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 650I has 48 complaints and 4 recalls over 10 years, while the F 150 has 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. The F 150 also reports 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, versus none for the 650I. 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 is a high-end luxury coupe that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over 10 years, it has 48 complaints (4.8 per year) and 4 recalls, with no crashes and 1 injury reported. Most owner complaints center on engine and fuel system problems, often leading to expensive repairs like fuel injector replacement. This suggests that while the 650I may offer a premium driving experience, buyers should be prepared for potential engine-related issues.
FORD F 150
The Ford F 150 is a popular full-size pickup with a very high number of complaints: 11,621 over 10 years (1,162 per year) and 151 recalls. It has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death reported. Common trouble spots include the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. This indicates that while the F 150 is widely used, it has a significant record of reported problems that buyers should investigate.
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 | 48 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 4.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 650I
- 01ENGINE24
- 02POWER TRAIN8
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM8
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
- 05WHEELS4
Owners report 'Drive Train Malfunction' warnings, shaking, and a strong fuel odor, often leading to fuel injector replacement. This can be a costly repair and may affect vehicle reliability.
Complaints include intermittent vibrations felt at highway speeds and rough idling that can lead to stalling while driving. These issues could pose safety risks if they occur in traffic.
Similar to engine issues, owners report fuel odors and injector failures, sometimes requiring replacement of all injectors. This is a significant expense and a common complaint.
Some owners mention a recall for an electronic auxiliary water pump failure, which can cause overheating warnings. This adds to the list of potential electronic gremlins.
“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 TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission problems, including limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame issues that can cause sudden loss of power. These can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
Complaints include lead frame failures and output speed sensor issues that trigger limp mode. Electrical glitches can leave drivers stranded or cause erratic behavior.
One owner reported the rear window shattering due to a defroster short. While not widespread, such defects can be alarming and costly.
With 1,224 complaints, lighting issues are common, though specific details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should check all lights for proper function.
“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 650I — 4 recalls
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 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 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 — 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 650I or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 650I has far fewer complaints per year (4.8) compared to the Ford F 150 (1,162), but the F 150's higher volume of sales means more reports. In practice, the 650I may have fewer overall issues, but when problems occur, they can be expensive; the F 150 has a broader range of reported problems, including safety-related crashes.
Key differences
- The BMW 650I has 48 complaints over 10 years, while the Ford F 150 has 11,621, but the F 150 is sold in much higher numbers.
- Engine and fuel system issues dominate 650I complaints, often involving fuel injectors and drivetrain malfunctions.
- Ford F 150 complaints frequently cite power train and electrical problems, such as transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F 150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries, whereas the 650I has 0 crashes and 1 injury, though these figures are not adjusted for sales volume.
- Check for any signs of fuel odor or 'Drive Train Malfunction' warnings, which could indicate fuel injector issues.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for vibrations that might point to power train problems.
- Look for transmission issues like rough shifting or limp mode during a test drive, especially in 2017 models with the 6-speed automatic.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for proper function to avoid potential shattering, as reported by one owner.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the BMW 650I for engine and fuel system issues, including injector condition.
- For the Ford F 150, test the transmission thoroughly and check for electrical problems like sensor failures.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed, especially those related to air bags and seat belts.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection that includes a diagnostic scan for stored error codes.
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 | 52 |
| 2018 | 0 | 79 |
| 2017 | 0 | 59 |
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
- 48
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- BMW 650I total recalls
- 4
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- BMW 650I avg complaints/year
- 4.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 650I
- BMW 650I top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN