Head-to-head reliability
Rolls Royce Phantom vs FORD F 150
How the Rolls Royce Phantom 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
Rolls Royce Phantom vs FORD F 150: The Phantom has 0 complaints and 8 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls. F-150 owners report transmission jerking and electrical warnings; Phantom complaints are absent. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Rolls Royce Phantom or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Rolls Royce Phantom
The Rolls Royce Phantom is a low-volume luxury car with no owner complaints filed over the past decade, suggesting that when problems occur, they may be handled outside the public complaint system. Its eight recalls focus on backup camera and display issues, plus one seat belt recall, which are the main documented safety concerns. For a buyer, this means very little public data on long-term reliability, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is essential.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with over 11,000 complaints in ten years, averaging more than 1,100 per year. The most common trouble spots are the power train, electrical system, exterior lighting, and engine, with many owners reporting hard shifting, loss of power, and warning messages. Recalls are also frequent, covering headlights, battery cables, engine, and seat recliners. This suggests that while the F-150 is popular, it can demand more attention and repair visits than a typical buyer might expect.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Rolls Royce Phantom | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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.
Rolls Royce Phantom
No component data available.
Recalls have been issued for backup camera problems, which can affect rear visibility. A buyer should verify the camera works and check for any open recalls.
Multiple recalls address the display for the backup camera, which may fail to show an image. This matters because a blank screen can make reversing less safe.
A seat belt recall exists, though details are not provided. A buyer should confirm the recall was performed and that belts latch and retract properly.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power, often linked to the 10-speed automatic transmission. These symptoms can be dangerous if they occur in traffic.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission, popping sounds from the rear suspension, and warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These electrical glitches can distract the driver and may indicate deeper issues.
Headlight recalls and complaints about lighting failures are noted. Non-working lights reduce visibility and can lead to accidents or tickets.
Engine recalls and complaints exist, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample. Engine problems can be costly and may cause stalling or power loss.
“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.
Rolls Royce Phantom — 8 recalls
The defect: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd. (Rolls-Royce) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Rolls-Royce Phantom vehicles. The Central Information Display may not raise to the correct position, resulting in a rearview camera image that is partially blocked from view.
The risk: A partially blocked rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 28, 2021. Owners may contact Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877-3735.
The defect: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd. (Rolls-Royce) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Rolls-Royce Phantom vehicles. The Central Information Display may not raise to the correct position, resulting in a rearview camera image that is partially blocked from view.
The risk: A partially blocked rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 28, 2021. Owners may contact Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877-3735.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Co…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may c…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Co…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may c…
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
Rolls Royce Phantom or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Rolls Royce Phantom has far fewer reported issues per year (0 complaints vs. about 1,131 for the Ford F-150), but this may reflect lower production and different reporting habits. In practice, the F-150 has a well-documented pattern of transmission, electrical, and lighting problems that owners frequently face, while the Phantom has almost no public complaint history. The difference means a Phantom buyer has less data to rely on, while an F-150 buyer should be prepared for more frequent repairs.
Key differences
- The Phantom has zero owner complaints and eight recalls, mostly for backup camera and display issues, while the F-150 has over 11,000 complaints and 145 recalls covering many systems.
- F-150 owners frequently report transmission problems like hard shifts, jerking, and sudden power loss, which are not seen in Phantom complaints.
- Electrical gremlins in the F-150 include false warnings and strange noises, whereas the Phantom's electrical concerns are limited to recall subjects.
- The F-150 has crash-related complaints (328) and injuries (287), while the Phantom has none reported, though this may be due to lower exposure.
- Check for open recalls on the backup camera and display; ensure the camera shows a clear image and the screen works.
- Verify the seat belt recall was completed and that all belts latch, retract, and show no signs of wear.
- Test drive at various speeds to feel for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8 gears.
- Look for warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard and have the electrical system scanned.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- For the Phantom, confirm all recalls (camera, display, seat belts) have been addressed and test the backup camera.
- For the F-150, have a mechanic inspect the transmission for shifting issues and scan for stored error codes.
- Test all lights, including headlights, and check for recalls on exterior lighting.
- During a test drive, listen for unusual noises from the transmission or suspension and note any dashboard warnings.
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 | Rolls Royce Phantom | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 0 | 617 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 33 |
| 2019 | 0 | 36 |
| 2018 | 0 | 56 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Rolls Royce Phantom or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Rolls Royce Phantom vs FORD F 150
- Rolls Royce Phantom total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Rolls Royce Phantom total recalls
- 8
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Rolls Royce Phantom avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Rolls Royce Phantom
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN