Head-to-head reliability
Bentley Flying SPUR vs FORD F 150
How the Bentley Flying SPUR 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
Bentley Flying SPUR vs FORD F 150: The Bentley has 2 complaints over 10 years (0.2/yr) and 10 recalls, while the Ford has 11,311 complaints (1,131/yr) and 145 recalls. The Ford's transmission issues are a major concern, with reports of power loss. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Bentley Flying SPUR or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Bentley Flying SPUR
The Bentley Flying Spur is a low-volume luxury sedan where owners report few complaints overall, but the ones that do surface are concentrated in the electrical system. These issues can affect driver-assistance features like parking sensors and the rear-view camera, as well as keyless entry, which can be inconvenient and potentially hazardous in tight maneuvers. With only two complaints in ten years, the Flying Spur appears to have a low rate of reported problems, but the nature of the issues suggests that when they occur, they can be complex and costly to address.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with a much larger number of complaints, averaging over 1,100 per year. The dominant issue is the powertrain, specifically the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as shifting hard, jerking, or even losing power. Electrical problems also feature prominently, including camera and pre-collision system malfunctions. While the F-150's popularity means more vehicles on the road, the sheer volume of transmission complaints points to a systemic problem that buyers should investigate carefully.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Bentley Flying SPUR | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Bentley Flying SPUR
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1
- 03BACK OVER PREVENTION1
- 04STRUCTURE1
Owners report sudden PDC (Park Distance Control) faults that disable all radar systems, causing the rear-view camera to fail during parking. This can be dangerous when maneuvering in tight spaces. Another issue involves front door wiring for keyless entry, where the wire is too short, leading to intermittent door handle lock/unlock failures.
The same PDC fault that affects the electrical system also disables the forward collision avoidance radar, meaning the car may not warn or brake for obstacles ahead. This is a safety-critical feature that, when it fails, increases the risk of a collision.
The PDC fault also impacts the rear-view camera, which is essential for backing up safely. Owners report that the camera does not appear when the fault occurs, leaving them without a clear view of what's behind the vehicle.
The front door wiring issue is also categorized under structure, as it relates to the door harness. The insufficient wire length causes stress on connections, leading to malfunctions in keyless entry systems. This is a design flaw that can be expensive to repair.
“There’s sudden PDC fault arises, the vehicle’s all radar system is broken. Sometimes, the dashboard will be turned off during driving. WHEN PDC fault appears, the rear view camera when parking does not appear. Very dangerous while manipulating the car. This i…”
“The front door wiring has design issues in 2020 Bentley Flying Spur. The length of the wire related to keyless entry is not enough. Thus cause the front doors keyless entry/unlock and lock the car through door handles malfunction. This is a very common issue…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common complaint is harsh and delayed shifting, particularly between 7th and 8th gears, and sometimes a complete loss of power while driving. Owners describe jerking, clunking, and even the vehicle shutting off, which is a serious safety concern.
Electrical issues include warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear on the dash. These systems may not work properly, reducing the vehicle's ability to detect obstacles and assist in avoiding collisions.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, the high number of complaints in this category suggests problems with headlights or other exterior lights, which can affect visibility and make the vehicle less safe at night.
Engine-related complaints are also significant, though the sample text does not specify the exact nature. Given the volume, it's likely that some owners experience performance issues or stalling, which can be dangerous in traffic.
“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.
Bentley Flying SPUR — 10 recalls
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-…
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…
The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Flying Spur vehicles. The rear entertainment screen retention bracket, located in the rear of the front seats, may have been incorrectly installed.
The risk: An incorrectly installed retention bracket can result in the entertainment screen becoming a projectile during a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the retention brackets in both front seats, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2023. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number…
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-…
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
Bentley Flying SPUR or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Bentley Flying Spur has far fewer complaints per year (0.2) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a much lower rate of reported issues. However, the F-150's problems are more widespread and involve critical safety systems like the transmission. In practice, the Flying Spur may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience, but the F-150's issues are more likely to affect a buyer due to its higher sales volume.
Key differences
- The Bentley Flying Spur has only 2 complaints in 10 years, while the Ford F-150 has over 11,000, a massive difference in reported issues.
- The Flying Spur's problems are mostly electrical, affecting driver-assist features, whereas the F-150's main issue is the transmission, which can cause sudden power loss.
- The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints and 287 injuries, indicating that its issues can lead to accidents, while the Flying Spur has none.
- The Flying Spur's recalls focus on seat belts and manuals, while the F-150's recalls include headlights and engine components, suggesting different areas of concern.
- Check the operation of the parking sensors and rear-view camera, as owners report sudden PDC faults that disable these systems.
- Test the keyless entry on both front doors, as the wiring may be too short and cause intermittent failures.
- Test drive the truck and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears, for any harshness or delay.
- Look for warning messages about front camera malfunction or pre-collision assist not available, which indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the Bentley, have a pre-purchase inspection by a dealer familiar with the model, focusing on the electrical system and door wiring.
- For the Ford, request the transmission service history and check for any recalls or TSBs related to the 10R80 transmission.
- Check the NHTSA website for open recalls on both vehicles and ensure they have been addressed.
- For the Ford, ask about any software updates for the transmission and driver-assist systems.
- For the Bentley, verify that all driver-assist features (radar, camera) are functioning correctly during a test drive.
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 | Bentley Flying SPUR | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 0 | 617 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 2 | 33 |
| 2019 | 0 | 36 |
| 2018 | 0 | 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 Bentley Flying SPUR or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Bentley Flying SPUR vs FORD F 150
- Bentley Flying SPUR total complaints
- 2
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Bentley Flying SPUR total recalls
- 10
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Bentley Flying SPUR avg complaints/year
- 0.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Bentley Flying SPUR
- Bentley Flying SPUR top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN