Head-to-head reliability
Toyota 86 vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota 86 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
Toyota 86 vs FORD F 150: The Toyota 86 has 14 complaints over 4 years (3.5/yr) and 4 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/yr) and 145 recalls. The 86's issues center on engine stalling, while the F-150's are dominated by transmission and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota 86 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota 86
The Toyota 86 is a compact sports coupe that, in ownership terms, is relatively low-volume and enthusiast-focused. The complaint data shows a small but notable pattern of engine-related issues, including sudden power loss and stalling, which can be alarming for a daily driver. There are also a few reports of fuel system problems and one incident involving a road hazard, but overall the volume is low, averaging about 3.5 complaints per year.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck and one of the best-selling vehicles in the U.S., so it sees a high volume of complaints simply due to its popularity. The data reveals significant issues with the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners report for harsh shifting, jerking, and even loss of power. Electrical system problems, including camera and sensor malfunctions, are also common, along with exterior lighting issues. With over 1,100 complaints per year and 145 recalls, the F-150 shows a pattern of recurring problems that buyers should be aware of.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota 86 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 14 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.5 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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.
Toyota 86
- 01ENGINE5
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
- 04STRUCTURE2
- 05STEERING1
Owners report sudden engine failure while driving, causing loss of power and the vehicle becoming undrivable. Some incidents occur at low speeds, like at stoplights, and pressing the brake harder helps keep the car from stalling, indicating a possible idle or fuel delivery issue.
There are complaints about a defective fuel pump that can make the vehicle unsafe to drive, and some owners mention the engine stalling in traffic, which ties to fuel delivery problems. This can lead to unexpected shutdowns and potential hazards.
One complaint describes a crash after hitting a large metal object on the road, which caused structural damage. While this is an external factor, it highlights the vehicle's vulnerability to road debris and the importance of structural integrity in collisions.
“On [XXX], my 2019 Toyota 86 experienced a sudden engine failure while I was driving, causing the vehicle to lose power and become undrivable. The vehicle was towed to Camelback Toyota in Phoenix, AZ. The dealership initially diagnosed the failure as being cau…”
“Note: even though this is a Toyota vehicle, it has a Subaru Boxer 4 engine. This issue has happened twice this year, once at a stoplight back on May 20 and again Oct. 16 while in line at a Chic Filet. In both cases pressing the brake harder helped keep me fro…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most frequent issue is with the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners report for hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and occasional loss of power. Some describe the vehicle shutting off and then restarting with a hard jerk, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Many complaints involve warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, appearing every time the truck starts. This suggests a recurring sensor or software issue that could affect safety features.
Headlight problems are common, with owners reporting failures or malfunctions that reduce visibility at night. This is a safety concern as it can impair the driver's ability to see the road and be seen by others.
“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.
Toyota 86 — 4 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
The defect: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated…
The risk: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2017 Toyota 86 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2016 through August 11, 2016 equipped with an automatic transmission and ignition key. Vehicles with a push-to-start button or manual transmission are not affected. In the affected vehicles, i…
The risk: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the transmission is not in the "Park" position, the vehicle could roll away increasing the risk of a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition key/transmission interlock wiring connections, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
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
Toyota 86 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota 86 has far fewer complaints per year (3.5) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the F-150's high volume is partly due to its popularity, but the nature of the problems—transmission and electrical—suggests more frequent and potentially serious reliability concerns. In practice, the 86 may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience, but its engine issues, though rare, are serious.
Key differences
- The Toyota 86 has a much lower complaint rate (3.5 per year) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131 per year), but the 86's issues are concentrated in the engine and fuel system, leading to sudden power loss.
- The Ford F-150's most common problems are with the 10-speed automatic transmission, causing harsh shifts and jerking, and electrical system glitches that disable safety features like pre-collision assist.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, covering a wide range of components, while the 86 has only 4 recalls, all related to fuel pump, spare tire, and ignition.
- The 86's complaints include a crash due to a road hazard, but the F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints, many linked to transmission failures that cause loss of power in traffic.
- Inspect the engine for any signs of stalling or rough idle, and check for any open recalls related to the fuel pump or ignition system.
- Ask for service records showing if the fuel pump has been replaced or if any engine issues have been addressed.
- Test drive the truck and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, for any harshness or jerking.
- Check if the electrical system has any warning lights on the dash, such as front camera malfunction or pre-collision assist unavailable, and verify they have been fixed.
Before you buy
- For the Toyota 86, check the vehicle's recall status on the NHTSA website and ensure all recalls have been performed.
- For the Ford F-150, ask for a transmission fluid service history and consider having a mechanic inspect the transmission for any signs of wear.
- Test drive both vehicles in stop-and-go traffic to see if you notice any stalling or shifting issues.
- Check the exterior lighting on the F-150, including headlights and turn signals, for any malfunctions.
- Review the vehicle's service records for any repeated repairs related to the engine (86) or transmission/electrical (F-150).
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 | Toyota 86 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 33 |
| 2019 | 10 | 36 |
| 2018 | 1 | 56 |
| 2017 | 2 | 43 |
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 Toyota 86 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota 86 vs FORD F 150
- Toyota 86 total complaints
- 14
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Toyota 86 total recalls
- 4
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Toyota 86 avg complaints/year
- 3.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota 86
- Toyota 86 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN