Head-to-head reliability
BMW 335is vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 335is 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 335is vs FORD F 150: The BMW 335is averaged 7.4 complaints per year over 5 years, while the Ford F-150 averaged 1,162.1 per year over 10 years. The F-150 also had 297 injuries and 1 death reported, compared to none for the BMW. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 335is or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 335is
The BMW 335is is a performance-oriented coupe that demands attentive ownership. Over five years, it averaged 7.4 complaints per year, with engine and electrical issues being the most common. Owners report stalling at speed, drivetrain malfunctions that force the car into limp mode, and airbag concerns. While the complaint volume is low, the nature of the problems can be serious and costly.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with a staggering 11,621 complaints over ten years—an average of 1,162 per year. Power train and electrical problems dominate, with many owners reporting transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and even rear window explosions. The sheer number of complaints and 151 recalls indicates a wide range of potential issues, though many are 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 335is | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 37 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.4 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.
BMW 335is
- 01ENGINE13
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
- 03AIR BAGS8
- 04POWER TRAIN7
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
Owners report stalling at speed, such as one complaint of the car stalling at 50 mph and putting itself in park, leaving it immovable. Another mentions a front bolt pulled free with stripped threads, common after an over-rev, which can damage internal components. These failures can leave you stranded and lead to expensive repairs.
Complaints include a horn that failed when needed to warn another driver, and suspected non-OEM wiring routed through the fuse box. Such electrical gremlins can affect safety features and are often difficult to diagnose.
One owner reported an airbag deploy error after a rear-end collision that totaled the car. Recalls for the driver-side inflator module also appear, meaning you should verify recall repairs were completed.
Owners describe a 'Drivetrain Malfunction' message that triggers limp mode, limiting speed to around 40 mph and making acceleration sluggish. This can happen during merging or highway driving, creating a dangerous situation.
“AS PER BMW, 5140 READ FAULT MEMORY, CONNECTED BATTERY CHARGER FAULT CODE 2A9A,31002A9B, RAN TEST PLAN, UPON INSPECTION, NOTED FRONT BOLT HAD BEEN PULLED FREE AND THREADS STRIPPED, THIS COMMON WITH AN ENGINE OVER REV.(DAMAGING INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENTS . THIS…”
“AUGUST 6, 2016 - CAR STALLED AT ABOUT 50MPH, JUST WHEN ABOUT TO GO UPHILL. I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER LEAVING THE CAR BLOCKING TRAFFIC WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN IT. ONCE IT STOPS, IT PUTS ITSELF IN PARK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH ASIDE. WE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
The most common complaint area, with owners reporting recurring transmission issues like limp mode, stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause near collisions. One owner said the lead frame issue 'nearly ended my life.' These problems can persist even after repairs.
Electrical complaints often overlap with power train issues, such as output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. Others report short circuits in the rear window defroster that caused the back window to shatter outward. These faults can be unpredictable and costly.
This catch-all category includes serious issues like the rear window exploding due to a defroster short. Such defects are hard to anticipate and can pose injury risks.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting problems are frequent. While not detailed in the sample, this volume suggests owners often face failed lights, which can 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 335is — 4 recalls
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 2008-2013 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…
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…
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 335is or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 335is has far fewer issues per year (7.4 vs. 1,162.1), but its problems can be severe and expensive. The Ford F-150's massive complaint volume means many owners experience recurring power train and electrical faults, though recalls may address some. In practice, the BMW may be less troublesome overall, but the F-150's issues are more widespread and potentially life-threatening.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: BMW averages 7.4 per year; Ford averages 1,162.1 per year—a massive difference.
- Crash/injury data: Ford has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries; BMW has 2 crash-related and 0 injuries.
- Recalls: Ford has 151 recalls vs. BMW's 4, indicating broader systemic issues.
- Top problems: BMW's top issues are engine and electrical; Ford's are power train and electrical, with many reports of limp mode and lead frame failures.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or drivetrain malfunction messages; test drive at highway speeds and during acceleration.
- Verify that all airbag recalls (driver-side inflator) have been performed; inspect for aftermarket wiring or electrical modifications.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for limp mode, delayed engagement, or stuck gears; scan for stored codes like P0722.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for signs of shorting or previous replacement; check for any electrical gremlins.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are addressed.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic specializing in the model, focusing on known trouble areas.
- Scan the OBD-II system for stored fault codes, especially transmission and engine codes.
- Test drive extensively, including highway merging and uphill driving, to replicate limp mode conditions.
- For the F-150, verify the lead frame and output speed sensor recall repairs; for the BMW, check for engine bolt and electrical issues.
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 335is or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 335is vs FORD F 150
- BMW 335is total complaints
- 37
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- BMW 335is total recalls
- 4
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- BMW 335is avg complaints/year
- 7.4
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 335is
- BMW 335is top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN