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 and had 26 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,162.1 complaints per year and had 151 recalls. The F-150 also had 297 injuries and 1 death reported, compared to 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 frequently report electrical glitches, brake problems, and engine cooling failures. While the overall complaint count is low, the nature of the issues—such as sudden power loss and brake fires—can be serious and costly.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that generated an average of over 1,160 complaints per year, with 151 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the powertrain, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Many owners describe transmission limp mode and lead frame failures that can leave the truck stuck in gear.
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 | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 22 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 30.6 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 Better | 297 |
| 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 failures that cause the vehicle to stop accelerating and stall at highway speeds, as well as water pouring in from the sunroof area during rain. These issues can lead to dangerous situations and expensive repairs.
A reported brake fire occurred between the brake pad and rotor on the rear passenger side after just a short drive. This suggests a risk of overheating and fire in the brake assembly, which is a critical safety concern.
Complaints include burning smells and smoke from the engine bay, often linked to a failed air conditioning compressor clutch that shuts down the cooling system and defrost. This can lead to costly repairs and potential overheating.
The same brake fire complaint also appears under the hydraulic category, indicating that hydraulic brake components may be involved in overheating and fire incidents. Buyers should have the brake system thoroughly inspected.
“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 TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe a recurring lead frame issue that can cause the truck to enter limp mode and get stuck in 5th gear, sometimes nearly causing collisions. Transmission malfunctions are frequent and can leave the vehicle undrivable.
The lead frame problem also appears under electrical, and owners report output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode on the highway. These electrical faults can strand drivers and require costly dealer repairs.
A short in the rear window defroster caused the back window to explode outward, according to one owner. This is a surprising and dangerous failure that could injure passengers or lead to expensive glass replacement.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should check all lights and wiring for signs of malfunction.
“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.
Volvo S40 — 26 recalls
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 S40 PASSENGER VEHICLES. A CRACK ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SUPPORT MEMBER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY HAVE DEVELOPED DURING THE FORMING PROCESS IN COMPONENT PRODUCTION.
The risk: THE CRACK COULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE FRONT STRUCTURE AND MAY REDUCE THE CRASH PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKS ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SUPPORT MEMBER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IF NO CRACK IS FOUND, NO FURTHER ACTION IS NEEDED. IF THE INSPECTION REVEALS THAT A VEHICLE HAS A CRACK IN THE SIDE SUPPORT MEM…
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 — 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
Volvo S40 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volvo S40 has far fewer complaints per year (about 31) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,160), but the S40's issues can be severe, such as brake fires and sudden power loss. The F-150's higher volume means more frequent problems, especially with the powertrain and electrical systems. In practice, the S40 may require less frequent attention, but when something goes wrong it can be serious; the F-150 may demand more ongoing maintenance and repairs.
Key differences
- The Volvo S40 averages about 31 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages over 1,160, a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- Volvo S40 owners report brake fires and sudden stalling, whereas Ford F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls versus 26 for the Volvo S40, indicating more widespread safety campaigns.
- The Ford F-150 has 297 injuries and 1 death reported, compared to 15 injuries and 0 deaths for the Volvo S40, though these figures depend on many factors.
- Check for any signs of brake overheating, such as discolored rotors or a burning smell, especially on the rear wheels.
- Test the sunroof and dome area for water leaks during a test drive or after a rainstorm, as owners report rain pouring in.
- Scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive at highway speeds to see if it enters limp mode or gets stuck in gear.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and surrounding glass for cracks or signs of overheating that could lead to shattering.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Volvo S40's brakes, electrical system, and cooling system for signs of failure.
- For the Ford F-150, have a mechanic check the transmission, lead frame, and electrical system for known issues.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds and rain, to replicate reported problems.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission or brake repairs.
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
- 11,621
- Volvo S40 total recalls
- 26
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Volvo S40 avg complaints/year
- 30.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S40
- Volvo S40 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN