Head-to-head reliability
Suzuki Aerio vs FORD F 150
How the Suzuki Aerio 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
Suzuki Aerio vs FORD F 150: The Aerio averages 20 complaints per year with 7 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,131 complaints per year with 145 recalls. Both have injury reports, but the F-150 has more crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Suzuki Aerio or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Suzuki Aerio
The Suzuki Aerio is a compact car that generates relatively few complaints per year—about 20 on average—but owners report recurring issues with brakes, transmission, and suspension. The complaint pattern suggests a vehicle that may need frequent attention to brakes and alignment, and some manual-transmission models can pop out of gear. With 7 recalls and 14 injuries reported, it's a car that demands careful inspection before purchase.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume—over 1,100 per year—and a wide range of reported problems, especially with the transmission and electrical system. Owners describe hard shifts, loss of power, and various electrical glitches. With 145 recalls and 287 injuries, it's a complex vehicle where many systems can fail, though it remains popular for its capability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Suzuki Aerio | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 121 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 11 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 20.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 14 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.
Suzuki Aerio
- 01SERVICE BRAKES20
- 02POWER TRAIN19
- 03HYDRAULIC17
- 04SUSPENSION16
- 05TIRES15
Owners report hot smells, excessive brake dust, and repeated need for brake fluid, sometimes shortly after purchase. One owner was told by a dealer that there was 'no problem' despite these symptoms, which could indicate premature wear or a leak that affects stopping reliability.
Complaints include manual transmissions popping out of 5th gear into neutral, and engine revving with momentary power loss while driving. These issues can lead to sudden loss of drive power, especially at highway speeds, increasing crash risk.
Hydraulic complaints mirror brake issues, such as hot smells and brake dust, often linked to brake fluid problems. This suggests the hydraulic brake system may be prone to leaks or inefficiency, requiring frequent checks.
Owners report the car going out of alignment repeatedly, sometimes within days of being fixed. This can cause uneven tire wear and affect steering control, making it a recurring expense and safety concern.
“I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AT ABOUT 9,000 MILES IN MAY. THERE WAS A HOT SMELL AND A LOT OF BRAKE DUST AROUND THE RIM AND TIRES. THE SUZUKI DEALER SERVICE DEPT. SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS JUST NEEDED BRAKE FLUID ADDED. AT THAT TIME THE PADS W…”
“I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ON NOV 2, 2005. TWO MONTHS LATER THE CAR WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO GET THAT RECTIFIED. EXACTLY 7 DAYS LATER IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AGAIN SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND AFTER I EXPLAINED THE SI…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners of 10-speed automatic transmissions report hard, delayed, or jerky shifts, and in some cases, sudden loss of power or the vehicle shutting off. These failures can happen during normal driving, posing a risk of stalling in traffic.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs from the transmission area. Electrical glitches can disable safety aids and indicate broader wiring or module problems.
Headlight issues are common enough to be a top complaint category, with recalls for headlights. Faulty lighting reduces visibility and can lead to accidents, especially at night.
Engine problems appear in complaints and recalls, though specific symptoms vary. These can range from performance loss to stalling, requiring costly diagnostics and repairs.
“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.
Suzuki Aerio — 7 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP, THE RETAINING CLIP THAT KEEPS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE ATTACHED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN CONTACT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HOUSING IF EXCESSIVE LATERAL FORCE IS APPLIED WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR.
The risk: REPEATED SHIFTING IN THIS MANNER CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE RETAINING CLIP TO BREAK. IF THE RETAINING CLIP BREAKS, THE SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION GEARS.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP WITH A CLIP THAT HAS A DIFFERENT SHAPE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER (111 MY 2002 ESTEEM, 777 MY 2002 AERIO, 2,368 MY 2003 AERIO) AND SPORT UTILITY (324 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA, 274 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA, 684 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7, AND 781 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA XL-7) VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STAND…
The risk: IF THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, IT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE EJECTION OF UNBELTED OCCUPANTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT ARE FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT PAINT ADHESION WILL EITHER HAVE THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY REPAINTING, OR WILL BE REPLACED, OR REPURCHASED AND DESTROYED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 8, 20…
The defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP, THE RETAINING CLIP THAT KEEPS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE ATTACHED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN CONTACT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HOUSING IF EXCESSIVE LATERAL FORCE IS APPLIED WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR.
The risk: REPEATED SHIFTING IN THIS MANNER CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE RETAINING CLIP TO BREAK. IF THE RETAINING CLIP BREAKS, THE SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION GEARS.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP WITH A CLIP THAT HAS A DIFFERENT SHAPE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
The defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP, THE RETAINING CLIP THAT KEEPS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE ATTACHED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN CONTACT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HOUSING IF EXCESSIVE LATERAL FORCE IS APPLIED WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR.
The risk: REPEATED SHIFTING IN THIS MANNER CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE RETAINING CLIP TO BREAK. IF THE RETAINING CLIP BREAKS, THE SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION GEARS.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP WITH A CLIP THAT HAS A DIFFERENT SHAPE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
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
Suzuki Aerio or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Suzuki Aerio has far fewer complaints per year (about 20 vs. over 1,100 for the F-150), but both have notable safety-related issues. In practice, the Aerio may be simpler and cheaper to maintain, while the F-150's higher volume means more potential for complex, recurring problems.
Key differences
- The Aerio averages about 20 complaints per year; the F-150 averages over 1,100, a 50-fold difference in reported issues.
- Aerio owners frequently report brake and alignment problems, while F-150 owners report transmission jerking and electrical glitches.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls versus 7 for the Aerio, indicating more widespread safety fixes over its lifetime.
- Both have injury reports, but the F-150 has 287 injuries and 1 death, compared to 14 injuries and 0 deaths for the Aerio.
- Check for repeated brake issues: look for excessive brake dust, hot smells, and low fluid levels, and ask for service records.
- Test the manual transmission for popping out of 5th gear or any difficulty engaging gears during a test drive.
- Test the transmission for hard or delayed shifts, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and listen for clunks or bangs.
- Check for electrical warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard when starting the truck.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- For the Aerio, have a mechanic inspect brakes, suspension alignment, and manual transmission operation.
- For the F-150, scan for transmission error codes and test drive at various speeds to feel for shift quality.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for brake fluid changes and transmission services.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic familiar with the specific model.
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 Suzuki Aerio or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Suzuki Aerio vs FORD F 150
- Suzuki Aerio total complaints
- 121
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Suzuki Aerio total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Suzuki Aerio avg complaints/year
- 20.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Suzuki Aerio
- Suzuki Aerio top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN