Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S70 vs FORD F 150
How the Volvo S70 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 S70 vs FORD F 150: The S70 has 188 complaints in 1 year and 4 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years and 145 recalls. The S70's main issue is electronic throttle surging; the F-150's is transmission problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S70 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S70
The Volvo S70 is a sedan that, based on owner complaints, can be a headache due to electronic throttle and electrical gremlins. With 188 complaints in one year, the rate is high for a single model year, and many reports describe stalling, surging, and starting problems. Buyers should expect to deal with these issues, especially on 2000 models, and verify any recall work was done.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a huge number of complaints—over 11,000 in ten years—but that's partly because so many are on the road. The most common trouble spots are the transmission and electrical system, with reports of hard shifts, sudden power loss, and warning lights. Recalls are frequent, so checking for open recalls is essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo S70 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 188 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 188.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 11 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 S70
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL74
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING24
- 04FUEL SYSTEM19
- 05GASOLINE17
Owners report RPM surging and unintended acceleration linked to a faulty electronic throttle module. This can cause the car to lunge or stall, which is dangerous in traffic.
Complaints include the engine turning over but not starting, and warning lights like ETS and Check Engine coming on. These electrical faults often tie back to the throttle system and can leave you stranded.
The ETS light illuminates and the car may surge or stall while driving. Owners say the electronic throttle system is often the culprit, requiring expensive repairs.
Some owners report fuel pump failures that prevent the engine from starting, sometimes intermittently. This can be a recurring problem that's hard to diagnose.
“I OWN A 2000 VOLVO S70 AND AM WAS EXPERIENCING RPM SURGING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT VOLVO REPAIR SPECIALIST, SOUTHWEST AUTOMOTIVE, WHO IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE SURGING AS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE PROBLEM, AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO A V…”
“**APPROX. INCIDENT DATE IS ACTUALLY ONGOING FOR PAST FOUR YEARS.*** I HAVE A 2000 VOLVO S70 WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2000 FROM VOLVO ATHENS, GA. DEALER. I CURRENTLY HAVE 190,000+ MILES. OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD CONSIST…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and clunking from the 10-speed automatic transmission. In some cases, the truck loses power or shuts off while driving, which is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs from the transmission. These electrical glitches can affect driver-assist features and overall reliability.
There are recalls and complaints about headlights, which can reduce visibility. Owners may need to check for recalls and ensure lights work properly.
While less common than transmission issues, some owners report engine problems that can lead to stalling or poor performance. Recalls exist for engine-related issues, so verify they've been addressed.
“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 S70 — 4 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
The risk: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
The defect: CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAI…
The risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THERE COULD BE INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET WHICH COULD CAUSE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.
The risk: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
The risk: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS…
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 S70 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volvo S70 has far fewer complaints per year (188) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131 per year), but the S70's issues are concentrated in dangerous throttle and electrical faults. The F-150's higher volume means more overall problems, but many are transmission-related and may be covered by recalls. In practice, the S70 may be riskier for a first-time buyer due to unpredictable stalling, while the F-150 requires careful checking of transmission and recalls.
Key differences
- The Volvo S70's most common complaint is vehicle speed control (electronic throttle) causing surging and stalling, while the Ford F-150's top issue is power train (transmission) problems like hard shifts and power loss.
- The S70 has 188 complaints in one year, a high rate for a single model, whereas the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over ten years, reflecting its much larger production volume.
- The S70 has 4 recalls, including throttle and brake issues, while the F-150 has 145 recalls covering many systems, so checking for open recalls is more complex on the Ford.
- Both vehicles have electrical complaints, but the S70's are often tied to starting and throttle, while the F-150's involve warning lights and driver-assist malfunctions.
- Check for any signs of RPM surging or hesitation during a test drive, especially at steady speeds, as this may indicate a failing electronic throttle module.
- Ask for service records to see if the electronic throttle system or fuel pump has been replaced, and verify that any recalls on the throttle and brakes were performed.
- Test drive at various speeds and pay attention to transmission shifts; hard jerks, clunks, or delayed engagement between gears are common complaints.
- Look for warning messages on the dashboard related to front camera or pre-collision assist, and check for any transmission-related recalls by providing the VIN to a dealer.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the Volvo's throttle system and the Ford's transmission.
- During the test drive, specifically test for the symptoms described in complaints: surging/stalling for the Volvo, and hard shifts or power loss for the Ford.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any repairs related to the throttle module, fuel pump, or transmission.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been completed, and get documentation if possible.
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 S70 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S70 vs FORD F 150
- Volvo S70 total complaints
- 188
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volvo S70 total recalls
- 4
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volvo S70 avg complaints/year
- 188.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S70
- Volvo S70 top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN