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 22 recalls and no reported crashes, while the Ford F-150 averages 1,162 complaints per year with 151 recalls and 330 crash-related reports. The Ford also shows 297 injuries and 1 death. 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 that shows a relatively low complaint rate of about 1.2 per year over the past decade, but owners report recurring electronic gremlins. Complaints center on flaky driver-assist sensors, frozen infotainment, false seatbelt warnings, and engine overheating from faulty radiator blinds. With 22 recalls and no reported crashes or injuries in the data, it appears to be a car where annoyances and repair visits are more common than safety failures.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume—averaging over 1,100 per year—and a broad range of reported problems. Owners frequently describe transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, electrical glitches, and even rear window shattering. The data also shows 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and one death, indicating that some issues may have serious consequences.
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 | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.2 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 740I
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- 02SEAT BELTS2
- 03ENGINE2
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
Owners report the automatic park distance control (PDC) activating unpredictably and the audio system freezing or becoming unresponsive. These glitches can be distracting and may require software updates or hardware repairs.
Phantom seatbelt warnings occur when the passenger seat is empty, often traced to loose wiring in the seatbelt harness. This can be annoying and may mask a real seatbelt fault if not addressed.
The upper and lower radiator blinds (active air flaps) can fail, causing the engine to overheat. Some owners note that BMW extended warranty coverage for this issue on other models but not the 740I, leaving them with repair bills.
Complaints include the sunroof exploding inward while driving and ongoing PDC failures despite software updates. These are rare but potentially dangerous or costly to fix.
“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 TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe recurring transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues can leave a driver stranded or create dangerous driving situations.
The lead frame issue also appears under electrical complaints, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. These electrical faults can disable the truck unexpectedly.
Some owners report the rear window shattering spontaneously, sometimes after using the defroster. This can be startling and costly, though the cause is not always clear.
Although not detailed in the sample complaints, exterior lighting is a top complaint category, suggesting owners frequently report lighting failures that could affect visibility.
“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 740I — 22 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 740i, 740i xDrive, 760i xDrive, i7 eDrive50, i7 xDrive60, i7 M70, 2024 750e xDrive, 530i, 530i xDrive, i5 eDrive40, and i5 M60 vehicles. The ground connection to the steering wheel may not have been attached correctly, resulting in an i…
The risk: An inoperative hands-on detection system may fail to detect when the driver's hands are not on the steering wheel and therefore not engage the emergency stopping assistant system, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reattach the ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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…
The defect: BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 X1, 2024-2025 X5, 2025 X6, 2023-2025 X7, 740i, 760i, 2024 XM, 530i, 540i, i7, 750e, X2, 2024-2025 i5, 2024 Rolls Royce Spectre, 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4, JCW Countryman ALL4, and 2025 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S) vehicles. Pleas…
The risk: A loss of brake power assist or rear brake function can result in extended stopping distance. A loss of ABS or DSC can cause a loss of vehicle handling and 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 November 13, 2024. Owners can 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…
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 740I or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 740I has far fewer complaints per year (about 1.2) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), and the BMW also shows zero crash-related complaints, injuries, or deaths in the data, while the F-150 has hundreds. In practice, the BMW may demand more frequent attention to electronic and engine details, but the Ford’s issues appear more widespread and sometimes tied to serious safety outcomes.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the BMW 740I has only 12, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Ford F-150 complaints include 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the BMW 740I data shows none of these.
- BMW 740I owners report electronic glitches like PDC failures and frozen audio, while Ford F-150 owners report transmission limp mode and lead frame failures that can cause sudden power loss.
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls versus 22 for the BMW, suggesting a broader range of safety-related fixes over time.
- Check for active PDC and audio system functionality; test all driver-assist features and infotainment controls for freezing or erratic behavior.
- Inspect the radiator blinds (active air flaps) for proper operation and look for any signs of overheating or engine malfunction lights.
- Test the transmission thoroughly for limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in gear; scan for stored codes like P0722.
- Inspect the rear window for cracks or signs of stress, and check the defroster operation; ask if the lead frame has been replaced.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Ford’s transmission and electrical recalls.
- For the BMW, test all electronic features including PDC, audio, seatbelt warnings, and sunroof operation.
- For the Ford, take a lengthy test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to check for transmission issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the BMW’s cooling system and the Ford’s transmission and electrical systems.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for transmission repairs on the Ford and software updates on the BMW.
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 | 35 |
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 0 | 44 |
| 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 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
- 11,621
- BMW 740I total recalls
- 22
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- BMW 740I avg complaints/year
- 1.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 740I
- BMW 740I top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN