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 no recalls, but owners report headlight shaking and 12-volt battery drain. The F-150 has 1,131 complaints per year and 145 recalls, with transmission issues being common. Choose the Uncharted for fewer reported problems, but the F-150 for proven reliability. 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 model with a short ownership history, but the complaint pattern already reveals two significant issues. The most frequent problem is unstable LED headlights that oscillate or shake over bumps, which can be distracting and potentially dangerous at night. Additionally, there are reports of the 12-volt battery draining, leaving the vehicle inoperable after a few days of inactivity. These issues suggest that while the Uncharted may be innovative, early buyers could face reliability and usability challenges.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 has a long track record with a high volume of complaints, reflecting its popularity and years of production. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as shifting hard, jerking, or even causing loss of power. Electrical problems, including camera malfunctions and battery-related issues, are also common. With numerous recalls and some crash-related incidents, the F-150 shows a pattern of mechanical and electronic complexity that can lead to costly repairs, but its widespread use means many owners have found ways to manage these issues.
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 | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 40.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 Uncharted
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING31
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 04STRUCTURE1
- 05ENGINE1
Owners report that the LED headlights shake or oscillate excessively when driving over normal bumps, creating a flickering effect that can be distracting and reduce visibility at night. Some also note the headlight housing is loose and can be moved by hand, indicating a mounting defect.
The 12-volt battery drains when the vehicle is not driven for a few days, leaving the car completely inoperable and requiring a jump start. This issue appears to be linked to the connected services app and affects multiple related models, suggesting a design flaw in power management.
Several complaints describe the vehicle becoming 'bricked' due to the 12-volt battery dying, with no warning, even after being parked for only three days. This can leave owners stranded and requires dealer intervention to resolve.
“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 TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners experiencing hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and occasional loss of power. Some report the vehicle shutting off and then restarting abruptly, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Electrical issues include persistent warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist being unavailable, which appear every time the truck is started. These warnings may indicate sensor or software problems that affect driver-assistance features.
While not as prominent as other issues, there are complaints about headlight problems, and the recall list includes headlight-related fixes, suggesting potential issues with aim or function that could affect nighttime visibility.
“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 Uncharted
No recalls on record.
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 Uncharted or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Subaru Uncharted has far fewer complaints per year (40 vs. 1,131) and no recalls, indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Uncharted's problems, such as headlight instability and battery drain, are serious and could affect safety and usability. In contrast, the F-150's high complaint volume is partly due to its long production run and popularity, but the transmission issues are widespread and can be costly. Overall, the Uncharted appears to have fewer issues per year, but its short history means long-term reliability is unknown.
Key differences
- The Uncharted's headlights shake over bumps, while the F-150's transmission shifts hard and can lose power.
- The Uncharted has a 12-volt battery drain issue that can leave it inoperable, whereas the F-150 has persistent camera and pre-collision warnings.
- The Uncharted has no recalls, but the F-150 has 145 recalls, indicating a longer history of safety-related fixes.
- The Uncharted's complaints are concentrated in lighting and electrical, while the F-150's are spread across powertrain, electrical, and other areas.
- Inspect the headlight housings for looseness and test drive over rough roads at night to check for beam oscillation.
- Ask about the 12-volt battery drain issue and whether the dealer has applied any software updates; consider how often you drive the vehicle.
- Test drive the F-150 through stop-and-go traffic and highway speeds to feel for hard shifts or jerking, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears.
- Check for any warning lights related to the front camera or pre-collision system, and verify they clear after a restart.
Before you buy
- For the Uncharted: check the headlight mounting and ask for a nighttime test drive.
- For the Uncharted: ask about the battery drain issue and whether a fix is available; consider a battery maintainer if you park for days.
- For the F-150: get a transmission fluid service history and consider a pre-purchase inspection by a transmission specialist.
- For the F-150: scan for any stored diagnostic trouble codes related to the transmission or camera systems.
- For both: review the NHTSA recall lists and ensure all outstanding recalls have been performed.
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 | 24 |
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
- 11,311
- Subaru Uncharted total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Subaru Uncharted avg complaints/year
- 40.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Uncharted
- Subaru Uncharted top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN