Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Corolla Cross vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota Corolla Cross 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 Corolla Cross vs FORD F 150: The Corolla Cross has 307 complaints over 5 years (61/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 328 crash-related reports and 287 injuries, versus 19 and 24 for the Corolla Cross. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Corolla Cross or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Corolla Cross
The Toyota Corolla Cross is a compact SUV with a relatively low complaint rate of about 61 per year over five years. Owners most often report engine and electrical issues, including start/stop system glitches and driver information display problems. Steering complaints describe sudden steering wheel lock-up, which can be alarming. Overall, the data suggests a vehicle with fewer but potentially serious issues, especially for a new model.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint rate of about 1,131 per year over ten years. The most common problems involve the power train, particularly transmission issues like hard shifts and loss of power. Electrical system complaints include warning messages and camera malfunctions. With many recalls and crash-related reports, the F-150 requires careful inspection and maintenance.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Corolla Cross | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 307 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 19 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 61.4 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 24 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 Corolla Cross
- 01ENGINE125
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM94
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER59
- 04STEERING57
- 05POWER TRAIN31
Owners report faulty problems immediately after purchase, including quality control issues. Some mention start/stop system design defects causing driver distraction. These can lead to dealer visits and frustration for new buyers.
Complaints include start/stop system and driver information display issues, often described as design defects. These can cause distractions while driving. Electrical glitches may require software updates or repairs.
Owners describe the steering wheel locking up after the car sits in hot sun, with multiple warning lights. This can happen suddenly while driving, posing a safety risk. Such failures may require immediate dealer attention.
Reports include steering wheel lock and warning lights after hot sun exposure, and issues during parking maneuvers. These vague but serious symptoms can be hard to diagnose. Buyers should test drive thoroughly and check for warning lights.
“Car purchased new from Toyota dealer. Picked up [XXX]. Immediately found faulty problems with interior and exterior of car. No quality control or post delivery checks were conducted. Car brought back to dealer the next working day ([XXX]) and spent a week the…”
“Vehicle: 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross (gas‑powered, non‑hybrid) System/Component: Electrical System → Start/Stop System → Driver Information Display Issue Type: Design Defect / Driver Distraction I am reporting a recurring issue with my 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard and delayed shifts, especially in the 10R80 transmission, with jerking and clunking. Some experience loss of power and vehicle shut-off while driving. These transmission problems can be dangerous and costly to fix.
Complaints include loud bangs from transmission, popping sounds from rear suspension, and recurring warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available'. These electrical glitches can affect safety features and require dealer diagnostics.
With 1,164 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common, though specific owner text is not provided. Recalls include headlights. Faulty lighting can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
Engine complaints number 847, with recalls related to engine issues. While specific owner reports are not detailed, engine problems can lead to breakdowns. Regular maintenance and recall checks are important.
“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 Corolla Cross — 9 recalls
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 2023-2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid and 2023-2025 Corolla Hybrid vehicles. A software error in the skid control electronic control unit (ECU) may result in a loss of power brake assist when turning a corner.
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the skid control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2024. Additionally, notifications to owners of the Corolla Hybrid vehicles were mailed January 17, 2025. Owners may cont…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Corolla Cross Hybrid vehicles. The vehicles may fail to make sufficient pedestrian warning sounds when in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (…
The risk: Insufficient pedestrian warning sounds may fail to alert pedestrians of a reversing vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the software for the pedestrian warning sounds, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 1, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB08 an…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Corolla Cross vehicles. The instrument panel may have been produced without the required perforation, which could result in the front-passenger air bag not deploying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply wit…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the instrument panel, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 10, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for th…
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 Corolla Cross or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota Corolla Cross has far fewer complaints per year (about 61 vs. 1,131 for the Ford F-150). This means the Corolla Cross is likely to have fewer reported problems overall. However, the F-150's higher volume and longer production history may contribute to more complaints. In practice, the Corolla Cross may be less troublesome, but both have serious issues to watch for.
Key differences
- The Corolla Cross has about 61 complaints per year, while the F-150 has about 1,131 per year, indicating a much higher reported problem rate for the F-150.
- Corolla Cross owners report steering wheel lock-up and electrical glitches, while F-150 owners report transmission jerking and loss of power.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, compared to 9 recalls for the Corolla Cross over 5 years, suggesting more frequent safety fixes for the F-150.
- Crash-related complaints: 19 for Corolla Cross, 328 for F-150; injuries: 24 vs. 287; deaths: 0 vs. 1. These numbers reflect reported incidents, not necessarily causation.
- Check for any history of steering wheel lock-up or warning lights, especially after the car has been in hot sun. Test drive and let it sit in heat if possible.
- Inspect the start/stop system and driver information display for glitches or error messages. Ask if any software updates have been applied.
- Test drive the transmission, especially the 10R80, for hard shifts, jerking, or clunking between gears. Look for any loss of power or delayed engagement.
- Check for recurring electrical warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available'. Ensure all recalls, especially for lighting and engine, have been addressed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the specific problem areas: steering and electrical for Corolla Cross; transmission and electrical for F-150.
- During the test drive, pay attention to transmission shifting (F-150) and steering feel (Corolla Cross).
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any recall repairs have been completed.
- For the F-150, consider a extended test drive that includes highway speeds to check for transmission issues.
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 Corolla Cross | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 24 |
| 2025 | 19 | 329 |
| 2024 | 42 | 617 |
| 2023 | 174 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 45 | 3432 |
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 Corolla Cross or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Corolla Cross vs FORD F 150
- Toyota Corolla Cross total complaints
- 307
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Toyota Corolla Cross total recalls
- 9
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Toyota Corolla Cross avg complaints/year
- 61.4
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Corolla Cross
- Toyota Corolla Cross top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN