Head-to-head reliability
Volvo VN vs FORD F 150
How the Volvo VN 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 VN vs FORD F 150: The Volvo VN has 0.7 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 has 1131.1. Volvo VN owners report window leaks and electrical issues, whereas Ford F-150 owners face transmission failures and camera malfunctions. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo VN or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo VN
The Volvo VN is a heavy-duty truck with a low complaint rate of 0.7 per year, but owners report persistent water leaks around windows, leading to stained upholstery. Electrical system issues, including a recall for brakes, and a case of odometer fraud also appear. Overall, it seems to have fewer reported problems, but the leaks and electrical concerns are notable.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular pickup with a high complaint rate of 1131 per year, dominated by powertrain issues, especially harsh shifting and loss of power in the 10R80 transmission. Electrical problems like camera malfunctions are also common. With many recalls and crash reports, it shows a pattern of significant mechanical and electronic issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo VN | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 38 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 VN
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 03TIRES1
- 04STRUCTURE1
- 05SERVICE BRAKES1
Owners report water leaking through every window, causing water stains on upholstery. This is a common issue that Volvo acknowledged with a recall in 2019, but it persists in later models.
There are reports of electrical system issues, including a recall for brake problems (NHTSA 24V790000) that some owners couldn't get fixed at dealers. Also, a case of odometer fraud was reported, which is a legal concern.
The structure complaint is about the same window leaks, indicating that the body sealing is faulty, leading to interior water damage.
“Every window in this truck leaks. The upholstery is water stained around and underneath every window. This , I found out is a common problem for Volvo trucks. Volvo knows about this problem as they had a recall in 2019 for this very problem. Volvo Corp office…”
“This Person hit my SUV and would not Stop, USDOT # 923849 I had to chase him down for a mile before he stopped. He destroyed my New Car 2025 Subaru Forester. I would like this person NOT be able to drive a BIG RIG again.”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report harsh and delayed shifts, especially between 7th and 8th gears, and some experience sudden loss of power and vehicle shutdown. The 10R80 transmission is a common source of complaints.
Electrical issues include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, appearing every time the truck starts. These can be persistent and require dealer visits.
A significant number of complaints fall into this category, often involving transmission-related noises and suspension pops, which may be hard to diagnose.
“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 VN — 38 recalls
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2019-2024 VN and VHD vehicles. The passenger side bench seat may be inadequately attached to the floor. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 207, "Seating Systems"…
The risk: The attachment points may fail, allowing the bench seat to shift and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the weld nut with two nuts and a washer, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 29, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks number for this recall is RVXX2312.
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2020-2025 VN, VAH, VHD and VNRE trucks, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop working.
The risk: Safety systems that depend on the ECU (Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System) may have diminished or lost functionality, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Truck's number for this recall is RVXX2409.
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2019-2024 VN and VHD vehicles. The passenger side bench seat may be inadequately attached to the floor. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 207, "Seating Systems"…
The risk: The attachment points may fail, allowing the bench seat to shift and increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the weld nut with two nuts and a washer, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 29, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks number for this recall is RVXX2312.
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2020-2025 VN, VAH, VHD and VNRE trucks, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop working.
The risk: Safety systems that depend on the ECU (Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System) may have diminished or lost functionality, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Truck's number for this recall is RVXX2409.
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 VN or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Volvo VN has far fewer complaints per year (0.7) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. In practice, this means a Volvo VN buyer may face fewer problems, but the Ford F-150's issues are more widespread and potentially more serious.
Key differences
- Volvo VN has a much lower complaint rate (0.7/yr) vs Ford F-150 (1131/yr).
- Ford F-150 has major powertrain issues like harsh shifting and loss of power, while Volvo VN's main issue is water leaks.
- Ford F-150 has more recalls (145) and crash-related complaints (328) compared to Volvo VN (38 recalls, 1 crash).
- Electrical problems in Ford F-150 include camera malfunctions, while Volvo VN has brake-related electrical recalls.
- Inspect all windows and interior for water stains or leaks, as this is a common issue.
- Check for any pending recalls, especially the electrical system/brake recall (24V790000), and verify the odometer reading for fraud.
- Test drive to feel for harsh shifts or clunks, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and check for any warning lights like front camera malfunction.
- Review the vehicle's recall history and service records for transmission repairs.
Before you buy
- For Volvo VN: ask about the 2019 window leak recall and whether it was fixed; check for water stains under windows.
- For Volvo VN: verify the odometer and get a vehicle history report to rule out fraud.
- For Ford F-150: perform a thorough test drive including highway speeds to check transmission shifting.
- For Ford F-150: check for any active recalls and ensure they are completed.
- For both: have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
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 VN | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 1 | 617 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 3 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 1 | 33 |
| 2019 | 0 | 36 |
| 2018 | 2 | 56 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 VN or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo VN vs FORD F 150
- Volvo VN total complaints
- 7
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Volvo VN total recalls
- 38
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Volvo VN avg complaints/year
- 0.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Volvo VN
- Volvo VN top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN