Head-to-head reliability
Toyota BZ4X vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota BZ4X 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 BZ4X vs FORD F 150: The BZ4X has 34 complaints over 3 years (11.3/year) and 9 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/year) and 145 recalls. The F-150 also has 287 injuries reported versus 2 for the BZ4X. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota BZ4X or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota BZ4X
The Toyota BZ4X is an electric SUV with a relatively low complaint volume: 34 complaints over 3 years, averaging 11.3 per year. Owners report issues with the 12-volt battery losing charge, brake-by-wire failures, and structural parts like the front bumper detaching in water. There are also visibility problems with the HVAC and defroster. With 9 recalls and 5 crash-related complaints, it's a newer model with some teething issues, but far fewer reports than the Ford F-150.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint volume: 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,131 per year. The most common issues are power train (especially transmission) problems, electrical glitches, and exterior lighting failures. Owners describe hard shifts, loss of power, and warning messages. With 145 recalls and 287 injuries reported, it's a high-volume vehicle with a long list of recurring problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota BZ4X | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 34 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 11.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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 BZ4X
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
- 03STRUCTURE6
- 04VISIBILITY5
- 05WHEELS5
Owners report the 12-volt battery does not hold a charge and needs repeated replacement, sometimes within months. There are also reports of sudden brake-by-wire failure during one-pedal driving, where the vehicle fails to slow down. These issues can leave you stranded or unable to stop reliably.
Some owners say the front bumper detaches from the undercarriage after driving through shallow water or puddles. This can cause unexpected damage and costly repairs, and may affect the car's safety in a crash.
The electric A/C compressor can fail, making a loud grinding noise, and the defroster may not blow hot air onto the windshield. This impairs visibility in cold or rainy weather, and a recall exists for the defroster issue.
Several complaints describe brake-by-wire failures and braking problems that don't fit a specific component category. Owners report the vehicle not slowing as expected, which is a serious safety concern.
“The 12 volt battery does not maintain a charge. I have had it replaced twice. I purchased new January 2025; first battery replaced on March 20, 2025; second battery replaced August 13, 2025. I am currently having the same issue with the battery management sys…”
“The vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic brake-by-wire system failure while operating in one-pedal driving (Regeneration Boost mode). While decelerating at a low speed behind an 18-wheeler semi-truck, the vehicle failed to continue slowing down. I immed…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common complaint is transmission problems, especially with the 10-speed automatic. Owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power while driving. This can be dangerous in traffic and lead to expensive repairs.
Owners report various electrical glitches, such as warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available. Some also hear loud bangs or popping sounds from the transmission or rear suspension. These issues can be annoying and may indicate deeper problems.
There are many complaints about exterior lighting, particularly headlights. This can reduce visibility at night and increase the risk of a crash. Recalls have been issued for headlight issues.
Engine problems are also reported, though less frequently than transmission issues. Owners may experience rough running, stalling, or other engine-related failures. Recalls exist for engine components, so check for open recalls.
“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 BZ4X — 9 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Subaru Solterra and Toyota BZ4X vehicles. The hub bolts on the wheels may loosen, causing a wheel to detach from the vehicle after low-mileage use.
The risk: A wheel detaching from a moving vehicle can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they are repaired. Dealers will replace the hub bolts and wheels, free of charge. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 27, 2022. A second letter will be sent once…
The defect: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia…
The risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2025 bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra vehicles. During certain HVAC system faults, such as electrical compressor failure, the defroster and defogger system may become inoperative.
The risk: An inoperative defroster and defogger system can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the HVAC control ECU software, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect the electrical compressor, and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may conta…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
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 BZ4X or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota BZ4X has far fewer complaints per year (11.3) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1). In practice, this means BZ4X owners report fewer problems overall, but the issues they do report—like brake failures and battery drain—can be serious. The F-150's much higher complaint rate suggests a higher likelihood of recurring problems, especially with the transmission.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the Toyota BZ4X has only 34 in 3 years—a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- F-150 owners most often report transmission problems (hard shifts, loss of power), while BZ4X owners report 12-volt battery drain and brake-by-wire failures.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls and 287 injuries reported; the BZ4X has 9 recalls and 2 injuries, though it's a newer model with fewer years on the road.
- BZ4X complaints include structural issues like bumper detachment in water, while F-150 complaints include electrical glitches and exterior lighting failures.
- Check the 12-volt battery health and ask if it has been replaced; repeated replacements are a common complaint.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially in one-pedal driving mode, and listen for any unusual noises from the A/C compressor or defroster.
- Test drive the truck and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8 gears; look for jerking or delayed engagement.
- Check for any warning messages on the dashboard, such as front camera malfunction or pre-collision assist not available, and inspect headlight operation.
Before you buy
- Look up the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls and whether they have been fixed.
- For the BZ4X, ask for battery service records and test the brakes and defroster before buying.
- For the F-150, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission and electrical system, and scan for stored error codes.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission issues or brake problems.
- Ask the seller for a complete maintenance history and check if the vehicle has been in any crashes.
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 BZ4X | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 329 |
| 2024 | 24 | 617 |
| 2023 | 5 | 1507 |
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 BZ4X or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota BZ4X vs FORD F 150
- Toyota BZ4X total complaints
- 34
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Toyota BZ4X total recalls
- 9
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Toyota BZ4X avg complaints/year
- 11.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota BZ4X
- Toyota BZ4X top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN