Head-to-head reliability
Rolls Royce Spectre vs FORD F 150
How the Rolls Royce Spectre 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 Spectre vs FORD F 150: the Spectre has 0 complaints and 5 recalls over 3 years, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints, 151 recalls, and 330 crash-related reports over 10 years. The F-150's owner reports focus on transmission limp mode and electrical faults. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Rolls Royce Spectre or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Rolls Royce Spectre
The Rolls Royce Spectre is a low-volume electric luxury coupe, and in three years of NHTSA data it has zero owner complaints on file. That sounds ideal, but it also means there is no real-world complaint history to learn from. Instead, the record shows five recalls, all tied to electrical, propulsion, stability-control, and brake-assist modules. For a buyer, this points to a complex, software-heavy car where problems may surface as recall campaigns rather than owner complaints.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with 11,621 complaints over ten years, averaging about 1,162 per year. The complaint pattern is dominated by power train and electrical issues, especially transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear-window defroster shorts. There are also 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and one death in the data. This is a widely used truck with a long, well-documented list of recurring problems owners actually report.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Rolls Royce Spectre | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Rolls Royce Spectre
No component data available.
Recalls cover electrical and propulsion-system faults, which in an electric car can mean sudden loss of drive or charging problems. Buyers should confirm all recall work is completed before purchase.
Multiple recalls involve the ESC system and its control module. If ESC fails, the car may not intervene in a skid, so a buyer should verify the stability-control software and module are up to date.
A recall covers the electric brake power-assist control module. A failure here could make the brake pedal harder to press, so any used Spectre should have this recall closed out.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report recurring transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures. One owner said a lead frame issue 'nearly ended my life' after a near collision, and another described daily limp-mode episodes in a 2017 V8 with the 6-speed automatic.
Electrical complaints often overlap with the same lead frame problem, plus an output speed sensor failure that triggered highway limp mode and code P0722. A separate owner reported the rear window exploding outward after the defroster shorted, which is a serious safety concern.
This category includes the rear-window defroster short that led to the back window shattering. Because the cause was not clearly grouped elsewhere, buyers should specifically ask whether the rear defroster or window has ever been repaired.
Exterior lighting is one of the top complaint areas, though the sample text does not describe a specific failure. Buyers should still check all lights, including brake and reverse lights, for intermittent operation.
“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.
Rolls Royce Spectre — 5 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2025 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (A…
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between June and December 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 Rolls Royce Spectre electric vehicles. The ground connection cable between the front electric motor and the vehicle chassis may contain adhesive residue which can increase electrical resistance and cause an insufficient ground.
The risk: An insufficient electrical ground can increase the risk of electric shock during service work, and also increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the ground cable connection and remove any residue as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 29, 2024. Owners may contact Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877-3735.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2025 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (A…
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between June and December 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877…
The defect: BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 X1, 2024-2025 X5, 2025 X6, 2023-2025 X7, 740i, 760i, 2024 XM, 530i, 540i, i7, 750e, X2, 2024-2025 i5, 2024 Rolls Royce Spectre, 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4, JCW Countryman ALL4, and 2025 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S) vehicles. Pleas…
The risk: A loss of brake power assist or rear brake function can result in extended stopping distance. A loss of ABS or DSC can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 13, 2024. Owners can contact BMW Customer Service at 1-800-525-7417.
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
Rolls Royce Spectre or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Rolls Royce Spectre has far fewer issues per year on paper: 0 complaints per year versus about 1,162 per year for the Ford F-150. In practice, the Spectre's record is mostly recall-based rather than owner-reported, so it is not necessarily trouble-free, just less documented. The F-150 has a long, repeated pattern of transmission, electrical, and window problems that owners describe in detail.
Key differences
- The Spectre has 0 complaints and 5 recalls over 3 years, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls over 10 years.
- F-150 owners repeatedly report transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures; the Spectre has no owner complaint text, only recall subjects.
- The F-150 data includes 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the Spectre data shows 0 in each of those categories.
- Spectre recalls center on electrical, propulsion, stability-control, and brake-assist modules, while F-150 recalls include engine, seat belts, door latches, and air bag inflators.
- Confirm every recall is closed, especially the electrical/propulsion, ESC, and electric brake power-assist control module campaigns.
- Ask for a software and module health check, since the Spectre's issues appear as recall campaigns rather than owner complaints.
- Test drive at highway speed and check for limp mode, stuck gears, or delayed shifting, which owners link to lead frame and output speed sensor failures.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for signs of overheating or prior replacement, because one owner reported the back window exploding after a defroster short.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN through NHTSA to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were repaired.
- For the F-150, ask for transmission service records and scan for code P0722 or other speed-sensor codes before buying.
- For the Spectre, ask the dealer to print a module software status report and verify the ESC and brake-assist recalls are closed.
- On any F-150 test drive, include a highway stretch and watch for sudden limp mode, rough shifting, or warning lights.
- On either vehicle, check the rear window and defroster operation, and on the F-150 specifically look for prior window replacement or shattering.
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 Spectre | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
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 Spectre or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Rolls Royce Spectre vs FORD F 150
- Rolls Royce Spectre total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Rolls Royce Spectre total recalls
- 5
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Rolls Royce Spectre avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Rolls Royce Spectre
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN