Head-to-head reliability
BMW 740I vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 740I 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 740I vs FORD F 150: The BMW 740i averages 1.2 complaints per year with no crashes, while the Ford F-150 averages 2,755 complaints per year with 762 crash-related incidents. The BMW's issues are mostly electrical glitches, whereas the Ford has serious powertrain and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 740I or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 740I
The BMW 740i is a luxury sedan with a low complaint rate of about 1.2 per year over a decade, but it has 22 recalls. Owners report electrical glitches like a flaky parking sensor system and a freezing audio display, plus phantom seatbelt warnings and engine overheating due to radiator blind failures. These issues suggest a car that can be frustrating with intermittent electronic and engine cooling problems, though safety-related complaints are absent.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular pickup with a very high complaint rate of over 2,700 per year and 141 recalls. Owners report serious powertrain issues like the shifter getting stuck in drive and sudden unintended acceleration, engine problems including failure to engage park, and electrical failures causing total power loss while driving. With 762 crash-related complaints, 714 injuries, and 10 deaths, the F-150 shows a pattern of safety-critical defects that demand attention.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 740I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 12 Better | 27,552 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 141 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 762 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.2 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 740I
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- 02SEAT BELTS2
- 03ENGINE2
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
Owners report the automatic park distance control (PDC) activates erratically or fails to activate, and the audio system freezes, ignoring gesture and touch commands. This means the car's convenience features can be unreliable, requiring software updates or repairs.
Phantom seatbelt warnings occur when the passenger seat is empty, and the blind spot warning works intermittently. This can be annoying and may lead to ignoring safety alerts, though it's not a crash risk.
The engine malfunction light comes on due to faulty upper and lower radiator blinds, causing overheating. BMW extended warranty for some models but not the 740i, so buyers may face repair costs for a known issue.
“2016 BMW 740I IS EQUIPMENT WITH AUTOMATIC PARK DISTANCE CONTROL SYSTEM (PDC) THAT AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS CLOSE TO AN OBSTACLE WHEN DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEED. THE SYSTEM IS VERY FLAKY IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE, SOMETIMES IT ACTIVATES WHEN IT…”
“AUDIO CONTROL SYSTEM FREEZES ON THE BMW 740I. IT HAPPENS THAT AUDIO IS GONE COMPLETELY, SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TO RAISE VOLUME: 1. GESTURE COMMANDS TO RAISE VOLUME (THE SYSTEM DOES NOT EVEN SHOW GESTURE IS INVOLVED ON THE DASH DISPLAY…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN9,967
- 02ENGINE4,861
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,479
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,210
- 05STRUCTURE1,485
The shifter gets stuck in drive when parking, failing to shift into park automatically, which can cause the truck to roll. Also, wastegate issues on turbos lead to power loss. These are serious drivability and safety concerns.
The integrated park module may not engage the park pawl, preventing the truck from locking into park. This can lead to unintended rollaway, a known safety defect linked to crashes.
Total power loss while driving, including brakes, steering, and airbags, has been reported. Also, ABS noise after brake booster recall work. These electrical failures create dangerous driving situations.
“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 740I — 22 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series C…
The risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 Mini Cooper S, Mini Countryman S All4, X2, 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre, 2023-2025 i7, 7 Series, X7, 2024-2025 i5, 5 Series, 2023-2024 XM, X1, 2024-2025 X6, and X5 vehicles. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss o…
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: The Integrated brake system will be inspected and, if necessary, replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce custo…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 Mini Cooper S, Mini Countryman S All4, X2, 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre, 2023-2025 i7, 7 Series, X7, 2024-2025 i5, 5 Series, 2023-2024 XM, X1, 2024-2025 X6, and X5 vehicles. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss o…
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: The Integrated brake system will be inspected and, if necessary, replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce custo…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2025 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (A…
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between June and December 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877…
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 740I or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 740i has far fewer complaints per year (1.2 vs 2,755) and no crash-related incidents, while the Ford F-150 has a high rate of safety-critical failures. In practice, the 740i is more reliable for daily driving, but the F-150's issues are more severe and frequent.
Key differences
- BMW 740i has 1.2 complaints per year vs Ford F-150's 2,755 per year, a massive difference in owner-reported issues.
- Ford F-150 has 762 crash-related complaints, 714 injuries, and 10 deaths; BMW 740i has zero in all categories.
- BMW 740i's top issues are electrical glitches and phantom warnings; Ford F-150's include sudden acceleration, power loss, and park failure.
- Ford F-150 has 141 recalls vs BMW's 22, indicating more widespread manufacturing defects.
- Check for active PDC and audio system functionality, as these are common electrical failures.
- Inspect engine radiator blinds for proper operation and ask if the extended warranty applies to the 740i.
- Test the park function by shifting into park and ensuring the vehicle locks; check for any shifter sticking.
- Look for signs of electrical issues like flickering lights or intermittent power loss, and verify all recalls are performed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to confirm all recalls have been completed for both models.
- For the BMW 740i, test the PDC and audio system thoroughly during a test drive.
- For the Ford F-150, perform a parking test to ensure the shifter engages park properly.
- Check for any engine overheating signs on the BMW 740i, such as coolant leaks or warning lights.
- For the Ford F-150, inspect the electrical system by starting and stopping the engine multiple times and checking for warning lights.
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 740I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 9 |
| 2025 | 0 | 320 |
| 2024 | 0 | 597 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1448 |
| 2021 | 0 | 4942 |
| 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 740I or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 740I vs FORD F 150
- BMW 740I total complaints
- 12
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 27,552
- BMW 740I total recalls
- 22
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 141
- BMW 740I avg complaints/year
- 1.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 2755.2
- More reliable overall
- BMW 740I
- BMW 740I top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN