Head-to-head reliability

SAAB 9 2X vs FORD F 150

How the SAAB 9 2X and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

SAAB 9 2X121 complaints · 11 recalls Fewer issues per year
FORD F 15011,102 complaints · 144 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

SAAB 9 2X averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. SAAB 9 2X has 121 complaints and 11 recalls on record; FORD F 150 has 11,102 complaints and 144 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.

CategorySAAB 9 2XFORD F 150
Total complaintsAll model years combined121 Better11,102
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns11 Better144
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints2 Better319
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years24.2 Better1110.2
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints1 Better287
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better1

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.

SAAB 9 2X

  1. 01AIR BAGS54
  2. 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM27
  3. 03SUSPENSION17
  4. 04FUEL SYSTEM14
  5. 05GASOLINE14
In owners' words — AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL RECENTLY FROM GM THAT SAID I NEEDED TO MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT TO GET THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR REPLACED. IT SAID TO GO TO MY.GM.COM/RECALLS AND ENTER MY VIN. I DID THAT AND IT SHOWED TWO RECALLS: ONE FOR T…

THIS IS FOR TWO EVENTS: 1) I PURCHASED VEH NEW IN 2006. IN 2012 I HAD JUST SERVICED W/OIL CHANGE, CHECK UP AT 51000 MI. ONE MORNING, ENGINE MADE A SOUND LIKE PEBBLES HITTING IT, BEGAN TO SMOKE LIKE ON FIRE, ALL LIGHTS CAME ON, ENGINE CEASED. I HAD TO TOW THE…

FORD F 150

  1. 01POWER TRAIN3,492
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,052
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,380
  4. 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,150
  5. 05ENGINE828
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

Vehicle Safety Hazard & Recall Remedy Denial Recall: 26S28 / NHTSA Campaign 26V237 Summary of Issue: I am experiencing active, unsafe vehicle symptoms directly tied to Recall 26S28, including intermittent transmission signal loss, warning lights, and abrupt d…

I. Vehicle Purchase and Maintenance History In September 2020, I purchased this 2020 Ford F-150 new. II. Chronology of Defect and Repair Attempts Around 33,000 miles, the vehicle began exhibiting severe excessive oil consumption, an audible engine noise, and…

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.

SAAB 9 2X — 11 recalls

Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module
#20V003000Feb 2020

The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa…

The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373…

Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module
#20V001000Feb 2020

The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawa…

The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru cust…

Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module
#20V002000Feb 2020

The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columb…

The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373…

Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module
#20V001000Feb 2020

The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawa…

The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru cust…

FORD F 150 — 144 recalls

Tires — Bead
#19V903000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 trucks equipped with 17-inch spare tires. The spare tire could have been damaged when it was installed on the rim.

The risk: The damage can cause the tire to rapidly lose air pressure or detach from the wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spare tire, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S55.

Exterior Lighting — Headlights
#20V097000

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.

Electrical System — 12v/24v/48v Battery — Cables
#19V805000Dec 2019

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…

Back Over Prevention — Sensing System — Camera
#20V575000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or dist…

The risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may…

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 SAAB 9 2X or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

SAAB 9 2X vs FORD F 150 — comparison facts
Comparison
SAAB 9 2X vs FORD F 150
SAAB 9 2X total complaints
121
FORD F 150 total complaints
11,102
SAAB 9 2X total recalls
11
FORD F 150 total recalls
144
SAAB 9 2X avg complaints/year
24.2
FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
1110.2
More reliable overall
SAAB 9 2X
SAAB 9 2X top complaint area
AIR BAGS
FORD F 150 top complaint area
POWER TRAIN