Head-to-head reliability

Porsche Cayenne vs FORD F 150

How the Porsche Cayenne and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Porsche Cayenne123 complaints · 28 recalls Fewer issues per year
FORD F 15027,559 complaints · 141 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Porsche Cayenne averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Porsche Cayenne has 123 complaints and 28 recalls on record; FORD F 150 has 27,559 complaints and 141 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryPorsche CayenneFORD F 150
Total complaintsAll model years combined123 Better27,559
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns28 Better141
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints4 Better762
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years12.3 Better2755.9
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints2 Better714
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better10

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 Cayenne

  1. 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER32
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31
  3. 03AIR BAGS21
  4. 04ENGINE18
  5. 05POWER TRAIN15
In owners' words — UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My 2020 Porsche Cayenne has experienced leather dashboard delamination, with the leather separating, shrinking, and lifting from the dashboard substrate on both the driver and passenger sides. The delamination extends across the upper dashboard, including are…

In-car entertainment, transmissions controls, audio controls, climate controls (front and rear) , car will shut off without turning the key in off position, often times the vehicle will just terminate a call with no warning - no explantion, the rear camera on…

FORD F 150

  1. 01POWER TRAIN9,972
  2. 02ENGINE4,861
  3. 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,475
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,212
  5. 05STRUCTURE1,486
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

When I am parking the truck, I press and hold the brake pedal, While the truck shifter in in "Drive", I press the start/stop button to shut truck down, the shifter gets stuck in "drive" and doesn't automatically shift in to park. The truck locks down and will…

My truck is a 2025 Ford F150 STX with 5,900 miles on it. This truck was purchased new at River City Ford in Lavalette, WV The component in questions seems to be involved with the turbos and more specifically the wastegate that attached to the turbos. Also, ye…

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 Cayenne — 28 recalls

Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Cooling Unit And Lines
#20V271000

The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2020 Cayenne vehicles. An insufficient weld on a transmission oil pipe may cause the vehicle to leak automatic transmission fluid (ATF).

The risk: If transmission fluid leaks while driving, the road surface may be made slippery, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission oil pipe and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2020. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number…

Seats
#21V318000May 2021

The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2021 Cayenne GTS, Cayenne GTS Coupe, 2020-2021 Cayenne Coupe, Cayenne S Coupe, Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe vehicles. The passenger seat back heating element was not installed and may impact the calibration of the Occupant Classification Sys…

The risk: The front passenger air bag may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will install a heating element, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMB0.

Electrical System — Instrument Cluster/Panel
#19V735000

The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2017 Panamera 4, Panamera Turbo, Panamera Turbo Executive, 2017-2018 Panamera, Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera 4S, 2018 Panamera Turbo S Hybrid, Panamera 4 Hybrid Sport Turismo, Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, Panamera Turbo S Hybrid Sport T…

The risk: If the driver is not alerted when brake pads are worn out, the vehicle may not respond as expected when braking, increasing the risk of crash.

The fix: Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall is began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AKB8.…

Back Over Prevention — Sensing System — Camera
#25V896000

The defect: Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2019-2025 Cayenne, Cayenne E-Hybrid, 2020-2025 911, Taycan, 2024-2025 Panamera, and 2025 Panamera E-Hybrid vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to compl…

The risk: A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will update the driver assistance software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is ASB2. Vehicle…

FORD F 150 — 141 recalls

Electrical System — Integrated Trailer Brake Control
#26V104000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may los…

The risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…

Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Oil/Lubrication
#24V851000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.

The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th…

Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Fluid/Lubricant — Valves/Valve Body
#25V164000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.

The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.

Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Oil/Lubrication
#25V198000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.

The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…

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.

YearPorsche CayenneFORD F 150
202639
20250320
20245600
202351448
202233292
2021174939
2020212530
2019415718
2018135505
2017153198
Years to scrutinize: the 2019 Porsche Cayenne drew the most complaints (41); the 2019 FORD F 150 drew the most (5,718). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Cayenne or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Porsche Cayenne vs FORD F 150 — comparison facts
Comparison
Porsche Cayenne vs FORD F 150
Porsche Cayenne total complaints
123
FORD F 150 total complaints
27,559
Porsche Cayenne total recalls
28
FORD F 150 total recalls
141
Porsche Cayenne avg complaints/year
12.3
FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
2755.9
More reliable overall
Porsche Cayenne
Porsche Cayenne top complaint area
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FORD F 150 top complaint area
POWER TRAIN