Head-to-head reliability
BMW 228I vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 228I 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 228I vs FORD F 150: The BMW 228I averages 1.7 complaints per year with 13 recalls, while the Ford F-150 averages 2,755 complaints per year with 141 recalls. The BMW's main issues are electrical and engine smoke; the Ford's are power train and sudden power loss. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 228I or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 228I
The BMW 228I is a compact luxury coupe that, based on NHTSA data, shows a low complaint rate of 1.7 per year over 10 years, but owners report serious electrical and engine issues. Common failures include the instrument panel going blank with smoke from the engine, wiper motor malfunctions causing stalling, and sudden engine shutdowns. While recalls address structural and seat belt issues, the electrical system and engine cooling problems are the main reliability concerns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint rate of 2,755 per year, reflecting its popularity and widespread issues. Owners frequently report power train problems like the shifter getting stuck in drive and failing to engage park, engine stalling, and sudden loss of all electrical power while driving. With 141 recalls and numerous crash-related complaints, the F-150 has significant reliability and safety concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 228I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 17 Better | 27,552 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 141 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 762 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.7 Better | 2755.2 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 714 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 10 |
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 228I
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
- 03ENGINE3
- 04AIR BAGS2
- 05POWER TRAIN2
Owners report the instrument panel going blank while driving at 65 mph, accompanied by smoke from the engine compartment. The wiper motor also malfunctions, causing wipers to stop mid-windshield and the vehicle to stall.
Smoke from the engine compartment is a recurring issue, often without warning lights. This suggests potential overheating or electrical fire risks that could lead to sudden power loss.
The engine can suddenly stop working while driving, as reported at 52 mph, nearly causing a crash. This is a critical safety concern for any buyer.
In a crash, airbags failed to deploy despite the vehicle being hit from both front and rear. Another incident involved sudden acceleration while parking, leading to a crash into a tree.
“The contact owns a 2015 BMW 228I. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the instrument panel went blank and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 228I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY AND THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND T…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN9,967
- 02ENGINE4,861
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,479
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,210
- 05STRUCTURE1,485
The shifter gets stuck in drive when parking, failing to shift into park automatically. This can cause the truck to roll away or lock down unexpectedly.
Engine stalling and failure to engage park are common, with the integrated park module potentially not engaging the park pawl, leading to unintended movement.
Complete loss of power while driving, including brakes, steering, and airbags, has been reported. This is extremely dangerous as all safety systems become inoperable.
Sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds, even without pressing the accelerator, has occurred. Also, severe shake and vibration persist after repairs.
“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.
BMW 228I — 13 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 228i, 228i xDrive, and M235i xDrive vehicles. If the driver initiates an automatic closure of the sunroof, and the vehicle key status is changed to "off" or "lock," the sunroof may continue to close. As such, these vehicles fail to comp…
The risk: If the sunroof continues to close after the vehicle is shut off, it may increase the risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the sunroof electronic coding software, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2022 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 2022 430i Coupe, 2021-2022 430i, M440i Convertible, and 2020-2022 228i xDrive Gran Coupe vehicles. The receiver audio module control unit software may fail to properly generate audible seat belt warnings to the…
The risk: An audible chime that does not properly alert the driver to fasten their seat belt increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the receiver audio module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (…
The risk: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-8…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 228i, 228i xDrive, and M235i xDrive vehicles. If the driver initiates an automatic closure of the sunroof, and the vehicle key status is changed to "off" or "lock," the sunroof may continue to close. As such, these vehicles fail to comp…
The risk: If the sunroof continues to close after the vehicle is shut off, it may increase the risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the sunroof electronic coding software, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
FORD F 150 — 141 recalls
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.…
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…
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.
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…
Buyer analysis
BMW 228I or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 228I has far fewer complaints per year (1.7 vs 2,755) and fewer recalls, indicating a more reliable ownership experience. However, its electrical and engine issues can be serious. The Ford F-150's high complaint volume and numerous crash-related incidents suggest a much higher risk of problems.
Key differences
- BMW 228I has 1.7 complaints per year vs Ford F-150's 2,755 per year.
- BMW 228I's top issue is electrical system failures (instrument panel blank, smoke), while Ford F-150's top issue is power train (shifter stuck in drive).
- Ford F-150 has 141 recalls vs BMW's 13, indicating more widespread safety campaigns.
- Ford F-150 reports 10 deaths and 714 injuries; BMW 228I reports 0 deaths and 3 injuries.
- Check for any history of instrument panel blackouts or smoke from the engine compartment, as these are common electrical/engine cooling failures.
- Inspect the wiper motor operation and ensure no stalling occurs when using wipers.
- Test the shifter behavior when parking: press brake, shift to park, and ensure it locks properly without sticking in drive.
- Check for any history of sudden power loss while driving, including loss of brakes and steering.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for open recalls and past complaints.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system and engine cooling on the BMW 228I.
- On the Ford F-150, test the transmission park function multiple times.
- Check for any signs of smoke or burning smells during a test drive.
- Verify that all safety systems (airbags, brakes) are functional and have no warning lights.
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 | BMW 228I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 320 |
| 2024 | 0 | 597 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1448 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3285 |
| 2021 | 0 | 4942 |
| 2020 | 0 | 2530 |
| 2018 | 0 | 5505 |
| 2017 | 0 | 3198 |
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 228I or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 228I vs FORD F 150
- BMW 228I total complaints
- 17
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 27,552
- BMW 228I total recalls
- 13
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 141
- BMW 228I avg complaints/year
- 1.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 2755.2
- More reliable overall
- BMW 228I
- BMW 228I top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN