Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Corolla Matrix vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota Corolla Matrix 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 Matrix vs FORD F 150: The Matrix has 1 complaint over 10 years and 42 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 330 crash-related incidents and 297 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Corolla Matrix or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Corolla Matrix
The Toyota Corolla Matrix is a compact hatchback that, based on NHTSA data, shows very few owner complaints over a 10-year period—just 1 complaint total, averaging 0.1 per year. However, it has 42 recalls, with the most recent ones focused on the passenger-side frontal air bag inflator. The single complaint describes a recall notice where the repair part was unavailable, meaning owners may face delays in getting the fix. Overall, the data suggests a vehicle with low reported complaint volume but a notable number of safety recalls to track.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that, according to NHTSA data, has a very high volume of owner complaints—11,621 over 10 years, averaging about 1,162 per year. The top complaint areas are the power train, electrical system, and unknown or other issues, with 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death. Owners describe serious problems like transmissions stuck in limp mode, lead frame failures, and even a rear window shattering. This indicates a vehicle with many reported issues that can affect safety and reliability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Corolla Matrix | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 42 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.1 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 Corolla Matrix
- 01AIR BAGS1
The only reported complaint area is the passenger-side frontal air bag inflator. Owners report receiving recall notices but finding that the replacement part is not available, which can leave the vehicle with an unresolved safety defect for an extended time.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE A…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners frequently report transmission problems, such as the truck going into limp mode and getting stuck in 5th gear, as well as recurring lead frame issues that can cause sudden loss of power. These failures can happen while driving and may lead to dangerous situations.
Complaints include the same lead frame problem affecting the electrical system, plus issues like a short in the rear window defroster that can cause the back window to shatter. These electrical faults can be unpredictable and costly to repair.
This category captures a range of miscellaneous problems, including the rear window defroster short that leads to the window exploding outward. Such issues are hard to anticipate and can be a safety concern.
Although no sample complaint text is provided, this is a top complaint component with 1,224 reports. Buyers should be aware that lighting problems are commonly reported and may affect visibility and safety.
“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 Corolla Matrix — 42 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Loui…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Loui…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan)…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall b…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia,…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall…
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 Corolla Matrix or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota Corolla Matrix has far fewer complaints per year (0.1 vs. 1,162.1 for the Ford F-150), but it still has 42 recalls to manage. In practice, the Matrix owner is much less likely to report a problem, while the F-150 owner faces a high chance of encountering transmission, electrical, or other issues that can be serious.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years versus just 1 for the Toyota Corolla Matrix, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Ford F-150 owners report serious power train issues like limp mode and stuck gears, while the Matrix's only complaint is about an air bag recall part delay.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death, whereas the Matrix has 0 in all those categories.
- Both vehicles have air bag inflator recalls, but the F-150 also has recalls for engine, seat belts, and door latches, indicating a broader range of safety concerns.
- Check if the passenger-side frontal air bag inflator recall has been completed; if not, confirm the part is available before purchase.
- Ask for proof that all 42 recalls have been addressed, especially any open air bag recalls.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for transmission shudder, delayed engagement, or sudden limp mode; these are common owner complaints.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or signs of shattering, and check for any electrical gremlins like flickering lights or sensor faults.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they are fixed.
- For the Ford F-150, ask for transmission service records and scan for stored trouble codes like P0722.
- For the Toyota Corolla Matrix, verify the air bag inflator recall remedy was performed and the part was replaced.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the Ford's transmission and electrical system and the Matrix's air bag system.
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 Matrix or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Corolla Matrix vs FORD F 150
- Toyota Corolla Matrix total complaints
- 1
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Toyota Corolla Matrix total recalls
- 42
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Toyota Corolla Matrix avg complaints/year
- 0.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Corolla Matrix
- Toyota Corolla Matrix top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN