Head-to-head reliability
BMW 335xi vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 335xi 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 335xi vs FORD F 150: The BMW has 0 complaints over 2 years, while the Ford has 10,861 over 10 years, with powertrain issues leading. The Ford also has 319 crash-related incidents and 1 death, versus none for the BMW. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 335xi or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 335xi
The BMW 335xi shows no owner complaints on record, which is unusual and suggests either a very reliable sample or limited reporting. With 7 recalls over 2 years, all related to airbag inflators and electrical wiring, buyers should focus on ensuring recall work is done. In everyday ownership, this could mean a car that runs without major mechanical issues, but potential electrical gremlins and safety-critical airbag concerns need attention.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 has a high complaint volume, averaging over 1,000 per year, with the powertrain being the top problem area. Owners report serious transmission issues, including hard shifting, limp mode, and complete failures, which can be dangerous and costly. Electrical problems and exterior lighting issues also appear frequently, adding to the ownership burden. This truck demands careful inspection and a budget for potential repairs.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 335xi | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 10,861 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 144 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 319 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 1086.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 286 |
| 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 335xi
No component data available.
Multiple recalls for driver-side frontal inflator modules indicate a risk of improper deployment or rupture. Owners should verify all recall repairs are completed to ensure safety in a crash.
Recalls for wiring issues suggest potential for electrical malfunctions, which could affect various systems. Owners may experience intermittent failures or warning lights.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,363
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,019
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,374
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,122
- 05ENGINE803
The most common complaint area, with owners reporting delayed/hard shifting, wrench warning lights, and reduced power/limp mode. Some report complete transmission failure, which can leave you stranded and require expensive replacement.
Frequent electrical issues, often tied to the transmission, including warning lights and signal loss. These can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, leading to frustration and potential safety hazards.
Owners report LED headlights that won't adjust, causing excessive glare to oncoming drivers. This is a safety concern and may require replacement of the headlight assembly.
While fewer complaints than powertrain, engine issues are still notable. Owners may experience performance problems or unexpected failures, adding to maintenance costs.
“The vehicle experienced intermittent transmission-related drivability issues before the recall remedy was available. The vehicle had delayed/hard shifting, an intermittent wrench warning light, and a reduced power/limp mode condition where the transmission wo…”
“Subject: Safety Defect Complaint – Sudden 10R80 Transmission Failure in 2018 Ford F-150 Dear NHTSA, I am reporting a serious safety issue with my 2018 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. The transmission failed completely at on…”
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 335xi — 7 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 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 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a spor…
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: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. 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…
FORD F 150 — 144 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 335xi or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 335xi has far fewer complaints per year (0 vs 1086) and no reported crashes or injuries, making it the more reliable choice on paper. However, the Ford's high complaint volume reflects real-world issues that could affect safety and cost. In practice, the BMW is likely to be less troublesome, but the Ford's problems are more severe and frequent.
Key differences
- The BMW has zero complaints, while the Ford has over 10,000, with powertrain issues dominating.
- The Ford's transmission problems can lead to sudden loss of power or complete failure, a serious safety risk.
- The BMW's recalls are mainly airbag and wiring, which are safety-critical but not as frequent as the Ford's issues.
- The Ford also has exterior lighting problems that can blind other drivers, a unique safety concern.
- Check that all airbag recalls have been performed, as inflator modules can be dangerous if not replaced.
- Inspect the electrical system for any signs of wiring issues, such as flickering lights or intermittent failures.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: look for hard shifts, delayed engagement, or warning lights, and check for any limp mode occurrences.
- Inspect the headlights for proper adjustment and operation, as they may cause glare or fail to illuminate correctly.
Before you buy
- For the BMW: verify all recalls are completed, especially airbag and wiring recalls, and get a pre-purchase inspection focusing on electrical components.
- For the Ford: take a comprehensive test drive including highway speeds to check transmission behavior, and have a mechanic scan for transmission codes.
- Check the Ford's service history for any transmission repairs or replacements, and ask about the 10R80 transmission issues.
- For both: check for any open recalls and ensure they are fixed before purchase.
- Consider a warranty or extended service plan for the Ford to cover potential transmission costs.
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 335xi or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 335xi vs FORD F 150
- BMW 335xi total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 10,861
- BMW 335xi total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 144
- BMW 335xi avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1086.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 335xi
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN