Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Impreza vs FORD F 150
How the Subaru Impreza 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 Impreza vs FORD F 150: The Impreza averages 62.4 complaints per year with 25 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints per year with 151 recalls. The F-150's complaints often involve transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, whereas the Impreza's cluster around windshields and lighting. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Impreza or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Impreza
The Subaru Impreza is a compact car that averages about 62 complaints per year over the past decade, with 25 recalls. Owner reports cluster around visibility and wiper issues, exterior lighting, and electrical problems, including windshields cracking spontaneously and headlights that owners say don't light the road well. There are also reports of stalling, dash failures, and even a fire tied to a battery defect, so it's not a trouble-free car, but the volume of complaints is far lower than the Ford F-150's.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that generates about 1,162 complaints per year, with 151 recalls over the same period. The dominant theme is powertrain trouble, especially transmission limp mode, harsh shifting, and a recurring 'lead frame' issue that owners say has persisted for over a decade. Electrical problems, including rear-window defroster shorts that can shatter the glass, and engine concerns round out the picture. With 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries reported, the stakes are higher when things go wrong.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Impreza | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 624 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 25 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 28 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 62.4 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 20 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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 Impreza
- 01VISIBILITY/WIPER176
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING164
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER100
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM61
- 05ENGINE42
Owners report windshields cracking spontaneously, often from the defroster area in a 'J' shape, sometimes more than once on the same car. This matters because a cracked windshield can impair vision and may require recalibration of driver-assist cameras, adding cost and hassle.
Complaints include headlights that fail to provide adequate illumination at night, and some owners describe steering that feels loose or causes the car to jerk side to side. Poor lighting and vague steering can make night driving and emergency maneuvers less predictable.
Reports range from the entire dashboard going dark at low mileage to a 2022 Impreza catching fire due to a defective battery. Electrical failures can disable safety warnings and leave you stranded, and a fire risk is a serious safety concern.
Some owners report the vehicle losing power and stalling, especially when making turns, and dealers sometimes can't reproduce the problem. A stalling engine in traffic is dangerous and can be hard to diagnose, so a pre-purchase inspection should look for stored codes and service history.
“JULY 09 2021 REPORTED TO SUBARU EL PASO AT TIME OF FIRST MAINTENANCE (6000 MILES) VEHICLE LOSSES POWER AND STALLS WHEN MAKING TURNS, IT IS MORE NOTICEABLE MAKING A LEFT TURN. TECHNICIAN SAID COUDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NO FURTER ACTION WAS NEEDED. HOWEV…”
“Front windshield spontaneous cracking from defroster area in a "J" shape. This is the second windshield since new to do this (2021 model). Available for inspection. The first windshield was inspected and replaced by Subaru at their cost minus eyesight recalib…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe recurring transmission problems: limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, harsh shifting, and a 'lead frame' issue that one owner said nearly ended their life. These failures can leave you without power on the highway and often require expensive repairs.
Complaints include the same lead frame problem affecting electrical signals, plus a rear-window defroster short that caused the back glass to shatter outward. Electrical gremlins can trigger limp mode or glass breakage, both of which are safety and cost concerns.
This category includes the rear-window defroster short and exploding back window, as well as other miscellaneous failures. A shattered rear window while driving is a sudden hazard that can distract or injure occupants.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting issues are common, though the sample text doesn't detail specific symptoms. Buyers should still check all lights, including brake and turn signals, because lighting failures affect visibility and signaling to other drivers.
“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 Impreza — 25 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Impreza vehicles. The left-front lower control arm weld may fail, allowing the control arm to separate from the crossmember.
The risk: A separated control arm may cause the tire to contact the wheel well, resulting in a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the control arm as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen.
The risk: A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly, increasing risk of crash.
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, tighten the nut, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is W…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Impreza and Outback vehicles. The incorrect paint clearcoat may have been applied, which can cause the windshield to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehi…
The risk: An insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Subaru will offer owners a vehicle exchange or repurchase, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 21, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this rec…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Impreza vehicles. The brake light switch may be improperly adjusted and illuminate the brake lights without application of the brake pedal. The vehicle may also allow drivers to start and shift the transmission out of the PARK position with…
The risk: An unintentional brake light illumination can fail to alert other motorists of actual brake application. A vehicle that shifts out of the park position unexpectedly can allow the vehicle to rollaway. Either of these scenarios can increase…
The fix: Dealers will inspect the gap between the brake light switch and stopper, adjusting the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 23, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at…
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 Impreza or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Subaru Impreza has far fewer complaints per year (about 62) than the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), and fewer recalls (25 vs. 151). In practice, that means you're less likely to face frequent repair visits with the Impreza, while the F-150's higher complaint volume reflects more widespread and sometimes serious powertrain and electrical problems.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has roughly 19 times more complaints per year than the Subaru Impreza (1,162 vs. 62), with powertrain issues dominating.
- Impreza owners most often report windshield cracking and poor headlight illumination, while F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls versus 25 for the Impreza, and 330 crash-related complaints versus 28.
- Both have 1 death reported, but the F-150 has 297 injuries compared to 20 for the Impreza, suggesting more severe outcomes in reported incidents.
- Inspect the windshield for cracks, especially near the defroster area, and ask if it has been replaced—repeated cracking is a known complaint.
- Test drive at night to check headlight brightness and feel for any loose or jerky steering, and ask for any history of stalling or dashboard electrical failures.
- During the test drive, watch for harsh shifting, delayed engagement, or limp mode, and ask if the transmission lead frame or output speed sensor has been replaced.
- Check the rear window for cracks or signs of replacement, and test the defroster; a short can cause the glass to shatter.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they've been fixed.
- Ask for a complete service history, focusing on transmission repairs for the F-150 and electrical or windshield work for the Impreza.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, including scanning for stored trouble codes.
- For the F-150, test drive at highway speeds and in stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission slipping or limp mode.
- For the Impreza, inspect the windshield and test all lights, and drive at night to evaluate headlight performance.
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 Impreza | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 35 |
| 2025 | 5 | 345 |
| 2024 | 32 | 638 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 13 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 14 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 85 | 44 |
| 2019 | 194 | 52 |
| 2018 | 151 | 79 |
| 2017 | 125 | 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 Impreza or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Impreza vs FORD F 150
- Subaru Impreza total complaints
- 624
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Subaru Impreza total recalls
- 25
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Subaru Impreza avg complaints/year
- 62.4
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Impreza
- Subaru Impreza top complaint area
- VISIBILITY/WIPER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN