Head-to-head reliability
Pontiac Solstice vs FORD F 150
How the Pontiac Solstice 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 Solstice vs FORD F 150: The Solstice has 726 complaints over 5 years (145/yr) with airbag issues dominating, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/yr) with transmission problems. The Solstice's airbag sensor failures can disable airbags, while the F-150's 10-speed transmission may shift hard or lose power. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Pontiac Solstice or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Pontiac Solstice
The Pontiac Solstice is a niche two-seat roadster that, in ownership terms, is more of a weekend toy than a daily driver. Its complaint record is dominated by airbag system issues, with 533 complaints, many tied to occupant classification sensor failures and ignition switch recalls that can disable airbags. Electrical gremlins, powertrain leaks, and brake light malfunctions also appear, suggesting a car that demands patience and attention to safety-critical systems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup and a common workhorse, but its reliability picture is mixed. With over 11,000 complaints in a decade, the most frequent issues involve the powertrain, especially the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners report for hard shifts, jerking, and even sudden power loss. Electrical system problems, including camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions, add to the list of potential headaches for a first-time buyer.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Pontiac Solstice | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 726 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 28 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 145.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 24 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 Solstice
- 01AIR BAGS533
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM76
- 03POWER TRAIN56
- 04SERVICE BRAKES52
- 05SEATS39
Owners report the passenger airbag sensor light coming on, often after ignition switch recall repairs, and dealers say the side airbags may not deploy if the sensor is faulty. This is a critical safety concern because the airbag system may not work in a crash.
Many complaints tie electrical issues to the ignition switch recall, with the passenger airbag sensor light staying on after the repair. This suggests the electrical system is prone to faults that affect safety systems.
The rear differential is reported to leak, even on low-mileage vehicles, which can lead to lubrication loss and potential failure if not addressed.
Brake lights randomly fail to illuminate when the pedal is pressed or stay on when released, confusing other drivers and increasing the risk of rear-end collisions.
“I PUTCHASED THE CAR ON NOVEMBER 25, 2015 FROM CYNTHIA WALKER. THE VEHICLE HAD 30,000 MI, EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION (I RECEIVED ALL PREVIOUS SERVICE RECORDS. IN AUGUST, 2016 I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND…”
“MY SOLSTICE IS PART OF THE IGNITION RECALL ID # 102546 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH. DURING THE REPAIR OF THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED OCT 13 2014.AND AFTER THE CAR WAS BROUGHT OUT TO ME I NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT HAD CAME ON. I NOTIF…”
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 sore spot, with owners describing hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power while driving, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Electrical issues often manifest as warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing every time the truck starts, indicating problems with driver-assistance sensors.
Headlight-related recalls and complaints suggest potential issues with visibility, which is critical for night driving safety.
Engine-related complaints and recalls point to possible performance or reliability problems, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample.
“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 Solstice — 22 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. The Passenger Air Bag Suppression System (PPS) sensor may become bent or damaged within the front passenger seat, possibly disabling the front passenger air bag.
The risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: The remedy for this recall is still under development. A permanent remedy is currently under development. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn customer service at 1-800…
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…
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 Solstice or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Pontiac Solstice has far fewer complaints per year (145.2) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), but its issues are heavily concentrated in airbag safety systems. The F-150's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the transmission problems are widespread and can affect drivability and safety.
Key differences
- The Solstice's airbag system is the top complaint area, with 533 complaints, often involving occupant sensor failures that can disable airbags.
- The F-150's powertrain issues, especially the 10-speed transmission, are the most common, with owners reporting hard shifts and sudden power loss.
- The Solstice has brake light malfunctions that can mislead other drivers, while the F-150 has electrical issues with driver-assist features like pre-collision assist.
- The Solstice has fewer complaints per year, but its issues are more safety-critical, whereas the F-150's problems are more about drivability and convenience.
- Check that all airbag recalls (especially the ignition switch and occupant sensor) have been performed and that the airbag light is off; if it comes on, the airbags may not deploy.
- Inspect the rear differential for leaks, as this is a common issue that can lead to costly repairs.
- Test drive the F-150 through various speeds and gears to feel for hard shifts or jerking, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears.
- Check for any warning messages on the dash, such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' which indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the Solstice, verify all recalls are completed, especially the ignition switch and airbag sensor recalls, and get a written confirmation from a dealer.
- For the F-150, ask for the transmission service history and consider an extended warranty that covers transmission repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Solstice's brake light switch and wiring to ensure proper function.
- For the F-150, check the battery and electrical system for any signs of corrosion or loose connections, as these can cause sensor malfunctions.
- Take both vehicles for an extended test drive, including highway speeds, to feel for any unusual vibrations, shifts, or warning lights.
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 Solstice or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Pontiac Solstice vs FORD F 150
- Pontiac Solstice total complaints
- 726
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Pontiac Solstice total recalls
- 22
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Pontiac Solstice avg complaints/year
- 145.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Pontiac Solstice
- Pontiac Solstice top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN