Head-to-head reliability
Volvo V70 vs FORD F 150
How the Volvo V70 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 V70 vs FORD F 150: The Volvo V70 has 537 complaints over 10 years (avg 53.7/yr), while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 (avg 1,131.1/yr). The F-150's transmission issues are prominent, with hard shifts and power loss. The V70 shows fewer but still serious electrical and engine problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo V70 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo V70
The Volvo V70, a midsize wagon, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 54 per year over the last decade. Owners report issues that can affect daily drivability, such as transmission hesitation, stalling, and electrical glitches. While not as numerous as some trucks, the failures often involve critical systems, making pre-purchase inspection important.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a full-size pickup, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year. The majority of complaints center on the 10-speed automatic transmission, with hard shifts and sudden power loss being common. Electrical system issues, including camera malfunctions, also feature prominently, indicating potential reliability concerns for a workhorse vehicle.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo V70 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 537 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 46 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 17 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 53.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 19 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 V70
- 01POWER TRAIN97
- 02VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL88
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM71
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING59
- 05FUEL SYSTEM59
Owners report the transmission failing to shift properly, causing jerking during acceleration, and some vehicles rolling backward on hills if not aggressively accelerated. This suggests potential transmission wear or software issues that could affect safety and drivability.
Stalling at various speeds is reported, often traced to a failed throttle body modulator. Even after repair, the problem can persist, leading to unexpected loss of power while driving.
There are reports of vehicle fires, possibly electrical in origin, and the SRS (airbag) warning light illuminating intermittently. These issues point to potential wiring or sensor faults that could be safety hazards.
Engine power loss and cooling system anomalies, such as the temperature gauge dropping to zero and fans running continuously, have been reported. Dealers have replaced temperature sensors, but the problem may recur, indicating deeper electrical or sensor issues.
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE GEARS WERE NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN A LOWER GEAR. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHEN THE CONTACT TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER STATE…”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF HE DID NOT AGGRESSIVELY ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING UP HILL, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE FAILURE WAS A NORMAL CHARACT…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden power loss and shutdown. These issues can be alarming and potentially dangerous in traffic.
Electrical problems include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist being unavailable, which appear every time the truck starts. This suggests persistent sensor or software glitches that could affect driver-assist features.
While specific complaints are not detailed here, the high number of complaints in this category suggests issues with headlights or other exterior lights, which could impact visibility and safety.
Engine-related complaints are also significant, though specific examples are not provided. Given the transmission issues, engine problems could compound drivability concerns.
“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 V70 — 46 recalls
The defect: Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front…
The risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.
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 MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 S80, XC70, MODEL YEAR 2011 XC60 AND MODEL YEAR 2010 V70 VEHICLES. THERE MAY BE AN INTERMITTENT FAULT IN THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING WIRING CONNECTOR FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED OR AT ALL, AND THEREFORE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A METAL SHIM IN THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING WIRING CONNECTOR. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
The defect: Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10136.
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 V70 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volvo V70 has far fewer complaints per year (about 54) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the F-150's problems are concentrated in the transmission, which is a critical component, so the difference in frequency may not fully reflect the severity of potential failures.
Key differences
- The Volvo V70 has a much lower complaint rate (54/year) than the Ford F-150 (1,131/year).
- Volvo V70 issues include transmission jerking, stalling, and electrical fires, while F-150 issues are dominated by harsh shifting and transmission shutdowns.
- The F-150 has a higher number of recalls (145 vs 46) and more crash-related complaints (328 vs 17), suggesting a higher safety-related complaint volume.
- Electrical system complaints are prominent in both, but in the F-150 they often involve driver-assist features, while in the V70 they include SRS light and fire risks.
- Check for transmission behavior: test drive on hills and during acceleration to see if it jerks or rolls back.
- Inspect the throttle body and engine sensors for signs of stalling or power loss, and check for any electrical burning smells or SRS light issues.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: listen for hard shifts, clunks, or any hesitation, especially between 4th-6th gears.
- Check if the dashboard shows any warning messages for camera or pre-collision assist, and verify they clear after a restart.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission and electrical systems.
- Test drive both vehicles in stop-and-go traffic and on hills to assess transmission behavior.
- Check for any warning lights on the dashboard and ensure they are off after a cold start.
- Review service records for any previous repairs related to the transmission or electrical 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 V70 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo V70 vs FORD F 150
- Volvo V70 total complaints
- 537
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volvo V70 total recalls
- 46
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volvo V70 avg complaints/year
- 53.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volvo V70
- Volvo V70 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN