Head-to-head reliability
Toyota LAND Cruiser vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota LAND 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 LAND Cruiser vs FORD F 150: The Land Cruiser averages about 9 complaints per year with 3 crash-related reports, while the F-150 averages about 1,162 complaints per year with 330 crash-related reports. The F-150 also has 151 recalls versus 14 for the Land Cruiser. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota LAND Cruiser or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota LAND Cruiser
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a low-volume, expensive SUV that sees about 9 complaints per year over the last decade, which is very low for any vehicle. Owners mostly report annoying but non-catastrophic issues like brake squeal, rattles, and infotainment glitches, though some transmission hesitation and airbag recall delays appear. With only 3 crash-related complaints and 0 deaths in the data, it looks like a vehicle that rarely leaves owners stranded, but it is not immune to problems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with about 1,162 complaints per year, a much higher rate than the Land Cruiser. The dominant pattern is power train trouble, especially transmission limp mode, harsh shifting, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of speed. Electrical gremlins, rear window shattering, and many recalls add to the ownership burden, and the data includes 330 crash-related complaints and 1 death.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota LAND Cruiser | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 91 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.1 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 LAND Cruiser
- 01SERVICE BRAKES28
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER17
- 03POWER TRAIN14
- 04AIR BAGS7
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
Owners report squealing brakes when reversing, often traced to front rotors and pads, plus rattling or tapping noises near the rear pillar. These are usually fixable with updated parts, but the noise can be persistent and annoying.
Some owners describe shift shock, where the transmission hesitates or jerks between 1st and 2nd gear at low speeds, and others note transmission or EV temperature rising quickly on slow inclines. This matters because it can make daily driving feel rough and may signal wear.
Complaints mention recall notices for passenger-side airbag inflators, with parts sometimes unavailable for long periods. A buyer should confirm any open recall was actually completed, since an unrepaired airbag can fail in a crash.
The infotainment system sometimes fails to load SiriusXM metadata, showing a 'loading' screen about half the time. This is a minor convenience issue, not a safety risk, but it can be irritating on a daily basis.
“2025 Land Cruiser bought 7 months ago constant rattling and tapping noise near passenger rear near pillar B and C. Brought to the dealer for corrective action to identify, address and to resolve the problem due to annoying ticking, rattling and tapping noise…”
“Brakes are squealing when in reverse. This was a known issue with 2022-2024 Toyota Tundra's. The service bulletin was number T-SB-0043-24 to change out front rotors and brake pads and mounting hardware. After that no more squeal. It was coming from the front…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners repeatedly report transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden speed loss or near collisions. This is the most serious pattern and can leave a driver in a dangerous situation on the highway.
The same lead frame issue often appears under electrical complaints, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. These faults can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, leading to repeated shop visits.
Some owners report the rear window shattering outward, sometimes after using the defroster, with no external impact. This is a safety and security concern because it can happen while driving and is expensive to replace.
Engine-related complaints appear in the data, though the sample text focuses more on transmission and electrical issues. Buyers should still check for rough running, warning lights, and any unresolved engine recalls.
“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 LAND Cruiser — 14 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2019 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX 570 vehicles. Over time, the seat belt tension sensor wire harness may break and deactivate the front passenger air bag, knee air bag, and passenger seat-mounted side airbag.
The risk: In the event of a crash, deactivated air bags can increase the risk of injury .
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the front passenger seat belt assembly or replace it with an improved one, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2016 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2006 Lexus LX470, and 2008-2013 Lexus LX570 vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with an incorrect driver or front passenger air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement…
The risk: An incorrect driver or front passenger air bag may not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag assemblies, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0S.…
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed.…
The risk: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
The fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300,…
The risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for…
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 LAND Cruiser or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota Land Cruiser has far fewer issues per year, about 9 complaints annually versus roughly 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, that means a Land Cruiser buyer is much less likely to face repeated transmission or electrical breakdowns, while an F-150 buyer should budget time and money for potential repairs and recall visits.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has about 1,162 complaints per year versus about 9 for the Toyota Land Cruiser, a huge gap in reported problem frequency.
- F-150 owners frequently describe transmission limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden speed loss, while Land Cruiser owners more often report brake noise and infotainment glitches.
- The F-150 data includes 330 crash-related complaints and 1 death, compared with 3 crash-related complaints and 0 deaths for the Land Cruiser.
- Both have airbag inflator recalls, but the F-150 also has many recalls for engine, seat belts, door latches, and other systems, adding to ownership complexity.
- Listen for squealing brakes when reversing and rattling or tapping noises near the rear pillars; these may indicate worn front rotors or loose trim that needs attention.
- Ask for proof that the passenger-side airbag inflator recall was completed, and test the infotainment system for SiriusXM loading errors on startup.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for sudden limp mode, stuck gears, or harsh shifting, which are common signs of lead frame or transmission problems.
- Inspect the rear window for cracks or previous replacement, and check for any signs of defroster-related shattering or electrical faults.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were repaired.
- For the Land Cruiser, test the brakes in reverse and listen for squeal, and check the sunroof and rear pillars for rattles.
- For the F-150, scan for transmission trouble codes and take a long test drive that includes highway merging and stop-and-go traffic.
- Ask for complete maintenance records, especially transmission fluid changes and any lead frame or software updates on the F-150.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the transmission, electrical system, and any signs of prior crash damage.
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 LAND Cruiser | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 35 |
| 2025 | 32 | 345 |
| 2024 | 39 | 638 |
| 2021 | 1 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 2019 | 0 | 52 |
| 2018 | 4 | 79 |
| 2017 | 4 | 59 |
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 LAND Cruiser or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota LAND Cruiser vs FORD F 150
- Toyota LAND Cruiser total complaints
- 91
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Toyota LAND Cruiser total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Toyota LAND Cruiser avg complaints/year
- 9.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota LAND Cruiser
- Toyota LAND Cruiser top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN