Head-to-head reliability
BMW 328D vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 328D 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 328D vs FORD F 150: The BMW 328D averaged 36 complaints per year over 5 years, while the Ford F 150 averaged 1,162 per year over 10 years. The BMW had 24 recalls and 1 injury; the Ford had 151 recalls and 297 injuries. Both show serious issues, but the Ford's volume is far higher. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 328D or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 328D
The BMW 328D is a diesel sedan that demands attentive ownership. Over five years, it averaged 36 complaints per year, with most issues centered on the engine, fuel system, and emissions hardware. Owners frequently report smoke, fuel pump failures, and emissions-related fault codes, often after recall work. While the complaint volume is lower than the Ford's, the problems can be expensive and may recur.
FORD F 150
The Ford F 150 is a full-size pickup with a massive owner base, generating an average of 1,162 complaints per year over a decade. The most common trouble spots are the powertrain, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Owners describe transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and even rear window shattering. The sheer number of complaints and recalls reflects both popularity and persistent reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 328D | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 180 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 36.0 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 328D
- 01ENGINE63
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM56
- 03FUEL SYSTEM32
- 04DIESEL30
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER20
Owners report smoke from the wheel wells and engine bay after the vehicle sits, as well as emissions fault codes like 2BB300 appearing shortly after EGR cooler recall work. These symptoms can indicate underlying cooling or emissions system problems that may be costly to diagnose and repair.
The Bosch CP4 high-pressure fuel pump can fail catastrophically, sending debris through the fuel system. This often leads to a no-start or stall and can require replacing the entire fuel system, a very expensive repair.
Leaks from the oil filter housing and sudden loss of acceleration at low speeds are reported. These issues can cause drivability problems and potential engine damage if not addressed promptly.
Complaints under this category mirror fuel system and engine issues, such as oil leaks and abnormal engine noises with acceleration failure. These are signs of diesel-specific components wearing or failing, which can be costly to fix.
“Vehicle is 100% BMW Serviced for it's history, showroom to present. Vehicle had been smoking after sitting 2-3 days and driving. We'd park and see wisps of smoke coming from the wheelwells and engine bay. Alarming! Never witnessed open flame, but as the sayin…”
“I am reporting an emissions-related malfunction that occurred a very short time after BMW performed the EGR cooler recall and updated the DDE software on my vehicle. Shortly after the recall work, the vehicle began showing DDE fault code 2BB300 – Particulate…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe transmission malfunctions where the truck enters limp mode and gets stuck in 5th gear, as well as lead frame issues that can cause sudden downshifts or loss of power. These problems can leave a driver stranded or create dangerous driving conditions.
The lead frame is a recurring electrical failure point, and some owners report rear window defroster shorts that cause the back window to shatter. These electrical gremlins can be intermittent and frustrating to diagnose.
This catch-all includes reports of rear window shattering due to defroster shorts. Such failures are unexpected and can be a safety hazard if they occur while driving.
While specific complaint text is not provided, the high number of complaints in this area suggests owners experience lighting failures that may affect visibility and safety.
“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 328D — 24 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recir…
The risk: The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13,…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2016 328d xDrive sedans and 2013-2015 328d xDrive station wagon vehicles. The constant-velocity joint which transfers power between the transfer case and the rear drive shaft, may become damaged, possibly resulting in loss of power to the re…
The risk: A loss of power to the rear wheels can affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the vehicle is parked after a loss of power to the rear wheels and the parking brake is not engaged, unintended rollaway can…
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the constant-velocity joint and inspect the transfer case, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 22, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculat…
The risk: A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to ha…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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 328D or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 328D has far fewer complaints per year (36 vs. 1,162 for the Ford F 150), but its issues tend to be severe and expensive, such as fuel pump failures. The Ford's higher volume means many owners face problems, but they are spread across a much larger fleet. In practice, the BMW may require fewer visits to the shop, but when something breaks, it can be a major financial hit.
Key differences
- The BMW 328D averages 36 complaints per year, while the Ford F 150 averages 1,162, but the BMW's complaints often involve catastrophic fuel pump failures.
- Ford F 150 owners frequently report transmission limp mode and lead frame issues, whereas BMW 328D owners report engine smoke and emissions faults.
- The Ford F 150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, compared to 5 crash-related and 1 injury for the BMW 328D, though these numbers must be considered relative to the much larger number of F 150s on the road.
- Both vehicles have recalls for fuel system and engine components, but the Ford also has recalls for seat belts, door latches, and air bag inflators.
- Check for any smoke from the engine bay or wheel wells after the car has been sitting, which could indicate oil leaks or emissions system problems.
- Ask for records of the EGR cooler recall and any subsequent emissions-related fault codes, as owners report issues appearing after that work.
- Test drive at various speeds and watch for transmission shudder, delayed engagement, or limp mode, especially around 5th gear.
- Inspect the rear window defroster operation and look for any signs of electrical shorts or previous window replacement.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and all service records, paying special attention to recalls and major repairs.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection performed by a mechanic who specializes in the respective brand (BMW diesel or Ford trucks).
- For the BMW 328D, specifically ask the mechanic to check the high-pressure fuel pump for metal debris and inspect the EGR cooler.
- For the Ford F 150, test the transmission thoroughly and scan for any stored trouble codes related to the lead frame or output speed sensor.
- Verify that all open recalls have been completed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
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 328D | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 BMW 328D or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 328D vs FORD F 150
- BMW 328D total complaints
- 180
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- BMW 328D total recalls
- 24
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- BMW 328D avg complaints/year
- 36.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 328D
- BMW 328D top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN