Comparison

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA vs FORD F-150

Side-by-side comparison of the CHEVROLET CAPTIVA and FORD F-150 drawn from the NHTSA consumer-complaint database, defect investigations, recall history, and NCAP crash-test ratings.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 2,054,142 consumer complaints have been filed against U.S. vehicles since 1995, as of June 2026. This is a head-to-head safety comparison between the CHEVROLET CAPTIVA (2011–2015) and the FORD F-150 (1984–2025), drawn from that federal complaint and recall record; see our methodology for how the figures are compiled.

The CHEVROLET CAPTIVA (2011–2015, 5 model years) carries 465 NHTSA consumer complaints and 1 safety recall, while the FORD F-150 (1984–2025, 39 model years) carries 45,624 complaints and 291 recalls. Severity indicators for the pair split as follows: 17 vs 2,099 crashes, 13 vs 2,265 fires, and 0 vs 83 reported fatalities.

Raw complaint counts favor whichever nameplate has fewer vehicles on the road, so the cleaner lens is components: which specific part families concentrate each model's filings? For the CHEVROLET CAPTIVA, the leading complaint category is electrical system (130 filings), followed by engine and unknown or other. For the FORD F-150, it is power train (6760), ahead of engine and electrical system. When the two vehicles cluster around the same component, the problem is likely a shared supplier or a shared federal standard under stress; when they diverge, each nameplate has its own defect signature independent of the other.

Average NCAP crash-test scores are not uniformly available for both nameplates in this dataset, which typically means one or both pre-date the 2011 rating methodology refresh. Use the side-by-side table below as your scorecard, but do not treat it as a verdict. Recall counts tell you how many defects the manufacturer has already been compelled to remedy; complaint counts tell you what owners are still flagging today; and safety ratings tell you how the vehicle performs in standardized barrier tests — three different lenses on the same underlying question. The "also compare" links at the bottom of this page let you triangulate against neighboring nameplates in each model's competitive set.

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA vs FORD F-150 — NHTSA complaint, recall, and safety rating comparison
CHEVROLET CAPTIVA Metric FORD F-150
1.2/5 Avg Safety Rating N/A
465 Total Complaints 45,624
1 Total Recalls 291
17 Crashes Reported 2,099
13 Fires Reported 2,265
37 Injuries Reported 1,935
0 Deaths Reported 83
5 years Years on Market 39 years

Top Complaint Categories

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
130
2784
ENGINE
98
4316
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
57
2269
POWER TRAIN
33
6760
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
25
0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
0
2085
CHEVROLET CAPTIVA FORD F-150

Compare Another Pair

Search for any two vehicle models to compare their safety records side by side.

Go to Compare Tool →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is safer, CHEVROLET CAPTIVA or FORD F-150?
CHEVROLET CAPTIVA has 465 total NHTSA complaints with 17 crashes, while FORD F-150 has 45,624 complaints with 2099 crashes. Review individual model years for specific safety ratings.
How many recalls does CHEVROLET CAPTIVA have compared to FORD F-150?
CHEVROLET CAPTIVA has 1 recalls across 5 model years, while FORD F-150 has 291 recalls across 39 model years.
What are the most common problems with CHEVROLET CAPTIVA?
The most commonly reported issues for CHEVROLET CAPTIVA are: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (130 complaints), ENGINE (98 complaints), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (57 complaints), POWER TRAIN (33 complaints), ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) (25 complaints).
What are the most common problems with FORD F-150?
The most commonly reported issues for FORD F-150 are: POWER TRAIN (6760 complaints), ENGINE (4316 complaints), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2784 complaints), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2269 complaints), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (2085 complaints).

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls data National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls data