Head-to-head reliability
Porsche 718 Boxster vs FORD F 150
How the Porsche 718 Boxster 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
Porsche 718 Boxster vs FORD F 150: The Boxster has 7 complaints over 9 years (0.8/yr) versus 11,311 for the F-150 (1,131/yr). The Boxster's issues include brake failure and transmission mis-shifts, while the F-150 suffers from transmission and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Porsche 718 Boxster or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Porsche 718 Boxster
The Porsche 718 Boxster is a low-volume sports car with a modest complaint rate of about 0.8 per year, suggesting that most owners enjoy trouble-free operation. However, the complaints that do exist point to serious issues: brake-related problems, a transmission that can start in the wrong gear, and premature tire wear. These are not just annoyances; they can affect safety and cost of ownership. Overall, it's a vehicle that demands attention to specific known issues but is not plagued by widespread problems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with a much higher complaint rate, averaging over 1,100 per year. The dominant issue is the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners report for hard shifting, jerking, and even sudden power loss. Electrical system problems are also common, including camera and sensor malfunctions. With 145 recalls and numerous crash and injury reports, the F-150 shows a pattern of more frequent and varied reliability concerns that could affect daily usability and safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Porsche 718 Boxster | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Porsche 718 Boxster
- 01SERVICE BRAKES2
- 02POWER TRAIN1
- 03VISIBILITY/WIPER1
- 04WHEELS1
- 05SEAT BELTS1
Owners report engine shutdowns while driving, which can disable power brakes and increase stopping distances. This is a critical safety issue that could lead to a crash.
The PDK transmission has been known to start in 2nd gear instead of 1st, making slow-speed maneuvers like entering traffic dangerous due to sluggish acceleration.
A loud bang and shattered side mirror suggest possible glass or mirror defects, which can impair visibility and create hazards.
Rear tires wearing bald after only 5,000 miles, even with proper alignment and no aggressive driving, indicates a possible suspension or tire defect that leads to premature replacement costs.
“I was traveling North on the 127 expressway in Michigan on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in my brand new Porsche Boxster. It is a manual transmission. There was not a lot of traffic. It was maybe around 4:00 pm and the weather was fine. In the distance I could see…”
“Engine shuts off while the car is being driven and will not restart.”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners experiencing hard shifts, jerks, clunks, and even sudden loss of power while driving, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Electrical issues include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist being unavailable, which can disable safety features and cause driver distraction.
Headlight problems are common, potentially reducing visibility at night and increasing the risk of accidents.
Engine-related complaints are frequent, though the sample text focuses on transmission issues; owners report various engine problems that can lead to stalling or performance issues.
“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.
Porsche 718 Boxster — 9 recalls
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017-2019 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman and 718 Cayman S vehicles and 2018-2019 718 Boxster GTS and 2018-2019 718 Cayman GTS vehicles. In the event of a crash, a crossmember may detach from the luggage compartment bracket, pos…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of fire.
The fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will secure the crossmember with additional rivets, free of charge. The recall began April 19, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is…
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera 4, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Targa 4, 911 Targa 4S + GTS, 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman,…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will install improved fastening screws, free of charge. The recall began March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AH01.
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain model year 2017 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, 718 Cayman S, 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Turbo, 911 Turbo S, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, and 911 Turbo Cabriolet vehicles. The seat mou…
The risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the side air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AG10.
The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 911 Carrera Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Targa S, 911 Targa 4S, 911 Turbo Cabriolet, 718 Boxter and 718 Boxter S vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not…
The risk: In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will rebond the windshield, free of charge. The recall began on May 12, 2016. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for the recall is AH04.
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
Porsche 718 Boxster or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Porsche 718 Boxster has far fewer complaints per year (0.8) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Boxster's problems, such as brake failure and transmission misbehavior, are serious safety concerns. In practice, the Boxster may offer a more reliable ownership experience, but the F-150's issues are more widespread and varied, affecting more owners.
Key differences
- The Boxster has a much lower complaint rate (0.8/yr) than the F-150 (1,131.1/yr), indicating fewer reported problems per vehicle.
- The Boxster's issues are concentrated in brakes, transmission, and tires, while the F-150's are dominated by transmission and electrical system failures.
- The F-150 has a higher number of crash-related complaints (328) and injuries (287) compared to the Boxster (1 crash, 0 injuries), suggesting more severe safety incidents.
- The Boxster's transmission can start in the wrong gear, a unique safety hazard, while the F-150's transmission often shifts hard or loses power, also dangerous.
- Inspect the brake system for any signs of engine shutdown or loss of power assist; test drive to ensure the engine doesn't stall.
- Check the PDK transmission for proper gear selection, especially when starting from a stop in sport mode.
- Test the 10-speed transmission for hard shifts or jerks, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and listen for clunks.
- Check for electrical warnings on the dash, such as front camera malfunction or pre-collision assist errors, and have the battery and wiring inspected.
Before you buy
- For the Boxster: Have a mechanic inspect the brake system and engine shutdown issues; test the transmission in all modes.
- For the F-150: Take a thorough test drive to feel for transmission shifts; check for any warning lights.
- Review the recall history for both vehicles and ensure all recalls have been performed.
- Check tire wear on the Boxster; on the F-150, inspect the electrical system and battery condition.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist for each model.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Porsche 718 Boxster | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 1 | 617 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 2 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 33 |
| 2019 | 0 | 36 |
| 2018 | 0 | 56 |
| 2017 | 3 | 43 |
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 Porsche 718 Boxster or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Porsche 718 Boxster vs FORD F 150
- Porsche 718 Boxster total complaints
- 7
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Porsche 718 Boxster total recalls
- 9
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Porsche 718 Boxster avg complaints/year
- 0.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Porsche 718 Boxster
- Porsche 718 Boxster top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN