Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Crosstrek vs FORD F 150
How the Subaru Crosstrek 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
Subaru Crosstrek vs FORD F 150: The Crosstrek averages 98.7 complaints per year over 10 years, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1. The F-150 has 145 recalls, including transmission and electrical issues, whereas the Crosstrek has 16, with top complaints about windshield cracks and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Crosstrek or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek is a compact crossover known for its all-wheel drive and car-like handling, but owner complaints over the past decade reveal a pattern of quality issues that can affect daily usability. The most frequent problems involve visibility and wipers, with many owners reporting spontaneous windshield cracks and shattered sunroofs, which can be alarming and costly. Electrical gremlins, such as unintended seat heating and engine start/stop malfunctions, also appear, along with engine and transmission concerns that sometimes trigger warning lights and loss of power. While these issues are not universal, they suggest that some Crosstreks may require more attention than expected for a vehicle in this class.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck that dominates its segment, but its high complaint volume—over 11,000 in ten years—points to significant reliability concerns, especially in the powertrain and electrical systems. Owners frequently report harsh shifting, clunking, and even sudden loss of power from the 10-speed automatic transmission, which can be dangerous in traffic. Electrical issues often manifest as camera and sensor malfunctions, disabling safety features like pre-collision assist. With 145 recalls and a fatality reported, the F-150's issues are more severe and widespread, making thorough inspection and service history verification crucial for potential buyers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Crosstrek | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 987 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 55 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 98.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 33 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.
Subaru Crosstrek
- 01VISIBILITY/WIPER287
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER225
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM152
- 04ENGINE115
- 05POWER TRAIN79
Owners report spontaneous windshield cracks, often starting from the inside, and sunroofs that shatter without warning, creating loud explosions and potential loss of control. These failures suggest weak glass and can be expensive to repair.
Complaints include heated seats turning on by themselves and getting dangerously hot, as well as engine start/stop malfunctions that may shut off the engine unexpectedly when opening the door or unbuckling the seatbelt. These issues can be annoying and pose safety risks.
Some owners experience sudden loss of acceleration, accompanied by warning lights like AT Oil Temp and Check Engine, even on brand-new vehicles with low mileage. This indicates potential transmission or engine control problems that could leave you stranded.
“The component that is compromised on my '23 Subaru Crosstrek Sport is the windshield. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Monday, Jan 13, 2025, a crack formed on my windshield. The crack happened on the inside of the vehicle. It was positione…”
“Overall I’m disappointed in the quality of the manufactured parts and accessories. It leads me to believe low grade materials were used in manufacturing this vehicle. My vehicle is brand new and has 2500 miles on it and the front windshield has a crack that i…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major sore point, with many reports of hard, jerky shifts, clunking noises, and even complete power loss while driving. These issues can be unpredictable and dangerous, especially in heavy traffic.
Frequent warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist unavailability appear on the dash, often from startup. These failures disable safety features and may indicate deeper electrical problems that are hard to diagnose.
Headlight issues are common enough to be a top complaint, with owners reporting failures that reduce visibility at night. This can be a safety hazard, especially on dark roads.
“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.
Subaru Crosstrek — 16 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Forester, 2008-2016 Impreza sedans, 2012-2016 Impreza station wagons, 2008-2014 WRX sedans (including STI), and 2013-2017 Crosstrek vehicles. Exposure to certain contaminants may cause the brake light switch to malfunction, preventing…
The risk: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly will not alert other drivers that the vehicle is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of crash.
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUE-90.
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
The risk: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek, Impreza, 2023-2024 Forester, and 2023 WRX vehicles. The front driveshaft assemblies' outer race may develop cracks and break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power while driving or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake engaged. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left and right front driveshafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Crosstrek and Impreza vehicles. Due to insufficient clearance, the instrument panel harness may contact the steering beam bracket, damaging the wire insulation and causing a short circuit.
The risk: A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the harness and install an additional clamp on the steering beam bracket. If damage is found, dealers will add protective tape or replace the instrument panel harness, as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of ch…
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
Subaru Crosstrek or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Subaru Crosstrek has far fewer complaints per year (98.7 vs 1,131.1) and fewer recalls (16 vs 145), indicating a lower likelihood of encountering major problems. While the Crosstrek has its own issues, they are less frequent and generally less severe than the F-150's transmission and electrical failures, making it a more reliable choice for most buyers.
Key differences
- The F-150 has over 10 times more complaints per year than the Crosstrek, with powertrain issues dominating, while the Crosstrek's top issue is windshield cracks.
- Transmission failures in the F-150 can cause sudden power loss, a serious safety concern, whereas Crosstrek engine issues are less frequent but still present.
- Electrical problems in the F-150 often disable safety features like pre-collision assist, while Crosstrek electrical issues are more about comfort features like heated seats.
- The F-150 has had 145 recalls over 10 years, compared to 16 for the Crosstrek, indicating more widespread factory defects.
- Inspect the windshield and sunroof for any existing cracks or signs of stress, as spontaneous breakage is a common complaint.
- Test the heated seats and engine start/stop function to ensure they operate correctly and don't activate unexpectedly.
- Take a thorough test drive, paying close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-6th gears, for any harshness or clunking.
- Check the dashboard for any warning lights related to camera or pre-collision systems, and verify they clear after a restart.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full service history and check for any open recalls on the specific VIN.
- For the Crosstrek, have a mechanic inspect the glass and sunroof seals for defects.
- For the F-150, get a transmission fluid analysis and have a trusted mechanic test drive to evaluate shift quality.
- Ask the seller if any transmission or electrical repairs have been done, and get documentation.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a dealer or independent shop specializing in the brand.
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 | Subaru Crosstrek | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 24 |
| 2025 | 43 | 329 |
| 2024 | 113 | 617 |
| 2023 | 34 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 30 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 114 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 68 | 33 |
| 2019 | 284 | 36 |
| 2018 | 194 | 56 |
| 2017 | 97 | 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 Subaru Crosstrek or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Crosstrek vs FORD F 150
- Subaru Crosstrek total complaints
- 987
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Subaru Crosstrek total recalls
- 16
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Subaru Crosstrek avg complaints/year
- 98.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Crosstrek
- Subaru Crosstrek top complaint area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN