Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Uncharted vs FORD F 150
How the Subaru Uncharted 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 Uncharted vs FORD F 150: The Uncharted has 40 complaints per year and 0 recalls, while the F-150 has about 1,162 complaints per year and 151 recalls. F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and electrical faults; Uncharted owners report shaky headlights and 12-volt battery drain. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Uncharted or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Uncharted
The Subaru Uncharted is a new electric SUV with only one year of complaint data, averaging 40 complaints per year and no recalls. Most owner reports center on shaky LED headlights and a 12-volt battery that can drain and leave the car inoperable. With no crash, injury, or death reports in the data, the main ownership concern is these early electrical and lighting annoyances rather than major safety failures.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a decade of complaint history, averaging about 1,162 complaints per year and 151 recalls. Owners frequently report transmission problems that can cause limp mode or stuck gears, along with electrical issues tied to the lead frame and 12-volt system. The data also includes 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death, so buyers should take these patterns seriously.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Uncharted | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 40 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 40.0 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.
Subaru Uncharted
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING31
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 04STRUCTURE1
- 05ENGINE1
Owners report that the LED headlights on the 2026 Uncharted shake or oscillate over normal bumps, creating a distracting flickering beam. Some say the housing moves when pushed, suggesting a mounting issue that could affect nighttime visibility.
Multiple complaints describe the 12-volt battery going dead, sometimes leaving the car completely inoperable after sitting for a few days. This appears linked to connected apps or systems that drain the battery when the vehicle isn't driven daily.
Some owners report the car becoming bricked or needing a jump because the 12-volt battery died unexpectedly. This overlaps with the electrical complaints and points to a recurring no-start condition.
One owner says the headlight jitter is caused by poor mounting inside the bumper, and that pushing on the housing shows movement. This matters because loose headlights can worsen over time and affect night driving.
“While driving at night, the LED headlight beams on my 2026 Subaru Uncharted GT exhibit excessive vertical oscillation/shaking after normal road impacts and bumps. The movement is significant enough to create a distracting flickering/bouncing effect within the…”
“I am reporting a headlight stability issue on my 2026 Subaru Uncharted. While driving at night, the LED headlights produce a severe oscillating/strobing effect over normal road imperfections and bumps. The beam pattern rapidly shifts up and down, creating alt…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission issues, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions. These problems can happen daily and may require expensive repairs.
Complaints include lead frame issues and output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode on the highway. A rear window defroster short has also been reported to shatter the back window.
One owner described the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster, with no external cause. This is a serious safety concern because it can happen while driving.
While not detailed in the sample text, exterior lighting is a top complaint category with 1,224 reports. Buyers should check for any lighting malfunctions or recalls related to lamps.
“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 Uncharted
No recalls on record.
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 Uncharted or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Subaru Uncharted has far fewer issues per year (40) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but the Uncharted is new and the F-150 has a much longer history. In practice, the F-150's higher complaint rate and 151 recalls mean a used buyer faces more chances of transmission, electrical, and safety problems. The Uncharted's main issues are headlight shake and 12-volt battery drain, which are annoying but less likely to cause a crash based on the data.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related reports, while the Subaru Uncharted has 0 recalls and 0 crash-related reports in its one year of data.
- F-150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures; Uncharted owners mainly report shaky headlights and 12-volt battery drain.
- The F-150 averages about 1,162 complaints per year over 10 years; the Uncharted averages 40 complaints per year over 1 year.
- The Uncharted's issues appear to be early-production annoyances, while the F-150's include long-standing safety-related patterns like unintended limp mode and window shattering.
- Test the LED headlights on a rough road at night to see if they shake or flicker excessively, and push gently on the housing to check for looseness.
- Ask if the 12-volt battery has ever gone dead, and consider having the charging system checked if the car sits for days at a time.
- Scan for transmission codes and test-drive at highway speeds to check for limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in gear.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for any cracks or signs of repair, and confirm all open recalls (especially 26S28) have been completed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls are closed, especially for the Ford F-150.
- For the Uncharted, test the headlights over bumps and check the 12-volt battery health.
- For the F-150, have a mechanic scan transmission codes and check for lead frame or output speed sensor repairs.
- Ask the seller how often the vehicle is driven; the Uncharted's battery drain may be worse if it sits.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and rough roads to reproduce any shaking or limp mode symptoms.
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 Uncharted | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 40 | 35 |
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 Uncharted or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Uncharted vs FORD F 150
- Subaru Uncharted total complaints
- 40
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Subaru Uncharted total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Subaru Uncharted avg complaints/year
- 40.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Uncharted
- Subaru Uncharted top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN