Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S40 vs FORD F 150
How the Volvo S40 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 S40 vs FORD F 150: The S40 averaged 30.6 complaints per year with 26 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,131.1 complaints and 145 recalls. The F-150 also had 287 injuries and 1 death, versus 15 injuries and 0 deaths for the S40. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S40 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S40
The Volvo S40 is a compact sedan that averaged about 31 complaints per year over a decade, with 26 recalls. Owners most often report electrical gremlins, brake problems, and engine cooling failures. While the overall complaint rate is low, the nature of the issues—like sudden power loss or brake fires—can be serious and expensive.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that generated over 11,000 complaints in ten years—roughly 1,131 per year—and 145 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the transmission, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Many owners describe hard shifting, sudden power loss, and warning messages, indicating a higher frequency of problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo S40 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 306 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 22 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 30.6 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 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 S40
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM78
- 02SERVICE BRAKES40
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING31
- 04HYDRAULIC30
- 05AIR BAGS29
Owners report serpentine belt failure causing sudden loss of acceleration and stalling, as well as water pouring in from the sunroof area during rain. These can lead to dangerous situations on the road and costly repairs.
A reported brake fire between the pad and rotor on the rear passenger side, requiring replacement of rotor, caliper, and pads. This indicates a potential fire risk that buyers should take seriously.
Complaints include burning smells and smoke from the engine bay, often linked to a failed A/C compressor clutch that shuts down the cooling system. Repairs can be very expensive.
The same brake fire complaint also appears under hydraulic, suggesting brake fluid or hydraulic system involvement. This reinforces the need to inspect the braking system thoroughly.
“MY SERPENTINE BELT BROKE ON 6/6/2014 AND WAS REPLACED. ON 6/20/2014 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IN CHICAGO, IL WHEN MY VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. THIS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PUL…”
“ON OR ABOUT 12/04/2019 DURING A FLASH RAIN STORM LAST WINTER, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS HEADED HOME ON THE 215 FWY NORTHBOUND IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA WHEN THE CENTER DOME AREA AND THE ELECTRIC SUNROOF INSIDE OUR CAR BEGIN POURING IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF VERY COLD RAIN WA…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners of the 10R80 automatic transmission report hard, delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and sudden loss of power. These issues can strand drivers and may require major transmission work.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission, popping sounds from the rear suspension, and persistent dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These can be distracting and costly to diagnose.
With 1,164 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should check all lights for proper function.
Engine-related complaints number 847, but the sample text does not detail specific failures. Given the volume, it's wise to have a mechanic inspect the engine thoroughly.
“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 S40 — 26 recalls
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
The fix: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED…
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. THE FRONT SEAT RAIL'S DETECTION SYSTEM WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND MAY PERMIT THE PASSENGER TO FORWARD THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM.
The risk: POSITIONING OF THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT POWER SEAT STOPS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS FOR THE PRESENCE OF AN "END STOP" AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458…
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING MY 2008-2009 VEHICLES. A SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY VULCANIZED (CURED) AND DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE FAILS, A SUDDEN RUPTURE OF THE HOSE CAN OCCUR.
The risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A RAPID DRAINAGE OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE SYSTEM AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSISTANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
The fix: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED…
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 S40 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volvo S40 has far fewer complaints per year (about 31 vs. 1,131 for the F-150), meaning you're less likely to face frequent repair visits. However, the S40's issues can be severe, like brake fires, while the F-150's higher volume suggests more widespread problems, especially with the transmission.
Key differences
- The F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the S40 has only 306—a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Transmission problems dominate F-150 complaints, with hard shifting and power loss, whereas S40 complaints are spread across electrical, brakes, and engine cooling.
- The S40 has 26 recalls versus 145 for the F-150, indicating more widespread safety-related fixes for the truck.
- Both have crash-related complaints and injuries, but the F-150 also has one death reported, highlighting the potential severity of its issues.
- Check for signs of brake fluid leaks or overheating around the rear brakes, as brake fires have been reported.
- Inspect the sunroof and dome area for water leaks, and test the A/C compressor clutch for proper engagement.
- Test drive the truck extensively, focusing on transmission shifts between gears, especially 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8, looking for jerks or delays.
- Check for dashboard warning messages related to the front camera and pre-collision assist, and ensure all exterior lights work.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the specific problem areas: brakes and electrical for the S40; transmission and electrical for the F-150.
- During a test drive, listen for unusual noises and feel for transmission hesitation or hard shifts.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and brake service on the S40.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the model's common issues.
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 S40 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S40 vs FORD F 150
- Volvo S40 total complaints
- 306
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volvo S40 total recalls
- 26
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volvo S40 avg complaints/year
- 30.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S40
- Volvo S40 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN