Full-size pickups · model years 2014 to 2026
GMC Sierra 1500 vs Ford F-150: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Sierra 1500 looks better on 4 and the F-150 on 1, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2026 | Sierra 1500 | F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.3% | 2.7% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.1% | 1.8% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 45,000 | 52,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 3.5 | 8.5 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 2 | 2 |
| NHTSA investigations | 7 | 10 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Sierra 1500 owners complain about most is engine; for the F-150 it is transmission and drivetrain. Complaints citing engine make up 36% of all Sierra 1500 complaints, against 18% on the F-150. The F-150 leans the other way on transmission and drivetrain: 36% of its complaints, against 21% for the Sierra 1500.
GMC Sierra 1500Ford F-150
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Sierra 1500 is engine failure (16% of its complaints). On the F-150 it is transmission shudder (12% of its complaints), against 7.2% on the Sierra 1500.
| Problem | Sierra 1500 | F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 15% 883most in 2015 · 50k mi | 11% 1,417most in 2014 · 44k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 14% 812most in 2022 · 46k mi | 9.2% 1,230most in 2018 · 56k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 7.2% 416most in 2018 · 42k mi | 12% 1,657most in 2018 · 68k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 16% 903most in 2019 · 42k mi | 2.3% 305most in 2018 · 60k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 9.0% 519most in 2021 · 58k mi | 4.5% 610most in 2018 · 73k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 5.4% 313most in 2022 · 37k mi | 5.1% 689most in 2019 · 40k mi |
| Power steering cuts out or goes heavy | 4.3% 250most in 2014 · 56k mi | 2.0% 267most in 2014 · 60k mi |
| Transmission fails or needs replacement | 2.2% 12671k mi | 4.1% 549most in 2018 · 80k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Sierra 1500 owners report problems earlier. Half the Sierra 1500 complaints that give a mileage come before 45,000 miles; for the F-150 the halfway point is 52,000. 54% of Sierra 1500 reports and 47% of F-150 reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
GMC Sierra 1500Ford F-150
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 2,712 for the Sierra 1500 and 6,876 for the F-150.
Worst and best years
The 2024 Sierra 1500 draws 1.8 times the complaints of a typical Sierra 1500 year for its age. The 2018 F-150 draws 1.8 times the complaints of a typical F-150 year for its age.
GMC Sierra 1500
GMC Sierra 1500Ford F-150
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The F-150 draws more recalls: 8.5 campaigns per model year against 3.5 for the Sierra 1500. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
GMC Sierra 1500
45 recall campaigns and 7 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (11), brakes (7) and seat belts (5).
- Do not drive 16V-256 (suspension), model years 2016
- Do not drive 26V-289 (transmission and drivetrain), model years 2026
- 19V-645 (brakes) covers 5 model years
- 19V-761 (brakes) covers 5 model years
Investigations
- EA26005: Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy (open)
- RQ26001: Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy (closed)
- EA25007: Loss of motive power due to engine failure (open)
Ford F-150
110 recall campaigns and 10 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (22), exterior lighting (9) and electrical (9).
- Do not drive 14V-316 (steering), model years 2014
- Do not drive 21V-407 (steering), model years 2021
- 24V-852 (equipment) covers 7 model years
- 26V-104 (electrical) covers 6 model years
Investigations
- EA26001: Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up (open, led to a recall)
- PE25002: Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up (closed)
- PE24019: Low-pressure fuel pump failure (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
Crashes turn up in about the same share of complaints on both (2.3% and 2.7%). Fire reports: 55 for the Sierra 1500 and 141 for the F-150. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Sierra 1500 and 7 in the F-150 for these model years.
GMC Sierra 1500Ford F-150
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the GMC Sierra 1500 or the Ford F-150 more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Sierra 1500 looks better on 4 and the F-150 on 1, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Sierra 1500 has 5,781 complaints and the F-150 13,419 for model years 2014 to 2026, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Sierra 1500 or the F-150?
The Sierra 1500 has 45 recall campaigns and the F-150 110 across model years 2014 to 2026. The F-150 draws more recalls: 8.5 campaigns per model year against 3.5 for the Sierra 1500.
What are the most common problems on the Sierra 1500 and the F-150?
The most reported problem on the Sierra 1500 is engine failure (16% of its complaints). On the F-150 it is transmission shudder (12% of its complaints), against 7.2% on the Sierra 1500.
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