FaultScore

Peterbilt 388 vs Ford F53

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Peterbilt 388 Ford F53
Complaints on file 36 89
Model years covered 2012–2015 1990–2021
Worst model year
Best model year
Crashes reported 10 0
Fires reported 0 2
Injuries reported 0 2
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Tires Suspension
Share of complaints involving harm 27.8% 4.5%

Peterbilt 388 by year

12 14 15
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Tires 14 38.9%
Wheels 11 30.6%
Body & Structure 5 13.9%
Engine & Cooling 2 5.6%
Electrical System 2 5.6%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 2.8%
Other & Unspecified 1 2.8%

Ford F53 by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Suspension 21 23.6%
Transmission & Drivetrain 11 12.4%
Brakes 11 12.4%
Engine & Cooling 10 11.2%
Steering 7 7.9%
Electrical System 5 5.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 5 5.6%
Wheels 4 4.5%