Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Supra vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota Supra 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 Supra vs FORD F 150: The Supra averages 6.4 complaints per year over 7 years, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1 over 10 years. The F-150 has 145 recalls and 287 injuries; the Supra has 19 recalls and 1 injury. The Supra shows fewer reported issues, but both need recall checks. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Supra or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Supra
The Toyota Supra is a low-volume sports coupe, averaging about 6.4 complaints per year over seven years. Owners report electrical glitches like unpredictable throttle and starter relay issues, plus brake noise and engine oil pump concerns. With 19 recalls, it demands attention to open campaigns, but the low complaint count suggests fewer everyday problems than the Ford F-150.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive owner base, generating about 1,131 complaints per year over ten years. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with reports of hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden power loss. Electrical problems like camera malfunctions and battery cable recalls are also common. With 145 recalls and 287 injuries reported, it's a high-maintenance vehicle that needs careful inspection.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Supra | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 45 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.4 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 Supra
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
- 02SERVICE BRAKES9
- 03ENGINE9
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
- 05STEERING5
Owners describe unresponsive or unpredictable throttle behavior, often linked to starter relay recalls. This can make the car hesitate or surge, which is dangerous in traffic. Also, some report the rear hatch won't open electrically or manually, risking entrapment.
Complaints include chronic braking noise from delivery and an electronic parking brake that auto-disengages without enough safety interlocks. The noise may indicate premature wear, and the parking brake issue could lead to unintended movement.
The B58 turbo engine uses a variable-displacement oil pump with a plastic adjusting component that can fail, potentially causing oil pressure loss and engine damage. This affects 2019–2021 models and is a costly repair if out of warranty.
Some owners report the rear hatch won't open electrically or via the interior manual release, which could trap someone inside. Others note climate control inconsistencies, though these are less safety-critical.
“I own a new 2021 Toyota Supra and along with other owners of this new model, there is a safety issue that has been identified. There is a repeating issue with unresponsive/unpredictable throttle behavior for me and other Toyota Supra owners. It only happens o…”
“See attached document for complaint. Toyota Motor North America, Inc. has failed or is unable to remedy the safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 25V-636), issued on 26 September 2025, for my 2021 Toyota Supra within a reasonable period of time. According to the no…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is the top complaint: hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and occasional sudden power loss. Owners report these issues even at low mileage, and repairs can be expensive.
Common complaints include front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available warnings, which can disable driver aids. There are also recalls for battery cables, which could cause stalling or no-start conditions.
Many owners report various unexplained issues, from infotainment glitches to water leaks. These can be frustrating to diagnose and may require multiple dealer visits.
Headlight problems are frequently reported, including premature failure or condensation. This reduces visibility and can be a safety concern, especially at night.
“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 Supra — 19 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles. The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit.
The risk: A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 6, 2026. Owners may contact B…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Toyota Supra, 2022-2023 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2024 5 Series (xDrive), 2021-2022 Z4, 2022-2024 4 Series (Gran Coupe), 2021-2024 4 Series (Convertible and xDrive Convertible), 2021-2023 4 Series (Coupe), 2021-2024 3 Series, 2021-2023 X4, 2…
The risk: Fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Supra, 2022-2025 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2023 5 Series, 2022-2026 Z4, 2023-2024 4 Series Gran Coupe, 4 Series Convertible, 4 Series Coupe, 3 Series, 2021-2025 X4, and 2021-2024 X3 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complet…
The risk: Fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on August 28, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Veh…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota GR Supra, 3 Series Sedan (330i xDrive, M340i xDrive, M3), 5 Series Sedan (530i, 530i xDrive, M5), 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 4 Series Convertible (430i, 430i xDrive, M440…
The risk: Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics module and the automatic transmission fluid, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-741…
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 Supra or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota Supra has far fewer complaints per year (6.4 vs. 1,131.1), meaning you're less likely to face recurring problems. However, the F-150's issues are more widespread and often involve the transmission, which can be a major expense. In practice, the Supra demands less frequent attention, but both require vigilance for specific faults.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 1,131 complaints per year on average, while the Toyota Supra has only 6.4—a huge gap in reported problems.
- F-150 owners most often report transmission issues (hard shifts, power loss), whereas Supra complaints center on electrical throttle and brake noise.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls and 287 injuries reported; the Supra has 19 recalls and 1 injury, indicating different safety profiles.
- Supra issues often involve BMW-sourced parts like the B58 engine oil pump, while F-150 problems are more varied across powertrain and electronics.
- Check for open recalls, especially the starter relay and brake system recalls, and confirm they've been fixed.
- Test the throttle response for hesitation or surging, and listen for brake noise during a test drive.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears.
- Check for dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' and ensure all recalls are addressed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall site to see if all safety recalls have been repaired.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for transmission or throttle issues.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and oil changes on the Supra.
- Have a mechanic inspect the specific problem areas: transmission for F-150, brakes and electrical for Supra.
- Check for any aftermarket modifications, which can void warranties and complicate repairs.
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 Supra | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 2 | 329 |
| 2024 | 1 | 617 |
| 2023 | 5 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 20 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 16 | 33 |
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 Supra or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Supra vs FORD F 150
- Toyota Supra total complaints
- 45
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Toyota Supra total recalls
- 19
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Toyota Supra avg complaints/year
- 6.4
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Supra
- Toyota Supra top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN