Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S90 vs FORD F 150
How the Volvo S90 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 S90 vs FORD F 150: The S90 has 62 complaints over 10 years (6.2/year) and 26 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints (1,131.1/year) and 145 recalls. The F-150 also reports 287 injuries and 1 death, versus none for the S90. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S90 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S90
The Volvo S90 is a luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume: 62 complaints over 10 years, averaging 6.2 per year. Recalls are more frequent at 26, but most complaints center on electrical gremlins, brake vibrations, and door lock failures. Owners report issues like fuel doors that won't open, TPMS malfunctions, and rear doors that won't open from inside or outside. These are annoying and sometimes safety-relevant, but the overall pattern suggests fewer major powertrain failures than the Ford F-150.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive complaint volume: 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,131 per year. Recalls are also high at 145, and there are 328 crash-related complaints, 287 injuries, and 1 death. The dominant issue is the power train, especially transmission problems like hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden loss of power. Electrical issues such as camera malfunctions and battery cable problems are also common. This truck has a much higher rate of reported problems that 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 | Volvo S90 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 62 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.2 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 S90
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
- 03SERVICE BRAKES8
- 04LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES6
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
Owners report fuel doors that won't release, TPMS total malfunctions, and other electrical glitches. These can leave you unable to refuel or unaware of tire pressure issues, which is inconvenient and potentially unsafe.
Complaints describe violent steering wheel shake when braking, often requiring multiple brake rotor replacements. This suggests a recurring brake judder problem that can affect stopping confidence and cost you repeat repairs.
Rear doors may fail to open from inside or outside due to a door lock actuator issue. This is a safety concern because it can trap passengers in an emergency.
Some owners report vibrations and TPMS issues that don't fit a specific component. These can be hard to diagnose and may lead to multiple dealer visits.
“I PERSONALLY, BACK IN AUGUST OF 2016 ORDERED A NEW 2017 VOLVO S90 T5 INSCRIPTION, AND TOOK DELIVER IN NOVEMBER 2016. I BEGAN NOTICING A LITTLE VIBRATION AROUND JULY TIME FRAME BUT AFTER THE VEHICLE FIRST MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDED SERVICE DIDN'T FEEL IT AS MUCH.…”
“TPMS system total malfunction. Wife started out of our garage for work and noticed that the vehicle wasnt driving right and fortunately stopped and back down our driveway back toward the garage. Called me out and I went around the vehicle and witnessed the ri…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common complaint is transmission problems, especially with the 10-speed automatic. Owners report hard shifts, jerking, clunking, delayed engagement, and even sudden loss of power while driving. This can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
Owners report warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as battery cable issues. These can disable driver-assist features and leave you with persistent dashboard warnings.
Headlight problems are frequently reported, which can reduce visibility at night. This is a safety concern and may lead to costly replacements.
Engine-related complaints appear, though less often than transmission issues. They can include stalling or poor performance, which may require significant repairs.
“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 S90 — 26 recalls
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 S90L, 2020-2021 XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An improperly welded rotor and shaft may separate within the integrated brake system.
The risk: Separation of the rotor and shaft may cause a reduction in braking assistance and a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the hydraulic unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10120.
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.
The risk: A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All r…
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2025 S90 vehicles. The windows may be improperly secured and detach.
The risk: Windows that detach can create a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash or injury. In addition, the front windshield may not properly support a passenger air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will remove and reinstall the windows, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo's customer service at 800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10307.
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…
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 S90 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volvo S90 has far fewer issues per year (6.2 vs. 1,131.1) and no reported injuries or deaths in the data, while the Ford F-150 has 287 injuries and 1 death. In practice, the S90 is likely to spend less time in the shop for major repairs, but it still has its own electrical and brake quirks. The F-150's much higher complaint rate means a buyer should be prepared for more frequent and potentially serious problems.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints vs. 62 for the Volvo S90, a huge difference in reported problems per year.
- The F-150's top issue is power train (3,553 complaints), often transmission hard shifts and loss of power, while the S90's top issues are electrical and brake-related.
- The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints, 287 injuries, and 1 death; the S90 has 2 crash-related, 0 injuries, 0 deaths.
- The S90 has 26 recalls; the F-150 has 145 recalls, covering more systems like headlights, battery cables, and engines.
- Check that the fuel door opens and closes properly, and test the TPMS system for any warnings.
- Test all door locks, especially rear doors, to ensure they open from inside and outside; listen for brake vibration during a test drive.
- Test drive the truck extensively, focusing on transmission shifts between all gears, especially 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8; look for jerking, clunking, or delayed engagement.
- Check for dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' and verify all exterior lights work.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- For the Volvo S90, test the fuel door, TPMS, rear door locks, and brake feel during a test drive.
- For the Ford F-150, test the transmission thoroughly in all gears and check for any electrical warnings or camera issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the specific problem areas: brakes and electrical for the S90; transmission, electrical, and engine for the F-150.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission repairs or brake work.
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 S90 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 2 | 617 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 4 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 2 | 33 |
| 2019 | 0 | 36 |
| 2018 | 36 | 56 |
| 2017 | 16 | 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 Volvo S90 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S90 vs FORD F 150
- Volvo S90 total complaints
- 62
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volvo S90 total recalls
- 26
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volvo S90 avg complaints/year
- 6.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S90
- Volvo S90 top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN