Head-to-head reliability
Bentley Mulsanne vs FORD F 150
How the Bentley Mulsanne 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 Mulsanne vs FORD F 150: The Mulsanne has 0 complaints and 8 recalls over 10 years, while the F-150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. F-150 owners report power train and electrical failures like limp mode; Mulsanne complaints are absent. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Bentley Mulsanne or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Bentley Mulsanne
The Bentley Mulsanne is a low-volume luxury sedan with no owner complaints filed over the past decade, so there is little real-world failure data to learn from. Its eight recalls focus on rear seat belts and a backup camera, suggesting attention to safety systems rather than major mechanical faults. For a buyer, this means fewer reported problems but potentially expensive repairs when something does go wrong, as parts and service are specialized.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with thousands of owner complaints, most commonly about the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Many reports describe serious issues like transmissions stuck in limp mode or lead frame failures that can cause near-collisions. Recalls cover engines, seat belts, door latches, and air bags, indicating a wide range of safety-related fixes over the years.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Bentley Mulsanne | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 297 |
| 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 Mulsanne
No component data available.
A recall exists for the backup camera system, which could affect rear visibility. Buyers should verify the recall was performed and that the camera works reliably.
Multiple recalls for rear seat belts suggest potential issues with belt performance or latching. This matters because rear passengers may not be properly restrained in a crash if the recall isn't addressed.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report frequent transmission problems, including limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues can be dangerous and expensive to fix, often requiring dealer software updates or hardware replacement.
Complaints include lead frame issues and output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. Electrical gremlins can leave you stranded and may be intermittent, making diagnosis difficult.
Some owners describe rear window defroster shorts leading to shattered back windows. This is a rare but alarming failure that could cause injury or costly glass replacement.
With over 1,200 complaints, exterior lighting problems are common. Faulty lights reduce visibility and may fail safety inspections, requiring frequent bulb or assembly replacements.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
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 Mulsanne — 8 recalls
The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Bentley Mulsanne vehicles. In the event of a crash, the rear seat belt anchor may detach from the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages…
The risk: In the event of a crash, if the rear seat belt buckle detaches, the seat occupant would have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Bentley will notify owners, and dealers will improve the strength of the rear seat belt mounting by adding an additional reinforcement panel to the body structure, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Bentley…
The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Bentley Mulsanne vehicles. In the event of a crash, the rear seat belt anchor may detach from the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages…
The risk: In the event of a crash, if the rear seat belt buckle detaches, the seat occupant would have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Bentley will notify owners, and dealers will improve the strength of the rear seat belt mounting by adding an additional reinforcement panel to the body structure, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Bentley…
The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Bentley Mulsanne vehicles. In the event of a crash, the rear seat belt anchor may detach from the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages…
The risk: In the event of a crash, if the rear seat belt buckle detaches, the seat occupant would have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Bentley will notify owners, and dealers will improve the strength of the rear seat belt mounting by adding an additional reinforcement panel to the body structure, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Bentley…
The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2018 Bentley Mulsanne and 2018 Bentayga vehicles. When reverse gear has been selected, the rearview camera display may be obstructed or may not be fully visible within two seconds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fe…
The risk: If the full camera view is obstructed or delayed and the driver does not check their surroundings before backing up, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Bentley will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the software in the infotainment system, free of charge. The recall began October 19, 2018. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number for this rec…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
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 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 and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Bentley Mulsanne or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Bentley Mulsanne has far fewer issues per year (0 complaints/year vs. 1,162/year for the Ford F-150), but it also sells in much smaller numbers. In practice, the F-150 owner is far more likely to encounter a reported problem, especially with the transmission or electrical system, while Mulsanne owners report almost none.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, while the Bentley Mulsanne has 0, but the F-150 is far more common on the road.
- F-150 owners frequently report power train and electrical failures like limp mode and lead frame issues; Mulsanne complaints are absent, with only recalls for seat belts and a camera.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, whereas the Mulsanne has none reported, though this may reflect lower exposure.
- Recalls on the F-150 cover engines, air bags, and door latches; Mulsanne recalls focus on rear seat belts and backup camera, suggesting different safety priorities.
- Confirm that all eight recalls, especially those for rear seat belts and the backup camera, have been completed by a Bentley dealer.
- Inspect the backup camera for proper function, as a recall exists for the sensing system.
- Test drive at highway speeds and check for transmission shudder, delayed engagement, or limp mode; ask for any software updates related to recall 26S28.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for signs of shorting or prior replacement, as some owners report shattered glass.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were fixed.
- For the F-150, ask for maintenance records showing transmission fluid changes and any lead frame or output speed sensor repairs.
- For the Mulsanne, verify that the rear seat belt recall was performed and that all seat belts retract and latch properly.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to check for transmission issues on the F-150.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on the transmission and electrical system for the F-150 and the backup camera for the Mulsanne.
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 Mulsanne | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 2019 | 0 | 52 |
| 2018 | 0 | 79 |
| 2017 | 0 | 59 |
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 Mulsanne or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Bentley Mulsanne vs FORD F 150
- Bentley Mulsanne total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Bentley Mulsanne total recalls
- 8
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Bentley Mulsanne avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Bentley Mulsanne
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN