Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Camry Solara vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota Camry Solara 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 Camry Solara vs FORD F 150: Over 10 years, the Solara has 0 complaints and 0 crash-related reports, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 330 crash-related reports. The F-150 also has 297 injuries and 1 death. The Solara shows far fewer reported problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Camry Solara or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Camry Solara
The Toyota Camry Solara is a two-door coupe or convertible based on the Camry sedan, generally regarded as a low-stress used car. Over the past 10 years, NHTSA shows 0 owner complaints, 0 crash-related reports, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths. However, it has 13 recalls, including repeated seat heater and engine cooling campaigns. In practice, living with a Solara means very few reported day-to-day failures, but you should still verify that recall work was completed.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a huge owner base and a very active complaint history. Over 10 years, NHTSA logs 11,621 complaints, 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death. The most common complaint areas are power train, electrical system, exterior lighting, and engine. Living with an F-150 means dealing with frequent reports of transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and electrical glitches.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Camry Solara | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 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 Camry Solara
No component data available.
Multiple recalls target the front seat heater/cooler assembly. Owners have not filed complaints on record, but the repeated recalls suggest a potential overheating or electrical fault that could affect seat comfort or safety.
Recalls exist for engine and cooling issues, though no owner complaints describe the exact symptom. A buyer should check for coolant leaks, overheating, or unusual engine noises during a test drive.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report the truck suddenly entering limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and failing to shift properly. Many blame the lead frame, a part that has been subject to repeated recalls and can cause loss of power or near-collisions.
Complaints include the same lead frame issue causing electrical faults, as well as output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. These problems can appear without warning and may require costly dealer repairs.
One owner reported the rear window defroster shorting and causing the back window to shatter outward. This is a rare but serious event that could lead to injury or expensive glass replacement.
Exterior lighting is a top complaint category, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample. Buyers should test all lights, including brake, turn, and reverse lamps, for intermittent failures.
“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 Camry Solara — 13 recalls
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Pri…
The risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.…
The defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-F…
The risk: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN…
The defect: GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPA…
The risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
The fix: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONT…
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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 Camry Solara or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry Solara has far fewer issues per year: 0 complaints per year versus 1,162.1 for the Ford F-150. In practice, the Solara is likely to need fewer unscheduled repairs, while the F-150 demands more attention to transmission, electrical, and lighting problems. The difference means lower ownership hassle with the Solara, but the F-150 offers capability that the Solara does not.
Key differences
- The Solara has 0 complaints and 0 crash-related reports over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 330 crash-related reports.
- F-150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures; Solara owners have no such complaint pattern on record.
- The Solara has 13 recalls, mostly for seat heaters and engine cooling; the F-150 has 151 recalls, including engine, seat belts, door latches, and air bag inflators.
- The F-150 has 297 injuries and 1 death reported, while the Solara has 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
- Confirm that all 13 recalls, especially the seat heater and engine cooling recalls, have been completed by a dealer.
- During a test drive, check for any signs of overheating, coolant smells, or unusual engine noises that could indicate an unresolved cooling issue.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: look for delayed shifting, sudden limp mode, or getting stuck in 5th gear, which owners report as common.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and glass for cracks or signs of shorting, as one owner reported the window shattering outward.
Before you buy
- Ask for a written recall history and verify that all open recalls have been fixed on the specific vehicle.
- Have a mechanic scan for stored trouble codes, especially transmission codes like P0722 on the F-150.
- Test drive the F-150 at highway speeds and in stop-and-go traffic to check for transmission slipping or limp mode.
- For the Solara, test the seat heaters and air conditioning, and check for any coolant leaks under the car.
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if the car has been in accidents or had repeated repair visits for the same issue.
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 Camry Solara or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Camry Solara vs FORD F 150
- Toyota Camry Solara total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Toyota Camry Solara total recalls
- 13
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Toyota Camry Solara avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry Solara
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN