Head-to-head reliability

Suzuki Boulevard vs FORD F 150

How the Suzuki Boulevard and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Suzuki Boulevard0 complaints · 0 recalls Fewer issues per year
FORD F 15011,311 complaints · 145 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Suzuki Boulevard vs FORD F 150: The Boulevard has 0 complaints and 0 recalls over 4 years, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls over 10 years. The F-150 also has 328 crash-related reports and 287 injuries. The Boulevard shows no reported failure patterns, but the F-150 has many. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The picture

Is the Suzuki Boulevard or FORD F 150 more reliable?

A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.

Suzuki Boulevard

The Suzuki Boulevard is a motorcycle that, based on NHTSA data, has no owner complaints or recalls over a four-year period. This suggests that reported reliability issues are extremely low, but it also means there is little public data on common problems. For a buyer, this could mean fewer known headaches, but you should still inspect any used motorcycle thoroughly.

FORD F 150

The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a high number of owner complaints and recalls over ten years. The most common issues involve the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting, with reports of hard shifting, loss of power, and warning lights. These patterns indicate that some owners experience significant reliability problems that can be costly and safety-related.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategorySuzuki BoulevardFORD F 150
Total complaintsAll model years combined0 Better11,311
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns0 Better145
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints0 Better328
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years0.0 Better1131.1
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better287
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better1

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 Boulevard

No component data available.

What these mean
No reported components

There are no owner complaints on record for the Suzuki Boulevard, so no specific failure patterns are documented. This means buyers have little information about what might go wrong, but also no evidence of widespread issues.

FORD F 150

  1. 01POWER TRAIN3,553
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
  4. 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
  5. 05ENGINE847
What these mean
Power Train

Owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and even sudden loss of power, often linked to the 10-speed automatic transmission. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.

Electrical System

Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as noises from the transmission or rear suspension. Electrical glitches can affect safety features and driver confidence.

Exterior Lighting

There are many complaints about exterior lighting, particularly headlights, which may fail or malfunction. Poor lighting can reduce visibility and increase accident risk.

Engine

Some owners report engine-related problems, though fewer than power train or electrical issues. Engine trouble can lead to expensive repairs and downtime.

In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

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 Boulevard

No recalls on record.

FORD F 150 — 145 recalls

Exterior Lighting — Headlights
#20V097000

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.

Electrical System — 12v/24v/48v Battery — Cables
#19V805000Dec 2019

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…

Engine
#18V894000

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…

Seats — Front Assembly — Recliner
#19V633000

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 Boulevard or FORD F 150: which should you buy?

The Suzuki Boulevard has far fewer reported issues per year (0 complaints per year) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131 complaints per year). In practice, this means a used Boulevard is likely to have fewer documented problems, while a used F-150 may require more careful inspection and potentially more maintenance.

Recommendation. If you prioritize low reported problem rates and simplicity, the Suzuki Boulevard may be a better choice. If you need a truck for hauling or towing and are willing to accept higher reported issue rates, the Ford F-150 could work, but get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Key differences

  • The Suzuki Boulevard has zero complaints and zero recalls over four years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls over ten years.
  • Ford F-150 owners frequently report transmission problems like hard shifting and loss of power, which are not documented for the Boulevard.
  • The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries reported, whereas the Boulevard has none.
  • Electrical system and lighting issues are common in the F-150, but no such patterns exist for the Boulevard.
Watch on Suzuki Boulevard
  • Even with no complaints on record, check for general wear and tear, such as tire condition, brake function, and any signs of fluid leaks.
  • Verify that the motorcycle starts easily, idles smoothly, and has no unusual noises, as there is no complaint data to guide you.
Watch on FORD F 150
  • Test drive the truck and pay close attention to transmission behavior: look for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between gears.
  • Check all electrical features, including cameras, collision warning systems, and lights, for any malfunction messages or non-working components.

Before you buy

  • For the Suzuki Boulevard: ask for maintenance records and have a mechanic inspect the engine, brakes, and suspension.
  • For the Ford F-150: obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls by VIN.
  • During a test drive of the F-150, accelerate and decelerate through all gears to feel for transmission issues.
  • Inspect the F-150's exterior lights, including headlights, turn signals, and brake lights, for proper function.
  • For either vehicle, consider a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic familiar with the model.

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.

YearSuzuki BoulevardFORD F 150
20250329
20240617
202301507
202203432
Years to scrutinize: the 2021 FORD F 150 drew the most (5,234). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Boulevard or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Suzuki Boulevard vs FORD F 150 — comparison facts
Comparison
Suzuki Boulevard vs FORD F 150
Suzuki Boulevard total complaints
0
FORD F 150 total complaints
11,311
Suzuki Boulevard total recalls
0
FORD F 150 total recalls
145
Suzuki Boulevard avg complaints/year
0.0
FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
1131.1
More reliable overall
Suzuki Boulevard
FORD F 150 top complaint area
POWER TRAIN