAT BELOW. THIS IS A PERSISTENT ISSUE. IT OCCURS APPROX. TWICE A MONTH. MY CAR AT RANDOM INTERVALS OF TIME WILL BEEP FOUR TIMES AND MY READOUT ON THE DASHBOARD WILL GIVE ME A POWERSTEERING MESSAGE.…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is harsh and delayed shifting, especially between 7th and 8th gears, and sometimes a complete loss of power with the vehicle shutting off and then jerking back on. This points to problems with the 10-speed automatic transmission (10R80) and can be dangerous in traffic.
Owners report warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing every time they start the truck. These electronic driver-assist features are failing, which could disable safety systems and lead to unexpected behavior.
While specific complaints are not shown, the high number of exterior lighting complaints and recalls for headlights suggest issues with visibility, such as dim or malfunctioning headlights, which is critical for night driving.
Engine-related complaints are also notable, though not detailed in the sample. Given the powertrain issues, engine problems could include stalling or performance issues, adding to the overall reliability concerns.
“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 Pursuit — 2 recalls
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: 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…
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 Pursuit or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Pontiac Pursuit has far fewer complaints per year (1.0) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a much lower rate of reported issues. However, the F-150's high volume is partly due to its popularity and longer production run. In practice, the Pursuit appears to be a more reliable choice based on owner reports, but the F-150's issues are more varied and potentially more severe, especially transmission failures.
Key differences
- The Pursuit has only 2 complaints and 2 recalls, while the F-150 has over 11,000 complaints and 145 recalls.
- The Pursuit's main issue is an intermittent power steering warning, whereas the F-150's top issue is transmission harsh shifting and loss of power.
- The F-150 has many electrical system complaints, including camera and pre-collision assist failures, which are not reported on the Pursuit.
- The Pursuit's recalls are for the ignition switch, while the F-150 has recalls for headlights, battery cables, engine, and seats.
- Test the power steering by driving and watching for the 'power steering' message and beeping, as it occurs randomly.
- Check if the ignition switch recall has been performed, as it could be related to electrical issues.
- During a test drive, accelerate and decelerate to feel for hard shifts or jerks, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears.
- Start the truck and see if any warning lights appear for front camera or pre-collision assist, as these are common failures.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's recall status and ensure all recalls have been addressed.
- For the Pursuit, ask for service records related to the power steering system.
- For the F-150, ask about transmission service or repairs, and check for any pending transmission software updates.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the electrical system, including battery and wiring, on both vehicles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear or damage, as tire issues can affect safety.
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 Pursuit or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Pontiac Pursuit vs FORD F 150
- Pontiac Pursuit total complaints
- 2
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Pontiac Pursuit total recalls
- 2
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Pontiac Pursuit avg complaints/year
- 1.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Pontiac Pursuit
- Pontiac Pursuit top complaint area
- STEERING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN