Head-to-head reliability
Toyota FJ Cruiser vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota FJ Cruiser 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 FJ Cruiser vs FORD F 150: The FJ Cruiser averages about 113 complaints per year over 8 years, while the F-150 averages about 1,162 per year over 10 years. The F-150 also has more crash-related complaints (330 vs 26) and injuries (297 vs 18). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota FJ Cruiser or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota FJ Cruiser
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a body-on-frame SUV with a loyal following, but NHTSA data shows 906 complaints over 8 years (about 113 per year) and 65 recalls. The most common complaint area is structure, with owners reporting serious rust and corrosion on the frame, underbody, brake lines, and suspension mounts. Brakes and suspension also draw complaints, often tied to that same corrosion. While crash-related complaints are relatively low at 26, the rust issues can be expensive and affect safety-critical parts.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with 11,621 complaints over 10 years (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. Power train and electrical system complaints dominate, with owners describing transmission problems like limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden downshifts or near-collisions. Electrical issues include rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the back glass. With 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries reported, the volume of problems is much higher than the FJ Cruiser.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota FJ Cruiser | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 906 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 65 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 26 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 113.3 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 18 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 FJ Cruiser
- 01STRUCTURE331
- 02SERVICE BRAKES139
- 03SUSPENSION121
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER112
- 05VISIBILITY84
Owners report heavy rust and corrosion on the frame, underbody, brake lines, and suspension mounts, sometimes discovered during routine inspections. This can lead to fluid leaks and expensive repairs, and it matters because rust weakens critical structural and safety components.
Complaints include cruise control exceeding the set speed, which can surprise a driver and require braking. Corrosion of brake lines is also reported, which could lead to brake failure if not addressed.
Owners describe rusted control arms and struts, and some report the vehicle rocking or feeling unstable after hitting bumps. This affects handling and ride comfort, and rusted suspension parts can fail.
Some complaints involve the vehicle rolling away after being placed in park with the emergency brake on, and others mention rust discovered after purchase. These are varied but highlight potential parking brake or corrosion issues.
“Please consider opening or expanding an investigation into frame, underbody, brake-line, and suspension-mount corrosion affecting Toyota FJ Cruisers. I own a 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4WD. A professional inspection found multiple fluid leaks, heavy rust, rusted…”
“AT 55,000 MILES (6 YEARS OLD) MY FRONT GRAVEL SHIELD HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF AND WAS FOUND IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE VERY BADLY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE RE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmission problems such as limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden downshifts or near-collisions. These issues can happen daily and may require costly repairs, affecting drivability and safety.
Complaints include lead frame issues affecting transmission sensors and rear window defroster shorts that can cause the back window to shatter. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, leading to unexpected failures.
Some owners report rear window defroster shorts leading to shattered glass, and others mention various unexplained issues. These can be safety concerns and expensive to fix.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, exterior lighting is a top complaint category, suggesting owners experience lighting failures that could 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 FJ Cruiser — 65 recalls
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affec…
The risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may con…
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 Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold…
The risk: If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014.…
The defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 FJ CRUISER, LAND CRUISER, TACOMA, SEQUOIA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)." WHEN FACTORY-INSTALLED WHEELS AND TIRES WERE…
The risk: FAILURE TO WARN OF TIRE DEFLATIONS IS A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 138 AND COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: FOR THE LAND CRUISER, SEQUOIA, TACOMA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES, THE DEALER WILL RE-CALIBRATE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ON AFFECTED VEHICLES AND INSTALL AN UPDATED TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL AT NO CHARGE. FOR THE FJ CRUISER VEH…
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 FJ Cruiser or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota FJ Cruiser has far fewer complaints per year (about 113) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), meaning you are less likely to encounter frequent problems with the FJ Cruiser. However, the FJ Cruiser's complaints often center on serious rust and corrosion that can be costly to repair. The F-150's higher complaint volume includes many transmission and electrical issues that can affect daily driving and safety.
Key differences
- The FJ Cruiser's top complaint is structure (rust/corrosion), while the F-150's top complaint is power train (transmission issues like limp mode and lead frame failures).
- The F-150 has about 10 times more complaints per year than the FJ Cruiser, and also more crash-related complaints (330 vs 26) and injuries (297 vs 18).
- The FJ Cruiser has 65 recalls over 8 years, while the F-150 has 151 recalls over 10 years, indicating more frequent recall activity for the Ford.
- Owner reports for the FJ Cruiser often mention rust discovered after purchase, while F-150 owners describe sudden transmission failures and electrical shorts that can cause windows to shatter.
- Check the frame, underbody, brake lines, and suspension mounts for heavy rust or corrosion, especially on older models or those from salty-road states.
- Inspect the front gravel shield, control arms, and struts for rust, as owners report these rusting through and needing replacement.
- Test drive the truck and watch for transmission shuddering, delayed engagement, or getting stuck in gear, which could indicate lead frame or solenoid issues.
- Check the rear window defroster operation and look for any signs of overheating or previous shattering, as shorts can cause the glass to explode.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for any open recalls, especially for the F-150's transmission and electrical issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the FJ Cruiser's frame rust and the F-150's transmission and electrical systems.
- For the FJ Cruiser, inspect in person during daylight and ask about rust repairs or undercoating; for the F-150, scan for stored trouble codes related to transmission and electrical faults.
- Test drive both vehicles extensively, including highway speeds and bumpy roads, to feel for suspension issues in the FJ Cruiser and transmission problems in the F-150.
- Verify that any recall repairs have been completed by checking with a dealership using the VIN.
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 FJ Cruiser or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota FJ Cruiser vs FORD F 150
- Toyota FJ Cruiser total complaints
- 906
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Toyota FJ Cruiser total recalls
- 65
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Toyota FJ Cruiser avg complaints/year
- 113.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota FJ Cruiser
- Toyota FJ Cruiser top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN