Head-to-head reliability
Suzuki RENO vs FORD F 150
How the Suzuki RENO 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 RENO vs FORD F 150: The RENO averaged 43.3 complaints per year over 4 years, while the F-150 averaged 1,131.1 per year over 10 years. The RENO had 10 recalls and 10 injuries; the F-150 had 145 recalls and 287 injuries. Both show transmission and lighting issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Suzuki RENO or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Suzuki RENO
The Suzuki RENO is a compact car that, based on owner complaints, can be a frustrating ownership experience. Over four years, it averaged 43.3 complaints per year, with the most common issues in the power train, air bags, and electrical system. Owners report problems like jerking during gear shifts, engine lights that stay on, and headlights that suddenly fail. These are not just minor annoyances; some complaints describe safety-related failures like air bag issues and loss of headlights while driving.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume—averaging 1,131.1 complaints per year over ten years. The most frequent complaints involve the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Owners describe hard or delayed transmission shifts, sudden loss of power, and electrical glitches like camera malfunctions. While the F-150 is popular, the sheer number of complaints suggests that many owners experience recurring problems, some of which can be safety-related.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Suzuki RENO | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 173 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 43.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 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 RENO
- 01POWER TRAIN66
- 02AIR BAGS48
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING25
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL20
Owners report jerking and hard shifting, especially in automatic models, and some say the car feels like it might stall. The check engine light often comes on, and repairs may not fully fix the issue, leading to repeated shop visits.
Complaints include air bag warning lights and concerns that air bags may not deploy correctly in a crash. One owner described a tire blowout that led to a crash, raising questions about air bag performance.
The check engine light frequently illuminates, sometimes linked to something as simple as a gas cap, but other times indicating deeper wiring issues. Owners also report sudden loss of headlights, which is a serious safety risk when driving at night.
Headlights can fail without warning, leaving only high beams working. This matches recall campaigns for headlight issues, so buyers should verify that any recalls have been performed.
“FROM DAY ONE, MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES IE, IT'S THE GAS CAP, THE MAN WHO SOLD ME THE CAR, (THE DEALER) TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED,SO MUCH, THEN HE TOOK OFF, AND LEFT MASSACHUSETTS AFTER SELLI…”
“I GOT MY CAR IN MAY, 2006. IT WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT, BUT IT WAS IN THE SHOP ONLY SIX DAYS AFTER. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MY CAR WOULD JERK WHEN IT WAS SHIFTING GEARS (ALTHOUGH IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC). OVER ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME, IT GOT MUCH WORSE AND I HAD…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners of recent F-150s report harsh or delayed shifts from the 10-speed automatic transmission, sometimes accompanied by clunks or jerks. In some cases, the truck loses power or shuts off while driving, which is a significant safety concern.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' which can appear every time the truck starts. These electrical glitches may affect driver-assist features and can be costly to diagnose.
Headlight problems are common enough to be a top complaint category, with recalls for headlight issues. Owners may experience dim or failing lights, reducing visibility and increasing crash risk.
Engine-related complaints are frequent, though specific symptoms vary. Some owners report rough running, loss of power, or check engine lights, leading to repairs that can be expensive.
“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 RENO — 10 recalls
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module whi…
The risk: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The fix: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners ma…
The defect: Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connec…
The risk: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.
The risk: INAPPROPRIATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL SPLICE THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN THREE PHASES, STARTING AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2007 AND CONCLUDING BY THE END OF JANUARY 2008;. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SU…
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module whi…
The risk: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The fix: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners ma…
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 RENO or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Suzuki RENO has far fewer complaints per year (43.3) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), but this is partly because the F-150 is sold in much higher numbers. In practice, the RENO's issues tend to be chronic small-car problems, while the F-150's complaints include more severe transmission and electrical failures that can be costly and dangerous.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the Suzuki RENO has 173 in 4 years, but the F-150 sells in far greater numbers.
- RENO owners report jerky shifting and air bag concerns; F-150 owners report harsh transmission shifts and sudden power loss.
- Both have headlight complaints, but the RENO has multiple headlight recalls, so checking recall history is critical.
- The F-150 has more electrical system complaints, including driver-assist warnings, while the RENO's electrical issues often involve check engine lights and wiring.
- Check for a history of transmission jerking or hard shifting during a test drive, especially when accelerating from a stop.
- Verify that all headlight-related recalls have been performed, as failing headlights are a common and dangerous issue.
- Test the transmission for clunks, jerks, or delayed engagement, particularly between gears 4-5 and 5-6, and listen for loud bangs.
- Check for electrical warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard at startup.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are repaired, especially for headlights and electrical wiring.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission issues.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission, electrical system, and air bag components for any stored error codes.
- For the F-150, specifically test the 10-speed automatic transmission for smooth shifting and check for any warning messages.
- For the RENO, check that both low and high beam headlights work and that the check engine light is not on.
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 RENO or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Suzuki RENO vs FORD F 150
- Suzuki RENO total complaints
- 173
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Suzuki RENO total recalls
- 10
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Suzuki RENO avg complaints/year
- 43.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Suzuki RENO
- Suzuki RENO top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN