Head-to-head reliability
BMW 750I vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 750I 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 750i vs FORD F 150: The BMW has 30 complaints over 10 years (3.0/yr) with 5 recalls, while the Ford has 10,861 complaints (1086.1/yr) with 144 recalls. BMW owners report engine and drivetrain issues, while Ford owners face transmission failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 750I or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 750I
The BMW 750i is a luxury sedan that, in ownership terms, demands attention and budget for upkeep. Owner complaints over the past decade show a pattern of recurring engine and drivetrain issues, often requiring repeated repairs even on low-mileage vehicles. Electrical gremlins and wheel problems also surface, suggesting that while the car offers a premium experience, it can be unreliable and costly to maintain.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup that, in ownership terms, is a workhorse but not without its share of problems. The complaint data reveals a high volume of transmission-related issues, particularly with the 10-speed automatic, leading to harsh shifting, limp mode, and even complete failures. Electrical system complaints are also common, often intertwined with transmission problems, and lighting issues add to the list of concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 750I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 30 Better | 10,861 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 144 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 319 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.0 Better | 1086.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 286 |
| 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 750I
- 01ENGINE11
- 02POWER TRAIN7
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- 05WHEELS3
Owners report recurring drivetrain malfunctions causing rough starts and stalling on the highway, with VANOS solenoids and valve covers replaced multiple times in a short period. Also, active air flap actuators for the radiator grill have been subject to a warranty extension due to failures.
The same drivetrain malfunction issues appear here, with rough starts and highway incidents. One owner reported white smoke obstructing vision while driving, which could indicate a serious engine or transmission problem.
Moisture can enter the brake modulator enclosure, causing it to shut down all braking functions. Additionally, a defective wire harness triggers the check engine light, and owners feel this is a safety defect.
A rear wheel rim broke and two front tires showed bulges, with owners noting similar issues on other vehicles of the same model, suggesting a potential defect.
“There are two grill shutter actuators. One for the upper and one for the lower. Different part numbers. NHTSA issued a TSB for N63R in 2019: MC-10160279-9999 (G12 (N63R)/G30 (B58M) RADIATOR GRILL UPPER AND LOWER ACTIVE AIR FLAPS: LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO…”
“BMW 2013 750LI DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION RE-OCCURRING CAUSING ROUGH START AND WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY 485 VANOS SOLENOIDS & VALVE COVERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN 7 MONTHS ON MY VEHICLE THAT HAS 22,000 MILES. MY FULL SERVICE WARRANTY IS GOING TO EXPIRE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,363
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,019
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,374
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,122
- 05ENGINE803
The 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with reports of delayed/hard shifting, wrench warning lights, reduced power/limp mode, and even complete failure at highway speeds. Some owners experienced loud bangs and popping sounds from the rear suspension during downshifts.
Electrical issues often accompany transmission problems, with warning lights and signal loss. Some complaints mention a recall remedy being denied, leaving owners with unresolved safety concerns.
OEM LED headlights fail to adjust, causing excessive glare for oncoming drivers. Owners note that while daytime running lights got a recall, the headlight adjustment issue did not, which is a safety concern.
Engine-related complaints are less frequent but still present, often tied to the transmission issues or separate performance problems.
“The vehicle experienced intermittent transmission-related drivability issues before the recall remedy was available. The vehicle had delayed/hard shifting, an intermittent wrench warning light, and a reduced power/limp mode condition where the transmission wo…”
“Subject: Safety Defect Complaint – Sudden 10R80 Transmission Failure in 2018 Ford F-150 Dear NHTSA, I am reporting a serious safety issue with my 2018 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. The transmission failed completely at on…”
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 750I — 5 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear taillight assemblies. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requireme…
The risk: Vehicles with the incorrect left rear lamp assemblies may be less conspicuous to other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect left rear taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began August 11, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear taillight assemblies. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requireme…
The risk: Vehicles with the incorrect left rear lamp assemblies may be less conspicuous to other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect left rear taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began August 11, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 750i xDrive, 2019 M850i xDrive Coupe, M850i xDrive Convertible, X5 xDrive50i, X7 xDrive50i, and M5 vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may not have been properly attached to the engine, which may cause the fuel pump flange to crack, result…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. 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…
FORD F 150 — 144 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 750I or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 750i has far fewer complaints per year (3.0) compared to the Ford F-150 (1086.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the BMW's issues are more concentrated in critical systems like engine and drivetrain, which can be expensive to repair. The F-150's high volume of complaints, especially regarding the transmission, suggests a more widespread problem that could affect many owners.
Key differences
- The BMW 750i has a much lower complaint rate (3.0/yr) than the Ford F-150 (1086.1/yr), but its issues are more severe and costly, like repeated engine and drivetrain failures.
- The Ford F-150's transmission problems are widespread, with many owners reporting hard shifting, limp mode, and complete failures, often leading to dangerous situations.
- The BMW 750i has electrical issues like brake modulator failure due to moisture, while the F-150 has electrical problems tied to transmission warnings and signal loss.
- The F-150 has a higher number of recalls (144) and crash-related complaints (319) compared to the BMW (5 recalls, 1 crash), indicating a broader safety impact.
- Check for any signs of engine roughness or drivetrain malfunction warnings, as VANOS solenoids and valve covers may need replacement.
- Inspect the brake modulator area for water intrusion, which could lead to brake failure.
- Test drive the transmission for delayed or hard shifts, and watch for the wrench light or limp mode.
- Check the headlights for proper adjustment to avoid glare issues.
Before you buy
- For the BMW 750i, obtain service records to see if VANOS solenoids and valve covers have been replaced recently.
- For the Ford F-150, check if the transmission recall (e.g., 26S28) has been performed and if any symptoms persist.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic focusing on the engine and transmission for both vehicles.
- For the BMW, test the brakes to ensure the modulator is functioning properly.
- For the Ford, verify that the headlights are correctly aimed and not causing glare.
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 750I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 3355 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5041 |
| 2020 | 0 | 10 |
| 2019 | 0 | 14 |
| 2018 | 0 | 17 |
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 750I or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 750I vs FORD F 150
- BMW 750I total complaints
- 30
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 10,861
- BMW 750I total recalls
- 5
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 144
- BMW 750I avg complaints/year
- 3.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1086.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 750I
- BMW 750I top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN