Head-to-head reliability
Porsche 718 Cayman vs FORD F 150
How the Porsche 718 Cayman 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 Cayman vs FORD F 150: The 718 Cayman averages 1.1 complaints per year with 7 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints per year with 151 recalls. The F-150 also has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, versus 0 and 2 for the Cayman. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Porsche 718 Cayman or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Porsche 718 Cayman
The Porsche 718 Cayman is a low-volume sports car, averaging just 1.1 complaints per year over nine years. Owners report issues like exhaust burns, engine faults, and CV joint grease leaks, but the overall complaint count is small. With 7 recalls and 2 injuries reported, it's a niche vehicle where problems tend to be mechanical and design-related rather than widespread.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with an average of 1,162 complaints per year over ten years. Owners frequently report transmission problems, electrical glitches, and rear window shattering. With 151 recalls, 330 crash-related complaints, and 297 injuries, the F-150 has a much higher volume of reported issues, though it's also far more common on the road.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Porsche 718 Cayman | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 10 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.1 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 297 |
| 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 Cayman
- 01ENGINE5
- 02POWER TRAIN3
- 03SEAT BELTS3
- 04SEATS1
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
Owners report serious burns from the protruding central exhaust pipe, and one owner experienced an engine fault error with loss of responsiveness shortly after delivery. These issues can cause injury or sudden power loss, so buyers should check for exhaust placement and any stored fault codes.
Complaints include a failed CV joint grease boot clamp causing grease leaks, and a clutch master cylinder return line disconnecting from the brake fluid reservoir. These can lead to loss of lubrication or brake fluid, potentially affecting drivability and safety.
Owners report passenger-side seat belt retractor issues, including looseness and rattling noises. A faulty retractor may not secure occupants properly in a crash, so test belt operation and listen for unusual sounds.
One complaint mentions a passenger-side seat issue, though details are limited. It's worth inspecting seat adjustment and mounting for any looseness or malfunction.
“I SUSTAINED SERIOUS BURNS TO MY CALF FROM MY THE EXHAUSTS ON MY 2014 BOXSTER S, AND MY 2017 CAYMAN, ON TWO OCCASIONS. BOTH CARS SUFFER FROM THE SAME DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT: AN EXCESSIVELY PROTRUDING CENTRAL EXHAUST PIPE. THE FIRST INJURY WAS SUSTAINED ON FEB…”
“I received delivery of my vehicle this morning and put about 20 miles on it when I received an engine fault error and my vehicle check engine light came on while accelerating from a stop to about 15 mph before the issue occurred. I lost responsiveness and my…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe a 'lead frame' issue causing transmission problems, including limp mode and getting stuck in 5th gear, with one owner reporting a near-collision. Another complaint notes an output speed sensor failure leading to highway limp mode. These can leave you stranded or cause sudden loss of power.
The same lead frame problem is also reported under electrical, and one owner had a rear window defroster short that caused the back window to shatter. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and expensive to trace.
A complaint about the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster highlights a potential safety hazard. Buyers should check for any signs of window stress or defroster malfunction.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting issues are common, though specific details aren't provided in the sample. Inspect all lights for condensation, flickering, or failure.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
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 Cayman — 7 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 2018 718 Boxster, Boxster S and Boxster GTS, 718 Cayman, Cayman S and Cayman GTS, 911 Carrera, Carrera T, Targa 4 GTS, Carrera 4, Carrera S, Carrera 4S, Carrera GTS, Carrera 4 GTS, Carrera Cabriolet, Carrera S Cabriolet, Carrera 4S Cab…
The risk: In the event of a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the air bag sensors, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 17, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKA4.
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
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 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 and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Porsche 718 Cayman or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Porsche 718 Cayman has far fewer issues per year (1.1 vs. 1,162.1), but that's partly because it's a low-production sports car. The Ford F-150's higher complaint volume means you're more likely to encounter problems, especially with the transmission and electrical system, but parts and service are more widely available.
Key differences
- The 718 Cayman averages 1.1 complaints per year; the F-150 averages 1,162.1 per year, a massive difference in reported issue frequency.
- F-150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures; 718 Cayman owners report exhaust burns and CV joint grease leaks.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries; the 718 Cayman has 0 crash-related complaints and 2 injuries.
- Both have recalls for air bags and fuel system/engine issues, but the F-150 has 151 recalls versus 7 for the 718 Cayman.
- Check the central exhaust pipe for excessive protrusion that could cause burns, and look for any signs of heat damage on the rear bumper.
- Inspect the rear CV joint boots for grease leaks or torn clamps, and test the clutch pedal and brake fluid reservoir for proper connection.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for sudden limp mode or harsh shifting, which can indicate lead frame or output speed sensor issues.
- Inspect the rear window for cracks or stress marks, and test the defroster for proper operation to avoid potential shattering.
Before you buy
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with the specific model.
- Check for open recalls by VIN on the NHTSA website and confirm they've been remedied.
- Review the vehicle's complaint history on NHTSA.gov for your model year.
- For the 718 Cayman, test seat belts and seats for proper function and listen for rattles.
- For the F-150, scan for transmission trouble codes and test all electrical components, including lights and defroster.
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 Cayman | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 2 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 2019 | 1 | 52 |
| 2018 | 0 | 79 |
| 2017 | 5 | 59 |
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 Cayman or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Porsche 718 Cayman vs FORD F 150
- Porsche 718 Cayman total complaints
- 10
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Porsche 718 Cayman total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Porsche 718 Cayman avg complaints/year
- 1.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Porsche 718 Cayman
- Porsche 718 Cayman top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN