Head-to-head reliability
BMW 135I vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 135I 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
BMW 135I vs FORD F 150: The BMW 135I has 100 complaints over 7 years (14.3 per year) and 26 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years (1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. The F-150's higher volume reflects more reported issues, but both have safety concerns. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 135I or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 135I
The BMW 135I is a compact sports coupe with a turbocharged engine, known for sharp handling but potentially higher maintenance costs. Over 7 years, it has 100 complaints (14.3 per year) and 26 recalls, with air bags and engine issues being most common. Owners report stalling, transmission hesitation, and air bag inflator concerns. This suggests a car that demands attention to safety recalls and can have drivability problems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup, popular for its utility and towing capacity. Over 10 years, it has 11,621 complaints (1,162 per year) and 151 recalls, with power train and electrical issues dominating. Owners frequently report transmission problems, limp mode, and electrical glitches. This indicates a high volume of reported issues, though many may be addressed by recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 135I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 100 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 14.3 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
BMW 135I
- 01AIR BAGS36
- 02ENGINE30
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19
- 04POWER TRAIN15
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11
Owners report air bag inflator defects that may cause serious injury or death, and some were not notified of recalls, leading to out-of-pocket repairs. This is a critical safety concern that should be addressed immediately.
Complaints describe the vehicle stalling during operation, especially at idle or when accelerating from a stop, which can be dangerous in traffic. This suggests potential fuel or ignition system faults.
Owners report stalling, lagging dual-clutch transmission with hesitation and violent lunging, and power steering loss. These issues affect drivability and safety.
Similar to engine complaints, the vehicle shuts off during operation, and the dual-clutch transmission holds gears and surges. This can lead to unpredictable behavior.
“I JUST HAD THE BOLTS ON BOTH THE (INTAKE AND EXHAUST REPLACED) THIS IS LISTED IN THE UNSPECIFIED RECALL AND NO ONE NOTIFIED ME ON THIS RECALL I DRIVE THE 2011 128I SERIES COUPE AND THIS COST ME OUT OF POCKET $1,800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE, WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND…”
“I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN 3/2016 THAT AIR BAG INFLATOR MAY RESULT IN "SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH" TO DRIVER AND /OR PASSENGERS. I LIVE AND WORK IN TALLAHASSEE, FL, THE AREA THAT TRIGGERS NEED FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. THIS GRAVE DEFECT IS ALSO ON MY CARFAX REPORT, DE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmission malfunctions, including limp mode, stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame issues that can cause near collisions. This is a widespread and serious problem.
Complaints include lead frame issues, output speed sensor failures causing limp mode, and rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the back window. These electrical faults can be dangerous and costly.
Reports of rear window defroster short causing the back window to explode outward, which is a severe safety hazard. This indicates potential manufacturing defects.
Although not detailed in samples, this is a top component with many complaints, likely involving lighting failures that affect visibility. Buyers should check all lights.
“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.
BMW 135I — 26 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
The risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This r…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi,…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
The risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This r…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
The risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This r…
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
BMW 135I or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 135I has far fewer complaints per year (14.3) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,162.1), but both have significant safety-related issues. In practice, the F-150's higher volume means more reported problems, but the 135I's issues can be equally severe. Buyers should prioritize recalls and inspections for both.
Key differences
- The BMW 135I has 100 complaints over 7 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 over 10 years, indicating a much higher reported issue rate for the F-150.
- Air bag inflator problems are prominent in the BMW 135I, with owners reporting serious injury risk and lack of notification, whereas the F-150's top issues are power train and electrical, including lead frame and limp mode.
- The BMW 135I has 26 recalls, while the F-150 has 151 recalls, reflecting the F-150's higher volume and complexity.
- Both vehicles have crash-related complaints (1 for BMW, 330 for Ford) and injuries (1 for BMW, 297 for Ford), but the F-150's numbers are much higher.
- Check for open air bag inflator recalls and confirm they have been remedied; owners report out-of-pocket costs and safety risks.
- Test drive for stalling at idle and transmission hesitation or lunging, especially with dual-clutch transmission.
- Inspect for transmission issues: test drive for limp mode, harsh shifting, or stuck gears, and check for lead frame replacement history.
- Check rear window defroster operation and look for any signs of electrical shorts or previous window shattering.
Before you buy
- Verify all safety recalls have been performed by checking the NHTSA VIN lookup and asking for documentation.
- Take a thorough test drive, including stop-and-go traffic and highway speeds, to check for stalling, transmission hesitation, or limp mode.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- For the BMW 135I, specifically ask about air bag inflator recall completion and any engine stalling history.
- For the Ford F-150, check for lead frame replacement and any transmission software updates or repairs.
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 BMW 135I or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 135I vs FORD F 150
- BMW 135I total complaints
- 100
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- BMW 135I total recalls
- 26
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- BMW 135I avg complaints/year
- 14.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 135I
- BMW 135I top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN