Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Yaris vs FORD F 150
How the Toyota Yaris 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 Yaris vs FORD F 150: The Yaris averages 14.6 complaints per year and has 24 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints per year and has 151 recalls. The F-150's complaints often involve serious transmission and electrical failures, whereas the Yaris reports more air bag and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Yaris or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Yaris
The Toyota Yaris is a subcompact car with a relatively low complaint volume: 146 complaints over 10 years, averaging 14.6 per year. The most common owner-reported issues involve air bags, electrical problems, and unintended braking or acceleration. With 24 recalls and 36 crash-related complaints, it's a simple car that can have safety-system quirks, but the overall rate of complaints is modest.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,162 per year. The dominant issues are power train (especially transmission and lead frame problems) and electrical system failures. With 151 recalls and 330 crash-related complaints, it's a complex truck that demands careful maintenance and pre-purchase inspection.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Yaris | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 146 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 36 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 14.6 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 40 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 6 | 1 Better |
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 Yaris
- 01AIR BAGS55
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
- 03VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL18
- 04ENGINE16
- 05SERVICE BRAKES14
Owners report air bag warning lights and seat belt lights illuminating, and in at least one crash, the air bags failed to deploy. This matters because it could affect occupant protection in a collision.
Complaints include intermittent no-start conditions where the engine cranks but won't start, and Bluetooth connectivity failures. These can leave you stranded or frustrated, and intermittent faults are hard to diagnose.
Some owners describe abrupt braking on the highway when the road surface changes, and collision-avoidance braking activating unexpectedly when parking. This can be startling and potentially dangerous if it happens in traffic.
Reports include intense vibration when coming to a stop and hesitation or multiple attempts needed to start. These symptoms suggest possible engine or transmission mount issues that can worsen over time.
“The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Yaris. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt light flashed on the instrument panel, indicating that the seat belt was not being worn. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was t…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TOYOTA YARIS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED FROM THE S…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners frequently report transmission problems: limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
The lead frame issue also appears here, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and costly to trace.
One owner reported the rear window shattering outward after using the defroster, possibly due to a short. This is a rare but alarming failure that could cause injury or property damage.
While less common than power train complaints, engine issues are reported. Recalls include engine-related subjects, so buyers should check for open 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 Yaris — 24 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Yaris vehicles. The wire harnesses for the side air bag sensors located within the front doors may crack and corrode, possibly causing the non-deployment or improper deployment of the front seat side air bags and the c…
The risk: In the event of a crash, front seat side air bags and curtain shield air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wire harness assembly in the front doors, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number fo…
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added…
The risk: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Yaris, Yaris Hatchback, and Yaris Sedan vehicles. An impeller within the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk: A fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 30, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB05 a…
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
The risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is S…
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 Yaris or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Toyota Yaris has far fewer complaints per year (14.6 vs. 1,162.1), meaning you're much less likely to encounter frequent problems. However, the F-150's issues are often more severe, such as transmission failures that can cause limp mode. In practice, the Yaris is simpler and less troublesome, but the F-150 offers more capability at the cost of higher maintenance risk.
Key differences
- The Yaris averages 14.6 complaints per year; the F-150 averages 1,162.1, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Yaris complaints center on air bags and electrical glitches; F-150 complaints are dominated by power train and transmission failures like limp mode and lead frame issues.
- The F-150 has 151 recalls vs. 24 for the Yaris, meaning more safety campaigns to track and resolve.
- Yaris has 6 deaths and 40 injuries in complaints; F-150 has 1 death and 297 injuries, but the F-150's higher complaint volume means injury reports are more numerous.
- Check for air bag warning lights or seat belt warning lights that stay on, as owners report these indicating potential air bag system faults.
- Test drive at highway speeds and over varying road surfaces to feel for unexpected braking or vibration when stopping, which owners have reported.
- During a test drive, watch for the transmission going into limp mode, getting stuck in a gear, or hesitating, as these are common owner complaints.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster operation, and ask if the rear window has ever shattered or been replaced due to a short.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission and electrical system for the F-150, and air bags and engine for the Yaris.
- For the F-150, specifically ask about any transmission repairs, lead frame replacements, or software updates related to recalls.
- For the Yaris, test all electrical features including Bluetooth, lights, and starting, and check for any warning lights on the dashboard.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether the vehicle has been in any accidents, especially if air bags were involved.
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 Yaris | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 9 | 44 |
| 2019 | 26 | 52 |
| 2018 | 4 | 79 |
| 2017 | 15 | 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 Yaris or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
No VIN yet? Ask the seller.
A genuine seller should be happy to share it. Send this, then paste the VIN into the box above when it comes back.
Going to see one?
Get the Toyota Yaris inspection checklist by email, so you know what to look for when you're standing next to it.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Yaris vs FORD F 150
- Toyota Yaris total complaints
- 146
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Toyota Yaris total recalls
- 24
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Toyota Yaris avg complaints/year
- 14.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Yaris
- Toyota Yaris top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN