Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen CC vs FORD F 150
How the Volkswagen CC 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
Volkswagen CC vs FORD F 150: The CC has 370 complaints and 24 recalls over 6 years, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints and 145 recalls over 10 years. The CC's top issue is air bags; the F-150's is power train. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen CC or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volkswagen CC
The Volkswagen CC is a stylish sedan that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over six years, owners filed 370 complaints, with air bag and fuel system issues dominating. The pattern suggests that electrical and safety-related failures, like clock spring and fuel pump problems, are common and can be expensive. Recalls are frequent, so checking for open recalls is essential.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular truck with a high complaint volume—11,311 over ten years—but that's partly because so many are on the road. Power train and electrical problems are the most reported, with transmission jerking and sudden power loss being serious concerns. Recalls are numerous, and some issues can affect drivability and safety. Buyers should be aware of these patterns and inspect thoroughly.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen CC | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 370 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 61.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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.
Volkswagen CC
- 01AIR BAGS158
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM87
- 03ENGINE75
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM60
- 05STEERING20
Owners report clock spring failures that trigger airbag warning lights and can disable steering wheel controls. This matters because a faulty clock spring may prevent the airbag from deploying in a crash.
Complaints include fuel pump flange defects and strong gas odors, sometimes requiring fuel tank replacement. These issues can lead to fuel leaks and potential fire risks.
Reports of loss of motive power while driving or from a stop, which can be dangerous in traffic. This suggests potential fuel delivery or engine management problems.
The DQ250 DSG transmission's mechatronic unit can fail catastrophically, causing loss of gear selection. Clock spring failures also affect electrical functions. These repairs are often costly.
“My 2016 VW CC (VIN: [XXX]) has a clock spring failure. I brought my car in to Riverhead Bay Motors on 2/12/2019, with the hope of diagnosing and fixing the part. They had to order the part, so only diagnosis was done. Diagnosis confirmed that the clock spring…”
“AS I WAS MAKING A U-TURN I COULD HEAR A NOICE FROM MY STEELING WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND READ "ERROR: AIRBAG". I COULDN'T HELP BUT PANIC THINKING OF ALL THE POSSIBILITIES THAT CAN HAPPEN. I NOTICED THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners describe hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and sudden loss of power with the 10R80 transmission. This can leave you stranded and may require expensive transmission work.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs from the transmission area. These electrical glitches can affect driver assistance features.
Headlight issues are frequently reported, which can reduce visibility and increase crash risk. Recalls for headlights exist, so check if they've been addressed.
Engine-related complaints include various performance problems, though specific patterns are less clear from the sample. Still, engine issues can be costly.
“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.
Volkswagen CC — 24 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requi…
The risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
The fix: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 CC vehicles. Incorrect front seat head restraints (rests) may have been installed, possibly resulting in the seat occupant's head being inadequately restrained in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comp…
The risk: If the seat occupant's head is inadequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall i…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-…
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
Volkswagen CC or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen CC averages about 62 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages about 1,131 per year. However, the F-150's much higher sales volume means the per-vehicle complaint rate may be lower. In practice, the CC may have fewer total complaints but still suffers from serious safety defects.
Key differences
- The CC has far fewer complaints (370 vs. 11,311), but its most common issue is air bags, a critical safety system.
- The F-150's top complaint area is power train, with reports of transmission jerking and sudden power loss.
- The CC has 24 recalls, while the F-150 has 145 recalls, indicating more widespread issues over its larger fleet.
- Both vehicles have electrical problems, but the CC's involve clock springs and DSG mechatronics, while the F-150's involve camera and collision assist warnings.
- Check for airbag warning lights and test all steering wheel buttons; a failed clock spring is a common complaint.
- Inspect for fuel odors and ask if the fuel pump or tank has been replaced, as leaks and strong gas smells are reported.
- Test drive at various speeds to feel for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially in the 10-speed transmission.
- Check for dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' and ensure they are resolved.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on the NHTSA website and confirm they've been fixed.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and DSG service on the CC.
- During a test drive, listen for unusual noises from the transmission or steering column and note any warning lights.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on the areas mentioned in complaints.
- Check for fuel smells or leaks underneath the CC and inspect the F-150's electrical connectors for corrosion.
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 | Volkswagen CC | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 56 |
| 2017 | 4 | 43 |
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 Volkswagen CC or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen CC vs FORD F 150
- Volkswagen CC total complaints
- 370
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volkswagen CC total recalls
- 24
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volkswagen CC avg complaints/year
- 61.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen CC
- Volkswagen CC top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN