Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Forester vs FORD F 150
How the Subaru Forester 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 Forester vs FORD F 150: The Forester averages 305 complaints per year with 17 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150's top issue is power train failures like transmission limp mode, whereas the Forester's top issue is visibility/wiper problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Forester or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is a compact SUV that averages about 305 complaints per year over the past decade, with 17 recalls. The most common owner-reported trouble spots are visibility and wiper issues, electrical glitches, and engine oil leaks. While it has far fewer complaints than the Ford F-150, the Forester still has notable patterns like windshield cracking and sudden electrical failures that can leave you stranded.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that generates roughly 1,162 complaints per year, with 151 recalls over the same period. Power train problems dominate, especially transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, along with electrical and lighting issues. These are not just minor annoyances—some owners report near-collisions and sudden loss of power, making pre-purchase checks critical.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Forester | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,050 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 176 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 305.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 99 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
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 Forester
- 01VISIBILITY/WIPER992
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER544
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM476
- 04ENGINE319
- 05AIR BAGS313
Owners frequently report windshields that crack or shatter unexpectedly, sometimes from small impacts like a thrown bottle, sending glass into the cabin. This is a safety concern because it can impair your view and cause injury while driving.
Complaints include side mirrors melting, multiple dashboard lights flashing, and the vehicle dying and failing to restart. These electrical faults can leave you stranded and may affect critical systems like the 'EyeSight' driver-assist warnings.
Some owners report oil leaks after routine oil changes, and in at least one case, oil leaked onto the catalytic converter and caused a fire. This means you should check for leaks and monitor oil levels closely, as engine fires are rare but serious.
Reports include a hard plastic HVAC duct in the driver-side footwell that can interfere with pedals, and sudden unexpected acceleration while parking. These are unpredictable issues that could lead to a crash if they occur.
“I was driving down the road and a bottle was thrown out of a vehicle going the opposite direction as me. Upon impact my windshield shattered and sent shards of glass flying into the cabin of my vehicle. The shards of glass were thrown into my face and would h…”
“Windshield cracked during rainstorm [XXX] in San Diego in upper right corner, After 3 days crack appeared which has now spread to 4 inches Dealer has confirmed that winsheild needs reapir and is not covered by bumper to bumber warranty Vehicle only has mileag…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The most common complaint is transmission problems, especially a 'lead frame' issue that causes limp mode, stuck gears, and sudden loss of power. Owners describe near-collisions and daily driving difficulties, making this a major reliability and safety concern.
Electrical issues often tie back to the same lead frame problem, causing limp mode and error codes like P0722. There are also reports of rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the back window, which is a surprising and dangerous failure.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting problems are common, though specific failure details are not in the sample. This matters because lighting failures can reduce visibility and increase crash risk, especially at night.
Engine complaints are less frequent than power train issues but still present, with 880 reports. While the sample text does not detail specific engine failures, the high number suggests buyers should have the engine thoroughly inspected.
“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.
Subaru Forester — 17 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2024 Forester vehicles. The engine water pipe may have loose attachment bolts, allowing the pipe to lose its seal and leak coolant.
The risk: Leaking coolant can contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Subarus independent distributor processing facilities will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts. The affected vehicles have not been delivered to dealers or sold to owners and therefore, no owner notification letters will be sent. Owne…
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, 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. 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.
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
Subaru Forester or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Subaru Forester has far fewer complaints per year (305 vs. 1,162) and fewer recalls (17 vs. 151), suggesting it may be less troublesome overall. However, the Ford F-150's issues are more often severe, like transmission limp mode that can cause sudden power loss. In practice, the Forester may mean fewer shop visits, but the F-150's problems can be more dangerous when they occur.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has nearly four times as many complaints per year as the Subaru Forester, with power train issues like transmission limp mode being the top problem.
- Subaru Forester owners most often report visibility/wiper problems like cracking windshields, while Ford F-150 owners report transmission and electrical failures that can cause sudden power loss.
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls versus 17 for the Forester, indicating more frequent safety-related fixes over the decade.
- Both vehicles have reports of fires or shattering glass, but the F-150's lead frame issue is a recurring, well-known defect that can leave you stranded or in a dangerous situation.
- Inspect the windshield for any chips or cracks, especially near the edges, as owners report spontaneous cracking and shattering.
- Check for oil leaks around the engine, particularly on the right side, and look for any signs of oil on the catalytic converter or burning smells.
- Test drive the truck extensively and watch for transmission shuddering, delayed engagement, or going into limp mode; ask if the lead frame has been replaced.
- Check the rear window defroster operation and inspect the back window for any cracks or signs of shattering, as shorts have caused windows to explode.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Ford F-150's lead frame and transmission software recalls.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the Forester's windshield, electrical system, and engine leaks, and the F-150's transmission, electrical system, and rear window.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or hesitation; for the F-150, specifically test highway speeds to check for limp mode.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and oil change history on the Forester.
- Verify that any outstanding recalls have been completed, as some fixes like the F-150's lead frame may require dealer software updates or part replacements.
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 Forester | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 33 | 35 |
| 2025 | 95 | 345 |
| 2024 | 29 | 638 |
| 2023 | 73 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 98 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 207 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 600 | 44 |
| 2019 | 833 | 52 |
| 2018 | 496 | 79 |
| 2017 | 586 | 59 |
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 Forester or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Forester vs FORD F 150
- Subaru Forester total complaints
- 3,050
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Subaru Forester total recalls
- 17
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Subaru Forester avg complaints/year
- 305.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Forester
- Subaru Forester top complaint area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN