Head-to-head reliability
Tesla SEMI vs FORD F 150
How the Tesla SEMI 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
Tesla SEMI vs FORD F 150: The SEMI has 3 complaints over 4 years (0.8/year) and 0 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 330 crashes and 297 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Tesla SEMI or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Tesla SEMI
The Tesla SEMI is a heavy-duty electric truck with only 3 complaints over 4 years, averaging 0.8 per year. The complaints cover structure, steering, electrical, speed control, and latch issues, but some sample texts appear to reference other Tesla models, so the pattern is unclear. With no recalls, crashes, injuries, or deaths reported, the data suggests very few reported problems, but the low volume makes it hard to draw strong conclusions.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,162 per year. The most common issues are power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting, with 151 recalls and 330 crash-related reports. Owners describe serious problems like transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, indicating a long history of recurring defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Tesla SEMI | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.8 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.
Tesla SEMI
- 01STRUCTURE2
- 02STEERING1
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
- 05LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
Owners report the driver door striker latch coming loose and nearly disconnecting from the body, creating a panel gap and risk of the door opening while driving. This matters because a door that opens unexpectedly can be dangerous.
One complaint mentions a charging issue that failed at home but not at a Supercharger, which may relate to steering or electrical systems. While vague, it suggests owners should check for charging and steering warnings.
The same complaint describes a home charger failing after 20 seconds, pointing to potential electrical or charging problems. Buyers should verify home charging works reliably.
A complaint references a charging issue that could affect speed control, though details are limited. This highlights the need to test all electronic controls before purchase.
“The driver door striker latch came loose and was close to completely disconnecting from the vehicle body. This led to a body panel gap and the possibility of the door opening while in motion. Elon Musk on twitter is saying that a number of vehicles from the f…”
“The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Cyber Truck. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed during daylight, the dashboard accent would reflect in the side mirrors. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and taken to a local dealer…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report lead frame issues causing near collisions and transmissions stuck in limp mode or 5th gear, often daily. These failures can leave you stranded or cause sudden loss of power.
The lead frame problem also appears under electrical, with symptoms like limp mode and output speed sensor failure. A rear window defroster short caused a back window to shatter, showing electrical faults can be dangerous.
A rear window defroster short led to the back window exploding outward, which owners say happened without impact. This is a serious safety concern that could injure passengers.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common, though specific failure details are not provided. Faulty lights can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
“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.
Tesla SEMI
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
Tesla SEMI or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Tesla SEMI has far fewer issues per year (0.8 vs. 1,162) and no recalls, crashes, or injuries reported, while the Ford F-150 has thousands of complaints and 151 recalls. In practice, the F-150 owner is much more likely to experience recurring problems like transmission limp mode or electrical faults, whereas SEMI data is too sparse to reveal clear patterns.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years versus only 3 for the Tesla SEMI over 4 years, a massive difference in reported problems.
- Ford F-150 owners report dangerous power train failures like limp mode and lead frame issues, while SEMI complaints are few and include a door latch and charging problem.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls and 330 crash-related reports, while the SEMI has zero recalls and zero crashes reported.
- Electrical problems are a top complaint for both, but F-150 electrical issues include a rear window shattering, whereas SEMI electrical complaints are tied to home charging.
- Inspect the driver door striker latch for looseness or panel gaps, as owners report it can nearly disconnect and risk the door opening while driving.
- Test home charging thoroughly; one owner reported the charger failing after 20 seconds, which could indicate an electrical or software issue.
- Check for transmission shudder, delayed engagement, or limp mode, especially in 2017 V8 models with the 6-speed automatic, as owners report daily failures.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or signs of shorting, since a short can cause the window to shatter unexpectedly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the Ford F-150.
- For the Tesla SEMI, test the door latches, steering, and home charging before purchase.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive at highway speeds to check for limp mode.
- Ask a mechanic to inspect the lead frame and output speed sensor on the F-150, and check the rear window defroster.
- Verify that any electric vehicle charging equipment works at your home and that software is up to date.
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 | Tesla SEMI | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 3 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
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 Tesla SEMI or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Tesla SEMI vs FORD F 150
- Tesla SEMI total complaints
- 3
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Tesla SEMI total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Tesla SEMI avg complaints/year
- 0.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Tesla SEMI
- Tesla SEMI top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN