Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen Passat vs FORD F 150
How the Volkswagen Passat 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 Passat vs FORD F 150: The Passat averages 188.7 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1. Passat owners report airbag and engine issues, while F-150 owners face transmission failures. Both have recalls, but the F-150 has more. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen Passat or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat, in ownership terms, is a midsize sedan that has been on the market for years, but its reliability record is concerning. With an average of 188.7 complaints per year over the last decade, owners frequently report issues with airbags, engine, and electrical systems. Living with a Passat may involve dealing with warning lights, steering wheel control failures, and engine performance problems, which can be both frustrating and costly.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a full-size pickup, shows a much higher complaint volume, averaging 1,131.1 complaints per year, but that's partly due to its popularity. The dominant issues are in the powertrain, especially the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as jerky, hard-shifting, and sometimes failing. Electrical system problems also appear, but the transmission concerns are the most prominent and can affect drivability and safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen Passat | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,887 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 47 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 79 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 188.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 62 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 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.
Volkswagen Passat
- 01AIR BAGS886
- 02ENGINE278
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM273
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER219
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM164
Owners report the clock spring failing, which disables the horn and steering wheel controls and triggers the airbag warning light. This is a safety concern because the airbag may not deploy in a crash.
Complaints include secondary air injection system faults (P0491) causing insufficient airflow, and internal coolant seal failures leading to coolant leaking into electrical components, creating a fire hazard.
Electrical issues often stem from the same coolant leak, which can cause shorts and malfunctions. Some owners also report sudden loss of power while driving, which is alarming.
“Steering wheel controls stopped working, no horn either. Probably no airbag but haven't got into an accident. There was recall on the same part for the until 2018, but the new part I was going to install lists that if fits cars 2016-2022 Part # 5K0-953-569-BC…”
“My clock spring isn’t working after having my vehicle for barely a year. My air bag light is currently on. I can’t use my horn nor use any of the controls on my steering wheel. I’ve paid already 800 plus on previous car issues such as my harness hose. I’m sti…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is a major sore point, with owners experiencing hard shifts, clunks, jerks, and even sudden loss of power or vehicle shutdown. These issues can be dangerous in traffic.
Electrical complaints include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear every time the truck starts, indicating a persistent sensor or software problem.
Headlight issues are common, with recalls for headlights, but owners also report problems with headlight performance, which can reduce visibility 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.
Volkswagen Passat — 47 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Saf…
The risk: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswa…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas and 2020 Passat vehicles. An incorrect driver and/or front passenger side impact air bag may have been installed.
The risk: In an event of a side impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen has inspected and replaced the side air bags, free of charge. The recall was completed in April 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y8.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Passat vehicles. The passenger frontal air bag may have been folded incorrectly affecting its deployment force. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208,…
The risk: An incorrectly folded air bag can deploy with too much force, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Volkswagen's number for this recall…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Saf…
The risk: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswa…
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 Passat or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen Passat has fewer complaints per year (188.7) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), but the F-150's higher volume is partly due to its sales numbers. In practice, the Passat's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical areas like airbags and engine, while the F-150's transmission problems are widespread and affect drivability.
Key differences
- The Passat has a higher proportion of airbag-related complaints (886) compared to the F-150's powertrain issues (3,553).
- The F-150's transmission failures can cause sudden loss of power, which is more dangerous than the Passat's typical electrical glitches.
- The Passat's engine coolant leak can lead to electrical fires, a severe safety hazard, while the F-150's issues are more about drivability.
- The F-150 has more recalls (145) than the Passat (47), indicating more widespread problems.
- Check the clock spring and airbag light: if the horn or steering wheel controls don't work, the airbag may not deploy.
- Inspect for coolant leaks, especially around the engine, as they can cause electrical failures and fire risk.
- Test drive the truck and listen for hard shifts or clunks, especially between 4th and 6th gears, which are common with the 10R80 transmission.
- Look for warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' on the dash, indicating sensor issues.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the Passat's airbag system and clock spring, and check for any pending airbag recalls.
- For the Passat, ask for service records related to engine coolant leaks or secondary air injection repairs.
- For the F-150, get a transmission diagnostic and check for any open recalls on the transmission or electrical system.
- Test drive both vehicles at highway speeds to feel for any abnormal shifts or power loss.
- Check the NHTSA website for the specific VIN's recall history and complaint records.
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 Passat | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 17 | 33 |
| 2019 | 12 | 36 |
| 2018 | 45 | 56 |
| 2017 | 110 | 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 Passat or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen Passat vs FORD F 150
- Volkswagen Passat total complaints
- 1,887
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volkswagen Passat total recalls
- 47
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volkswagen Passat avg complaints/year
- 188.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen Passat
- Volkswagen Passat top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN