Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Crown Signia vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota Crown Signia 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 Crown Signia vs FORD F 150: The Crown Signia has 14 complaints over 2 years (7/year) and 3 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Crown Signia or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Crown Signia
The Toyota Crown Signia is a newer hybrid wagon with only 14 complaints over 2 years, averaging 7 per year. Owners report issues like a fragile A/C condenser behind an open grille, electrical glitches such as blank displays and non-charging USB ports, and occasional unintended acceleration or braking. There are 3 recalls, including for the instrument cluster and rearview display, but overall complaint volume is low, suggesting fewer chronic problems than the Ford F-150.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,162 per year. The most common trouble spots are the power train (transmission limp mode, lead frame failures) and electrical system (sensor failures, rear window shattering). With 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints, it has a long history of safety defects. Buyers should expect more frequent repairs and potential safety risks.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Crown Signia | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 14 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Crown Signia
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 03STRUCTURE2
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE2
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
Owners report that road debris can pass through the large front grille openings and puncture the A/C condenser, causing refrigerant loss and no cooling. This can be an expensive repair and may not be covered under warranty.
Complaints include front USB ports not charging phones and the instrument panel going blank while driving. A recall addresses the blank display, but other electrical gremlins may persist.
The center armrest can make a clicking noise on rough roads, and a dealer replacement may not fix it. This is a minor annoyance but indicates potential trim quality issues.
Two owners reported sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds and automatic braking when passing parked cars. These are serious safety concerns, though rare given the low complaint count.
“At approximately 6,700 miles, a rock/road debris passed through the large openings in the factory front grille of my 2025 Toyota Crown Signia XLE Hybrid and punctured the A/C condenser behind the grille. The A/C system lost refrigerant and stopped cooling. A…”
“While driving less than 10 mph, (slightly down hill) approaching the house garage, the car suddenly accelerated and the brake was applied to stop but the car continued and smashed through the garage door, proceeded through garage, smashed through the back of…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission problems, including limp mode, stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden downshifts or loss of power. These issues can be dangerous and costly to repair.
Electrical complaints include output speed sensor failures leading to limp mode, and rear window defroster shorts that can cause the back window to shatter. These defects can leave you stranded or create safety hazards.
Some owners report the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster, likely due to a short. This is a shocking and potentially dangerous failure that may not be covered after warranty.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common, though specific details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should check all lights for functionality and moisture.
“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 Crown Signia — 3 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner…
The risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charg…
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…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Toyota Tundra, Tacoma Hybrid, Tacoma, RAV4 Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Lexus GX550, 2024-2026 Tundra Hybrid, 2025 Sequoia Hybrid, Crown Signia, Grand Highlander, Lexus TX500 Hybrid, Lexus NX350 Hybrid, 2025-2026 Grand…
The risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the load carrying capacity modification label, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 26, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26LB04, 26LA04…
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 Crown Signia or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota Crown Signia has far fewer issues per year (7 vs. 1,162 for the Ford F-150). In practice, this means the Crown Signia is likely to spend less time in the shop and have fewer safety-related defects, while the F-150 has a long history of recurring transmission and electrical problems that can be costly and dangerous.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls versus 3 for the Toyota Crown Signia, indicating a much higher rate of safety defects.
- Ford F-150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures, while Crown Signia complaints are more varied and less severe.
- The Crown Signia has 1 crash-related complaint and 1 injury, while the F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, suggesting a greater safety risk.
- Electrical issues in the F-150 include rear window shattering and sensor failures, whereas Crown Signia electrical complaints are mostly charging and display glitches.
- Inspect the A/C condenser behind the front grille for any signs of damage from road debris, as this is a reported failure point.
- Test all USB ports and the instrument cluster display for proper function, as owners report charging and blank screen issues.
- Check for transmission shudder, delayed engagement, or limp mode during a test drive, especially on 2017 models with the 6-speed automatic.
- Inspect the rear window for any cracks or signs of stress, and test the defroster, as some owners report the window shattering after use.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the F-150's many campaigns.
- For the F-150, have a mechanic scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive at highway speeds to check for limp mode.
- For the Crown Signia, verify the A/C system blows cold and inspect the condenser for debris damage.
- Test all electrical features: USB ports, infotainment screen, instrument cluster, and rear defroster.
- Ask about any warranty coverage, especially for the F-150's power train, as repairs can be expensive.
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 Crown Signia | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 14 | 345 |
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 Crown Signia or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Crown Signia vs FORD F 150
- Toyota Crown Signia total complaints
- 14
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Toyota Crown Signia total recalls
- 3
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Toyota Crown Signia avg complaints/year
- 7.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Crown Signia
- Toyota Crown Signia top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN