Head-to-head reliability

Bentley Continental vs FORD F 150

How the Bentley Continental and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Bentley Continental19 complaints · 6 recalls Fewer issues per year
FORD F 15027,538 complaints · 141 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Bentley Continental averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Bentley Continental has 19 complaints and 6 recalls on record; FORD F 150 has 27,538 complaints and 141 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryBentley ContinentalFORD F 150
Total complaintsAll model years combined19 Better27,538
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns6 Better141
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints1 Better762
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years1.9 Better2753.8
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better714
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better10

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.

Bentley Continental

  1. 01SEATS8
  2. 02WHEELS5
  3. 03STEERING4
  4. 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
  5. 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
In owners' words — SEATS

The front seats in this vehicle, when moved to allow back seat access, do not return to the original position. They move totally backward, trapping the person sitting in the back. My friend had to remove her shoes and actually pull her legs out using her hand…

The front seats in this vehicle, when moved to allow back seat access, do not return to the original position. They move totally backward, trapping the person sitting in the back. My friend had to remove her shoes and actually pull her legs out using her hand…

FORD F 150

  1. 01POWER TRAIN9,964
  2. 02ENGINE4,861
  3. 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,474
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,210
  5. 05STRUCTURE1,485
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

When I am parking the truck, I press and hold the brake pedal, While the truck shifter in in "Drive", I press the start/stop button to shut truck down, the shifter gets stuck in "drive" and doesn't automatically shift in to park. The truck locks down and will…

My truck is a 2025 Ford F150 STX with 5,900 miles on it. This truck was purchased new at River City Ford in Lavalette, WV The component in questions seems to be involved with the turbos and more specifically the wastegate that attached to the turbos. Also, ye…

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.

Bentley Continental — 6 recalls

Steering — Hydraulic Power Assist — Hose, Piping, And Connections
#19V863000Apr 2019

The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Continental Supersports vehicles. The Power Assisted Steering (PAS) cooler pipe may be the incorrect size, allowing the cooler hose to detach and leak power steering fluid.

The risk: A power steering fluid leak may cause a loss of vehicle control, or a hazard to following traffic, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, the fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

The fix: Bentley will notify the owners, and dealers will replace the PAS cooler pipe, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number for this recall is RE19/27.

Equipment — Other — Owners/Service/Other Manual
#21V975000

The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bentayga, Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Continental GT Convertible vehicles. The owner's manual incorrectly states that the air bag system will not deploy when the "Passenger Airbag On" symbol is illuminated. As such, these vehicles f…

The risk: The incorrect information may change how occupants position themselves in relation to the air bags, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

The fix: Bentley will mail new labels to owners. Owners may apply the label themselves or have a dealer apply the label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-…

Seats — Front Assembly — Power Adjust
#21V550000

The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Continental GT/GT Convertible vehicles. During some automated front seat movements, the front seat may trap a rear passenger's legs.

The risk: The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will update the software for the front seats, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number for this recall is RE21/26 (RC…

Seat Belts — Front — Retractor
#22V177000

The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Continental GT Convertible, Continental GT, and 2021-2022 Flying Spur vehicles. The front seat belt assemblies may have been incorrectly installed, resulting in the front passenger seat missing the automatic locking retractor (ALR). As s…

The risk: A missing ALR on a passenger seat belt may not properly secure a child restraint, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the affected seat belt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number for this recall…

FORD F 150 — 141 recalls

Electrical System — Integrated Trailer Brake Control
#26V104000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may los…

The risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…

Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Oil/Lubrication
#24V851000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.

The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th…

Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Fluid/Lubricant — Valves/Valve Body
#25V164000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.

The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.

Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Oil/Lubrication
#25V198000

The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.

The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…

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.

YearBentley ContinentalFORD F 150
202609
20251320
20240597
202311439
202203285
2021124937
202002530
201905718
201855505
201703198
Years to scrutinize: the 2021 Bentley Continental drew the most complaints (12); the 2019 FORD F 150 drew the most (5,718). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Bentley Continental or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Bentley Continental vs FORD F 150 — comparison facts
Comparison
Bentley Continental vs FORD F 150
Bentley Continental total complaints
19
FORD F 150 total complaints
27,538
Bentley Continental total recalls
6
FORD F 150 total recalls
141
Bentley Continental avg complaints/year
1.9
FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
2753.8
More reliable overall
Bentley Continental
Bentley Continental top complaint area
SEATS
FORD F 150 top complaint area
POWER TRAIN