Head-to-head reliability
BMW 440I vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 440I 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 440i vs FORD F 150: The BMW 440i has 0 owner complaints over 4 years, while the Ford F-150 has 27,552 complaints over 10 years, including 10 deaths. The BMW's 7 recalls are mostly airbag-related; the F-150's 141 recalls cover powertrain and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 440I or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 440I
The BMW 440i has zero owner complaints on record over four model years, which is exceptionally rare and suggests either very few owners reported issues or the vehicle is remarkably trouble-free. However, it has seven recalls, mostly for airbags and seat belts, indicating that while owners haven't reported problems, the manufacturer identified and addressed safety defects. For a buyer, this means the car has a clean complaint history but requires checking that all recall work was completed.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 has a massive volume of complaints—over 27,500 over ten years—averaging 2,755 per year, with frequent reports of powertrain, engine, and electrical failures. Owners describe the transmission getting stuck in drive, sudden loss of power, and unintended acceleration, which are serious safety concerns. With 141 recalls and 10 deaths reported, the F-150 shows a pattern of reliability and safety issues that demand careful inspection.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 440I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 27,552 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 141 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 762 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 2755.2 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 440I
No component data available.
The BMW 440i has multiple recalls for knee bolsters and frontal passenger side inflator modules, which could fail to deploy properly in a crash. Owners have not reported these failures, but the recalls indicate a known defect that should be verified as repaired.
One recall addresses the engine, but no owner complaints describe specific engine failures. This suggests the issue may be a manufacturing defect that hasn't manifested in real-world driving yet.
A recall for front seat belts indicates a potential malfunction, such as failing to retract or lock. No owner complaints detail this, so it's a latent risk that should be checked.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN9,967
- 02ENGINE4,861
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,479
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,210
- 05STRUCTURE1,485
Owners report the transmission shifter getting stuck in drive when parking, failing to shift into park automatically, which can cause the vehicle to roll away. Others describe turbo wastegate issues on low-mileage trucks, leading to loss of power.
Engine complaints include the integrated park module failing to engage park, and sudden loss of power while driving, leaving the vehicle without brakes or steering. These are critical safety failures.
Owners report total electrical failure while driving, with all safety systems inoperable, and ABS issues after recall service. This can lead to crashes.
Reports of sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds and severe vibrations after repairs indicate unresolved drivetrain or software problems.
“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 440I — 7 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive, M2 Competition Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, and 2019 330i xDrive Sportswagon vehicles. The driver and passenger knee air bag assemblies may have been improperly folded and asse…
The risk: An improperly folded and assembled air bag may not deploy as intended, increasing risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the knee air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive and M4 vehicles and Rolls-Royce Dawn vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat-mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.
The risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mi…
The risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive, M2 Competition Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, and 2019 330i xDrive Sportswagon vehicles. The driver and passenger knee air bag assemblies may have been improperly folded and asse…
The risk: An improperly folded and assembled air bag may not deploy as intended, increasing risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the knee air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 8, 2019. 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 440I or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 440i has zero complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages over 2,700 complaints annually. This means the BMW is far less likely to leave you stranded or cause safety incidents, but the F-150's issues are well-documented and severe.
Key differences
- The BMW 440i has zero owner complaints; the F-150 has over 27,500, including 762 crash-related incidents.
- F-150 owners report transmission failures (stuck in drive) and sudden power loss; BMW owners report no such issues.
- The F-150 has 141 recalls vs. 7 for the BMW, indicating a much higher rate of manufacturer-identified defects.
- The F-150 has 10 deaths linked to complaints; the BMW has none.
- Check that all seven recalls have been completed, especially the airbag and seat belt recalls, as they are safety-critical.
- Test the transmission park function repeatedly: after parking, ensure the shifter locks into park and the vehicle does not roll.
- Inspect the electrical system for any warning lights or intermittent power loss, and verify that all 141 recalls are addressed.
Before you buy
- For the BMW 440i: obtain a recall status report from a dealer and confirm all repairs are done.
- For the Ford F-150: request a full service history and check for any open recalls, especially for the transmission and electrical system.
- Test drive the F-150 at low speeds and while parking to check for unintended acceleration or transmission sticking.
- For both vehicles, have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the areas with known issues.
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 440I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 2530 |
| 2019 | 0 | 5718 |
| 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 440I or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 440I vs FORD F 150
- BMW 440I total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 27,552
- BMW 440I total recalls
- 7
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 141
- BMW 440I avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 2755.2
- More reliable overall
- BMW 440I
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN