Head-to-head reliability
Rivian EDV vs FORD F 150
How the Rivian EDV 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
Rivian EDV vs FORD F 150: The EDV has 39 complaints over 5 years (7.8/year) and 7 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162.1/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 330 crash-related complaints and 1 death. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Rivian EDV or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Rivian EDV
The Rivian EDV is an electric delivery van, often bought in fleets. Over five years, it has 39 complaints, about 7.8 per year, with 20 injuries and no deaths. The main pattern is seat belt pretensioner failures, plus some rear axle cracks and shifter breakage. These are serious but less frequent than the Ford F-150's issues.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with 11,621 complaints over ten years, averaging 1,162 per year. It has 151 recalls, 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death. Owners report recurring transmission limp mode, electrical glitches, and rear window shattering. The volume and variety of problems make it a higher-maintenance used truck.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Rivian EDV | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 39 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 20 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.
Rivian EDV
- 01SEAT BELTS27
- 02SUSPENSION4
- 03POWER TRAIN3
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
- 05STEERING2
Owners report the seat belt pretensioner cable snapping or the anchor pulling out of its plastic housing during normal buckling. This can leave the belt unable to restrain the driver in a crash, and it has happened repeatedly across vehicles.
Inspections have found vertical cracks in the rear axle, sometimes extending most of the way through the metal. A cracked axle can fail while driving, risking loss of control or a breakdown.
Fleet operators say the shift lever breaks off or fails to engage drive or reverse, leaving the van stranded. The lever is described as made of inferior materials, so it may fail without warning.
Complaints mention missing passenger-side airbags in some vans and an air conditioner that shuts off when the bulkhead door closes. These affect passenger safety and driver comfort during long shifts.
“During normal operation of the this vehicle, the seatbelt pretensioner cable snapped when the driver attempted to buckle the seatbelt. This is where the lap belt portion is attached to the seat. The cable is frayed and breaks. This same defect has occurred on…”
“During operation the seatbelt connection to the pretensioner fell apart. There is a plastic housing that the seatbelt anchor is connected to. That metal anchor came apart from inside of the plastic housing and could not be reconnected. Vehicle will need a new…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report the transmission suddenly enters limp mode, sticks in 5th gear, or fails to shift due to a lead frame or output speed sensor issue. This can happen on the highway and nearly caused collisions.
The same lead frame defect can cause electrical faults, and some trucks show speed sensor failures after recall software updates. These glitches can disable power or trigger limp mode unexpectedly.
A short in the rear window defroster has caused back windows to shatter outward with no impact. This creates a sudden safety hazard and expensive glass repair.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting problems are common, though specific failure text is not provided. Buyers should check all lights, as failures can affect visibility and safety.
“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.
Rivian EDV — 7 recalls
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022 R1T, R1S, and EDV vehicles. The fastener connecting the front upper control arm and steering knuckle may have been improperly tightened.
The risk: A loose steering knuckle fastener could separate, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the steering knuckle fastener, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 11, 2022. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this…
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 EDV vehicles. The driver's seat belt pretensioner cable may become damaged.
The risk: A damaged seat belt pretensioner cable may not restrain the occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update. In addition Rivian will inspect and replace the driver's seat belt pretensioner assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 16, 2026. Owne…
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2023-2024 EDV, R1S, and R1T vehicles. The headlights may be improperly aimed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
The risk: Improperly aimed headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, decreasing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Rivian will inspect and adjust the headlight alignment as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 28, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSA…
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 EDV vehicles. The driver's seat belt pretensioner cable may become damaged.
The risk: A damaged seat belt pretensioner cable may not restrain the occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Rivian has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update. In addition Rivian will inspect and replace the driver's seat belt pretensioner assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 16, 2026. Owne…
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
Rivian EDV or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Rivian EDV has far fewer issues per year (7.8 vs. 1,162.1), but its problems include serious seat belt and axle defects. The Ford F-150's much higher complaint rate means more frequent trips to the shop and a wider range of failures. In practice, the EDV is less likely to strand you overall, but any failure can be severe.
Key differences
- The Rivian EDV averages 7.8 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages 1,162.1 per year, a huge gap in reported problem frequency.
- Rivian EDV complaints center on seat belt pretensioners (27 of 39) and rear axle cracks, while Ford F-150 complaints are dominated by power train (3,648) and electrical (2,100) issues.
- The Ford F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 1 death, while the Rivian EDV has 0 crash-related and 0 deaths in the data.
- Both have recalls, but the Ford F-150 has 151 recalls versus 7 for the Rivian EDV, including repeated seat belt pretensioner recalls for both.
- Inspect the seat belt pretensioner cable and anchor on both front seats for fraying, snapping, or a loose plastic housing.
- Check the rear axle for any vertical cracks, especially on the driver side, and listen for unusual noises from the rear suspension.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for sudden limp mode, stuck gears, or delayed shifting that suggests lead frame or transmission problems.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for signs of shattering or electrical shorts, and check for any aftermarket fixes.
Before you buy
- Ask for the full NHTSA complaint and recall history for the specific vehicle by VIN.
- For the Rivian EDV, have a mechanic inspect the seat belts, pretensioners, rear axle, and shifter before purchase.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for transmission codes, test the lead frame recall status, and check the rear window defroster operation.
- Verify that all open recalls have been repaired, especially seat belt pretensioner recalls on both models.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to reveal transmission or shifter issues.
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 | Rivian EDV | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 2 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 30 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 7 | 3493 |
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 Rivian EDV or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Rivian EDV vs FORD F 150
- Rivian EDV total complaints
- 39
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Rivian EDV total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Rivian EDV avg complaints/year
- 7.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Rivian EDV
- Rivian EDV top complaint area
- SEAT BELTS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN