Head-to-head reliability
BMW 650I vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 650I 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 650i vs FORD F 150: The BMW 650i averages 4.7 complaints per year, mostly engine fuel injector failures causing 'Drivetrain Malfunction' and shaking. The Ford F-150 averages 2,755 complaints per year, with powertrain issues like shifter park failure and sudden power loss, plus 762 crash-related incidents. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 650I or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 650I
The BMW 650i, a luxury grand tourer, shows a concentrated reliability concern: 24 of 47 complaints target the engine, with owners repeatedly reporting a 'Drivetrain Malfunction' warning, rough shaking, and fuel odor. The pattern points to failing fuel injectors and the N63 engine's known issues, often appearing even on nearly new cars. With 4 recalls and 1 injury, the 650i's ownership experience is marred by a single, expensive recurring problem.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, America's best-selling pickup, has a much higher complaint volume (27,552) but across a broader range of systems. The top issue is the powertrain (9,967 complaints), including reports of the shifter getting stuck in drive and failing to engage park, as well as turbo/wastegate problems. With 141 recalls, 762 crash-related incidents, and 10 deaths, the F-150's reliability concerns are more varied and carry higher safety stakes.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 650I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 47 Better | 27,552 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 141 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 762 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 4.7 Better | 2755.2 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 650I
- 01ENGINE24
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM8
- 03POWER TRAIN8
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
Owners report a 'Drivetrain Malfunction' warning accompanied by violent shaking and a strong fuel smell, often traced to failed fuel injectors. This can occur on vehicles with very low mileage, leading to costly repairs (dealers quote thousands).
Fuel injector failures are the primary cause of the drivetrain malfunction, causing rough idle, stalling, and loss of power while driving. Some owners experienced multiple occurrences before a fix.
Intermittent vibrations felt through the cabin at highway speeds and stalling incidents are reported. The drivetrain malfunction error often stems from engine issues, but vibration complaints suggest additional driveline concerns.
“A FEW MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DISPLAY "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" ON THE SCREEN WHILE SHAKING WITH A HORRIBLE ODOR OF FUEL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A $100K+…”
“BMW 650 N63 ENGINE ISSUES AKA DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION (DTM) ERROR HAS BEEN A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THESE CARS. IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE WITH BRAND NEW CARS WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES HAVE THESE ISSUES AS WELL. LONG STORY SHORT BMW, NA OFFERED TO BUY BACK MY…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN9,967
- 02ENGINE4,861
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,479
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,210
- 05STRUCTURE1,485
A common complaint is the shifter getting stuck in drive when parking, failing to automatically shift into park, which can lead to unintended rollaway. Turbo and wastegate issues are also reported, causing power loss.
Engine problems often tie into the powertrain, with reports of sudden loss of power while driving. Some complaints describe the vehicle accelerating unexpectedly, though the root cause may involve electronic systems.
Complete loss of electrical power while driving is reported, disabling safety systems like brakes, airbags, and hazard lights. ABS system noise after recall repairs is another noted issue.
“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 650I — 4 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Co…
The risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notif…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran…
The risk: The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The fix: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. 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.
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 650I or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 650i averages 4.7 complaints per year versus the Ford F-150's 2,755.2 per year, but the F-150's complaints are spread across more vehicles and include serious safety events. In practice, the 650i's issues are more predictable and expensive, while the F-150's are more frequent and varied, with higher crash and injury numbers.
Key differences
- BMW 650i complaints are heavily concentrated on engine/fuel injector failures (51% of complaints), while Ford F-150 complaints are spread across powertrain (36%), engine (18%), and electrical (13%).
- Ford F-150 has 762 crash-related complaints and 10 deaths; BMW 650i has 0 crash-related and 1 injury.
- BMW 650i's 'Drivetrain Malfunction' is a recurring, well-known issue; Ford F-150's shifter park failure and sudden power loss are more varied.
- Ford F-150 has 141 recalls vs. BMW 650i's 4, indicating more widespread safety campaigns.
- Check for any history of 'Drivetrain Malfunction' warnings and fuel injector replacement; ask if the N63 engine updates have been applied.
- Inspect for rough idle on cold start and any fuel smell inside or outside the cabin.
- Test the shifter park function: after parking, ensure it automatically engages park when shut off; check for any hesitation or failure.
- Look for signs of electrical gremlins: dimming lights, intermittent power loss, or ABS warning lights.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full service history and check for recall completion on both vehicles (NHTSA website).
- For BMW 650i: request proof of fuel injector replacement and any engine software updates.
- For Ford F-150: test the shifter park function multiple times; test drive at highway speeds for vibrations.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with each model's known issues.
- Check for open recalls: BMW 650i has 4, Ford F-150 has 141 – ensure all are addressed.
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 650I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 650I or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 650I vs FORD F 150
- BMW 650I total complaints
- 47
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 27,552
- BMW 650I total recalls
- 4
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 141
- BMW 650I avg complaints/year
- 4.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 2755.2
- More reliable overall
- BMW 650I
- BMW 650I top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN