Head-to-head reliability
BMW 335D vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 335D 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 335D vs FORD F 150: The 335D averaged 19.3 complaints per year over 3 years, while the F-150 averaged 1,162.1 per year over 10 years. The F-150 had 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries; the 335D had 1 crash-related and 4 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 335D or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 335D
The BMW 335D is a diesel sport sedan that demands attentive ownership. Over three years, it averaged 19.3 complaints per year, with air bags, engine, and electrical system issues dominating. Owners report repeated stalling, overheating, and emissions-related failures that can be costly and hard to diagnose. Recalls for Takata air bags and wiring add to the ownership burden.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with a huge complaint pool: 11,621 over ten years, averaging 1,162 per year. Power train and electrical problems are most common, often involving transmission limp mode and lead frame failures. With 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, some issues have serious safety implications. Recalls are frequent, covering engines, seat belts, and air bags.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 335D | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 58 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 19.3 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 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 335D
- 01AIR BAGS18
- 02ENGINE16
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15
- 04POWER TRAIN6
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6
Owners report front passenger seat occupancy sensor failures (fault code 93C3) that can prevent the air bag from deploying. Takata inflator recalls also affect this model, and some owners wait long periods for remedies.
Complaints describe years of overheating, stalling, rough idling, and jerking. Owners have replaced fuel injectors, performed carbon blasting, and replaced NOx sensors and EGR modules, often without a permanent fix.
Sudden stalling while driving is a recurring theme, with some owners reporting multiple engine and diesel pump replacements. A blower motor wiring recall addresses a connection that can deteriorate and cause failures.
The same stalling and overheating complaints often involve the power train, leading to sudden loss of power. Owners describe repeated dealer visits and expensive repairs with no lasting solution.
“- The component that has failed is the front passenger seat occupancy sensor, as indicated by an OBDII scan showing fault code 93C3, seat-occupancy detector, passenger. - The safety of any person in the front passenger seat is compromised because the passenge…”
“TAKATA RECALL: I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY RECALL TO BE FIXED. I'VE READ THAT THEY ARE FIXING OLDER MODELS AND THOSE IN HIGH HUMIDITY FIRST, BUT FIND IT INTERESTING THAT I RECEIVED A NOTICE TO FIX THE RECALL ON THE 2013 LEASED BMW BEFORE MY 2011 OWNED BMW. I LI…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmission limp mode, stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. One owner said a lead frame issue nearly ended their life, highlighting the safety risk.
Lead frame problems also appear here, along with output speed sensor failures (code P0722) that trigger highway limp mode. A rear window defroster short has been reported to cause the back window to shatter.
This category includes the rear window defroster short that led to the back window exploding outward. Such failures are unpredictable and can be dangerous.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should check all lights and related wiring.
“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 335D — 15 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009 328i and 328xi, 2009-2011 335d, 2008-2012 M3 Coupe and M3 Convertible, and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. The connection of the positive battery cable at the fuse box terminal may degrade, resulting in an intermittent loss of electrical power.
The risk: A loss of electrical power can cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace and secure the positive battery cable connector, free of charge. The recall began August 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansio…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2011 BMW 335d vehicles with diesel engines. The connection of the positive battery cable at the fuse box terminal may degrade over time, possibly resulting in an intermittent loss of electrical power.
The risk: A loss of electrical power to the vehicle can cause the vehicle to unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and ai…
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 replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may cont…
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 335D or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 335D has far fewer complaints per year (19.3) than the Ford F-150 (1,162.1), but the F-150's much larger sales volume means the rate per vehicle may be lower. In practice, the 335D's issues are often chronic and expensive, while the F-150's problems can be more widespread but may have broader recall coverage.
Key differences
- BMW 335D averages 19.3 complaints per year; Ford F-150 averages 1,162.1 per year, but the F-150 sells in far greater numbers.
- The 335D's top issues are air bags, engine, and electrical; the F-150's are power train, electrical, and unknown/other.
- Ford F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries; BMW 335D has 1 crash-related and 4 injuries.
- Both have Takata air bag recalls, but the F-150 also has recalls for engines, seat belts, and door latches.
- Check for front passenger seat occupancy sensor faults (code 93C3) and confirm Takata air bag recall completion.
- Test drive for stalling, rough idling, or jerking, and ask for records of injector, carbon cleaning, NOx sensor, and EGR work.
- Scan for transmission codes like P0722 and test for limp mode or stuck gears, especially during highway driving.
- Inspect rear window defroster operation and look for any signs of shattering or electrical shorts.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are addressed.
- Have a mechanic scan for stored fault codes, especially air bag, transmission, and engine codes.
- Test drive extensively, including highway speeds, to check for limp mode or stalling.
- Ask for maintenance records, focusing on transmission, injectors, and emissions components.
- Inspect electrical systems: lights, defroster, and wiring for signs of overheating or damage.
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 335D or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 335D vs FORD F 150
- BMW 335D total complaints
- 58
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- BMW 335D total recalls
- 15
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- BMW 335D avg complaints/year
- 19.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 335D
- BMW 335D top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN