Head-to-head reliability
Volvo EX40 vs FORD F 150
How the Volvo EX40 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
Volvo EX40 vs FORD F 150: The EX40 has 3 complaints over 2 years and 4 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years and 145 recalls. The EX40 reports sudden brake and power loss; the F-150 reports transmission and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo EX40 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo EX40
The Volvo EX40 is a compact electric SUV with very few complaints—only 3 over 2 years—but those complaints describe serious sudden failures like total brake loss and power shutdowns. It has 4 recalls, all for brake software or backup camera software, suggesting electronic glitches are the main concern. For a buyer, this means low overall reported frequency but potentially severe safety issues when they occur.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging over 1,100 per year. Owners frequently report transmission problems like hard shifts and sudden power loss, plus electrical glitches such as camera malfunctions. With 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, it has a much higher volume of reported issues, though it's also far more common on the road.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo EX40 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.5 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Volvo EX40
- 01SERVICE BRAKES2
- 02POWER TRAIN2
- 03STEERING1
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 05ENGINE1
Owners report that tapping the brakes can cause complete brake failure, with all warning lights flashing and messages like 'Stop Safely Brake Failure.' This is terrifying because it happens without warning and can lead to loss of control.
Complaints describe the vehicle losing power while driving, with steering and hazard lights going dead and wipers turning on by themselves. This sudden shutdown can leave you stranded in traffic with no ability to steer or signal.
Along with brake failure, owners report losing power steering simultaneously, making the car hard to control. This combination of brake and steering loss is a major safety concern.
The electrical system can fail, causing the car to lose all power, including hazard lights and steering, while wipers run continuously. This points to a serious software or wiring issue that can disable critical functions.
“I was driving on the freeway in traffic, thankfully going about +/- 25 mph and had to stop/slow down. When I tapped the breaks, they completely failed. All warning lights in the car immediately came on including the warning 'Stop Safely Break Failure'. I pres…”
“Applied the brake while approaching a crosswalk and suddenly multiple warning notifications appeared on dashboard (brake failure, collision avoidance system not functioning, etc) and every warning light started flashing. Lost power steering and brakes. Had to…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a common trouble spot, with owners reporting hard shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power. These issues can make the truck unpredictable and dangerous in traffic.
Owners frequently see warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' which can disable driver-assist features. There are also reports of loud bangs from the transmission and rear suspension.
Headlight problems are common enough to be a top complaint category, though specific failure details aren't in the sample. Malfunctioning lights reduce visibility and can lead to accidents.
Engine issues are reported, but the sample complaints focus more on transmission and electrical. Still, engine problems can be costly and affect reliability.
“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.
Volvo EX40 — 4 recalls
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023-2024 XC40 BEV, 2020-2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022-2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023-2025 S60 PHEV, 2024-2025 V60 PHEV, and 2025-2026 EX40 and 2025 S90 PHEV vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "…
The risk: A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to use "B" Mode (for plug-in hybrid vehicles) or "One Pedal Drive" (for pure electric vehicles) until the repair has been completed. The brake module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free o…
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023-2024 XC40 BEV, 2020-2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022-2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023-2025 S60 PHEV, 2024-2025 V60 PHEV, and 2025-2026 EX40 and 2025 S90 PHEV vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "…
The risk: A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to use "B" Mode (for plug-in hybrid vehicles) or "One Pedal Drive" (for pure electric vehicles) until the repair has been completed. The brake module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free o…
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply wi…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for…
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fai…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's numb…
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
Volvo EX40 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volvo EX40 has far fewer complaints per year (1.5 vs. 1,131.1), but its issues tend to be sudden and severe, like brake and power loss. The Ford F-150 has a much higher volume of complaints, especially transmission and electrical problems, but many are less immediately dangerous. In practice, the EX40 may have fewer problems overall, but when they occur, they can be critical.
Key differences
- The Volvo EX40 has only 3 complaints in 2 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints in 10 years, showing a huge difference in reported problem volume.
- EX40 complaints often involve sudden brake failure and power loss, which are immediate safety risks; F-150 complaints frequently involve transmission jerking and electrical glitches that may be less sudden but more persistent.
- The EX40 has 4 recalls, all for software (brakes and backup camera), while the F-150 has 145 recalls covering lighting, battery cables, engine, and seats.
- The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries reported, whereas the EX40 has 0 crash-related complaints and 0 injuries, though the EX40's low volume makes direct comparison difficult.
- Check for any history of brake-related recalls or software updates; ask if the brake control module software has been updated per the recalls.
- Test drive at low speeds and brake firmly to see if any warning lights appear or if the brake pedal feels soft or unresponsive.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears; jerking or delayed engagement is a red flag.
- Check for dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' and ensure all electrical features work, including lights and infotainment.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who specializes in the respective brand (Volvo for EX40, Ford for F-150).
- For the EX40, ask the seller to demonstrate that all software recalls have been performed and test the brakes and steering thoroughly.
- For the F-150, test drive in stop-and-go traffic and on the highway to feel for transmission issues, and check all electrical components.
- Review the owner's manual for maintenance schedules and ensure all scheduled services are up to date, especially for the transmission on the F-150.
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 | Volvo EX40 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 24 |
| 2025 | 2 | 329 |
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 Volvo EX40 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo EX40 vs FORD F 150
- Volvo EX40 total complaints
- 3
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volvo EX40 total recalls
- 4
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volvo EX40 avg complaints/year
- 1.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volvo EX40
- Volvo EX40 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN