Head-to-head reliability
Toyota BZ vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota BZ 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 BZ vs FORD F 150: The BZ has 0 complaints in 1 year and 1 recall, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, 151 recalls, and 330 crash-related reports. The F-150's complaint rate is about 1,162 per year. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota BZ or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota BZ
The Toyota BZ is a battery-electric vehicle with only one year of data in this set. It has zero owner complaints on record, so there is no real-world pattern of failures to describe. One recall exists for electrical and propulsion system issues, but no crashes, injuries, or deaths are reported. In ownership terms, it is too new to judge long-term reliability from complaints alone.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a decade of complaint history. It averages about 1,162 complaints per year, with 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death. Owners repeatedly describe transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and electrical glitches. Recalls cover engines, seat belts, door latches, and air bag inflators.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota BZ | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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.
Toyota BZ
No component data available.
The only record for the Toyota BZ is a recall for electrical and propulsion system issues. No owner complaints describe the actual symptom, so a buyer should ask the dealer whether this recall has been performed.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report the truck going into limp mode and getting stuck in 5th gear, often daily. Many blame a 'lead frame' part that has been an issue for over a decade. This can leave you without full power when you need it.
Complaints include the same lead frame problem and an output speed sensor failure that triggers limp mode. One owner said a rear window defroster short caused the back window to shatter. These electrical faults can strand you or cause sudden loss of speed.
A reported short in the rear window defroster led to the back window exploding outward. This is a safety concern because it can happen without a crash and may distract or injure occupants.
This is a top complaint area with 1,224 reports, though no sample text is given. Lighting failures matter because they affect your ability to see and be seen, especially at night.
“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.
Toyota BZ — 1 recall
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Toyota BZ, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra battery electric vehicles. The electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the high voltage battery may experience a fault, resulting in a loss of drive power.
The risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the battery ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 17, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26LA07 and 26TA11. S…
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
Toyota BZ or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota BZ has 0 complaints per year versus about 1,162 per year for the Ford F-150. That means the BZ has far fewer reported problems, but it also has only one year of data. The F-150's long history shows repeated transmission and electrical issues that owners say can cause limp mode or near collisions.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, while the Toyota BZ has 0 complaints over 1 year.
- F-150 owners repeatedly report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures; the BZ has no owner complaint text to describe real-world symptoms.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the BZ has 0 in each category.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls across engines, seat belts, door latches, and air bags; the BZ has 1 recall for electrical and propulsion system issues.
- Ask the dealer to confirm the electrical/propulsion system recall has been completed and get proof in writing.
- Since there are no owner complaints, request a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on the high-voltage battery and drive system.
- Test drive at highway speed and watch for sudden limp mode, stuck gears, or delayed shifting.
- Check for any signs of rear window defroster damage or prior shattering, and confirm all engine, seat belt, door latch, and air bag recalls are closed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle.
- For the Ford F-150, ask for transmission service records and whether the lead frame or output speed sensor has been replaced.
- For the Toyota BZ, ask for the recall repair order and a battery health report from a certified technician.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to check for limp mode or shifting problems.
- Have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, including electrical systems, lights, and window defroster operation.
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 BZ | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
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 BZ or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota BZ vs FORD F 150
- Toyota BZ total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Toyota BZ total recalls
- 1
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Toyota BZ avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota BZ
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN