Head-to-head reliability
Rivian R1S vs FORD F 150
How the Rivian R1S 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 R1S vs FORD F 150: The Rivian R1S has 164 complaints over 5 years (about 33 per year), while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 over 10 years (about 1,162 per year). The F-150 also has more recalls (151 vs 44) and crash-related complaints (330 vs 24). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Rivian R1S or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Rivian R1S
The Rivian R1S is an electric SUV with a relatively short five-year complaint history, averaging about 33 complaints per year. Owners report issues with air bags, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, often involving unintended acceleration, screen failures, and braking problems. With 44 recalls and 24 crash-related complaints, it's a newer vehicle where software and electronic gremlins appear to be common. For a used buyer, this means potential for frequent dealer visits for software updates and hardware fixes.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a long-running, high-volume complaint record: over 11,600 complaints in 10 years, averaging about 1,162 per year. The most common trouble spots are the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting, with many owners reporting transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window shattering. With 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints, it's a workhorse that can be reliable but has known recurring issues. Buyers should be aware of potential costly repairs, especially on older models.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Rivian R1S | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 164 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 44 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 24 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 32.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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 R1S
- 01AIR BAGS36
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER35
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE23
- 05SEATS17
Owners report unintended acceleration where the vehicle accelerates despite braking, and infotainment screens going black, which can disable airbag and seatbelt alerts. These issues are scary because they affect basic control and safety warnings.
Complaints include sudden uncontrolled acceleration and deceleration, sometimes with no warning. This can lead to loss of control, and repeated repair attempts may not fix the problem.
Even with emergency braking enabled, some owners experienced rear-end collisions when the system didn't prevent a crash. This suggests the automatic braking may not always work as expected.
Some owners report stuck accelerators and repeated ineffective repairs at service centers. These vague but serious issues can leave you stranded or in danger.
“The contact owns a 2024 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while his wife was attempting to park in a parking space, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The brake pedal was violently depressed however the vehicle continued to accelerate. No warning lights…”
“While driving my Rivian R1S, 2025 at highway speeds, the infotainment screen went completely black, disabling the speedometer, blind spot monitoring, lane warnings, airbag/seatbelt alerts, and navigation. I had no access to critical safety information while t…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission problems like limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
The lead frame issue also appears here, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. Electrical glitches can leave you with a truck that won't drive properly.
A bizarre complaint is the rear window shattering spontaneously, possibly due to a defroster short. This is a safety hazard and a costly repair.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, this is a top component with many reports. Lighting failures can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
“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 R1S — 44 recalls
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2024 R1T and R1S vehicles. The dashboard air bag warning label may be missing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk: Without the dashboard label, operators may be unaware of the increased risks that an air bag poses to an infant or child in the front seat, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.
The fix: Rivian mailed owners the warning label information, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1429.
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 2025-2026 R1S and R1T vehicles. One or both front turn signals may fail to illuminate and flash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices,…
The risk: Turn signals that do not function properly increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Rivian will inspect and replace the front turn signals as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall i…
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1S and R1T vehicles that previously had service performed. The toe link may have been reassembled incorrectly during service procedures performed before March 10, 2025.
The risk: The toe link joint may separate, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Rivian will replace the rear toe link bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1794. Vehicle Iden…
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 R1S or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Rivian R1S has far fewer complaints per year (about 33) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,160). However, the Rivian's issues often involve critical safety systems like unintended acceleration and brake failures, while the F-150's problems are more widespread but sometimes less severe. In practice, the Rivian may need fewer repair visits but each could be serious, whereas the F-150 may have more frequent but varied issues.
Key differences
- The Rivian R1S has 164 complaints over 5 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 over 10 years, showing a massive difference in reported issues.
- Rivian complaints often involve unintended acceleration and brake failures, while Ford complaints frequently mention transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls versus 44 for the Rivian, indicating more widespread safety fixes over its longer history.
- Both have crash-related complaints, but the F-150 has 330 versus 24 for the Rivian, though the Rivian's rate per year is higher.
- Test the brakes and accelerator for any unintended acceleration or sticking, as owners report these issues.
- Check the infotainment screen for blackouts or failures, which can disable safety alerts.
- Test drive and check for transmission shuddering, limp mode, or getting stuck in gear, common power train complaints.
- Inspect the rear window for cracks or signs of shattering, and test the defroster for shorts.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- For the Rivian, ask about software update history and any service visits for electrical or acceleration issues.
- For the Ford, have a mechanic inspect the transmission and lead frame, especially on older models.
- Test drive both vehicles extensively, including highway speeds and parking maneuvers, to feel for any anomalies.
- Consider an extended warranty, as both vehicles can have costly repairs.
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 R1S | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 35 |
| 2025 | 54 | 345 |
| 2024 | 17 | 638 |
| 2023 | 75 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 4 | 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 R1S or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Rivian R1S vs FORD F 150
- Rivian R1S total complaints
- 164
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Rivian R1S total recalls
- 44
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Rivian R1S avg complaints/year
- 32.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Rivian R1S
- Rivian R1S top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN