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 13 complaints over 2 years (6.5/year) and 3 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/year) and 145 recalls. The F-150's transmission issues are a major concern. 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, low-volume model with only 13 complaints over 2 years, averaging 6.5 per year. Owners report electrical glitches like phones not charging and blank instrument panels, plus forward collision avoidance braking unexpectedly. There are also complaints about low headlights and a sudden acceleration incident. With 3 recalls, it's a newer design with fewer reported issues but some concerning safety-related patterns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume truck with 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,131 per year. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with reports of hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden loss of power. Electrical problems like camera malfunctions and battery cable issues are also common. With 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, it's a widely used vehicle with a long history of documented problems.
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 | 13 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.5 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Crown Signia
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE2
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
- 05ENGINE2
Owners report that front USB ports may not charge phones, and the instrument panel can go blank while driving. These issues can leave you without charging or critical driving information.
Some owners say the brakes can suddenly apply on their own, even when no obstacle is present, and in one case the car accelerated unexpectedly at low speed. This could cause a crash or make you feel unsafe.
Complaints say low-beam headlights aim too low, creating dark spots and poor visibility, and the driver-side headlight may be lower than the passenger side. This reduces your ability to see at night.
There are two engine complaints, but no specific details are provided in the sample. Buyers should ask about any engine-related symptoms during a test drive.
“A few weeks after purchasing this vehicle in Dallas, TX we drove to Florida. About 4 hours into the trip we stopped for lunch and noticed both of our cells phones had not charged and in fact had discharged quite a bit. Further testing shows none of the front…”
“The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Crown Signia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable, and the display screen appeared blank. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (E…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is the most complained-about part, with owners reporting hard shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power. This can happen at highway speeds and may lead to dangerous situations.
Owners report warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing frequently. These can disable driver-assist features and may require costly repairs.
Headlight issues are common, though specific symptoms aren't detailed in the sample. Recalls for headlights suggest potential problems with visibility or failure.
Engine complaints are less frequent than transmission issues but still present. Recalls for engine problems indicate potential defects that could affect performance or safety.
“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 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 — 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 Crown Signia or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota Crown Signia has far fewer complaints per year (6.5 vs. 1,131 for the Ford F-150), but it's also a much newer and lower-volume model. The F-150's higher complaint rate reflects its longer history and larger fleet, but the transmission issues are a major recurring theme. In practice, the Crown Signia may have fewer overall problems, but the F-150's issues are well-documented and often serious.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has a much higher complaint rate per year (1,131 vs. 6.5), largely due to its longer production run and higher sales volume.
- Transmission problems dominate F-150 complaints, with reports of hard shifts and sudden power loss, while the Crown Signia's top issue is electrical glitches.
- The Crown Signia has 3 recalls, while the F-150 has 145, indicating a broader range of potential defects in the Ford.
- Both vehicles have forward collision avoidance complaints, but the Crown Signia's include unexpected braking and acceleration, while the F-150's are often tied to camera malfunctions.
- Check that all USB ports charge devices properly and that the instrument panel display functions without going blank.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe area to ensure it doesn't brake unexpectedly, and verify headlight aim and brightness.
- Test drive the truck extensively, paying attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, and listen for clunks or jerks.
- Check for any warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard and ensure all driver-assist features work.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- For the Crown Signia, test all electrical components, including USB ports, infotainment screen, and headlights.
- For the F-150, have a mechanic inspect the transmission for signs of wear or software issues, and test drive at various speeds.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a certified mechanic familiar with the specific model's common 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 Crown Signia | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 13 | 329 |
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
- 13
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Toyota Crown Signia total recalls
- 3
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Toyota Crown Signia avg complaints/year
- 6.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Crown Signia
- Toyota Crown Signia top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN