Head-to-head reliability
BMW 750li vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 750li 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 750li vs FORD F 150: The BMW 750li has 78 complaints over 10 years (7.8/year) and 13 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints (1,162.1/year) and 151 recalls. The F-150 also reports 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the BMW reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 750li or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 750li
The BMW 750li is a luxury sedan with 78 complaints over 10 years, averaging 7.8 per year. Owners frequently report engine and power train problems, including sudden power loss and violent vibration during acceleration. Electrical and fuel system issues also appear, such as smoke from the engine bay and fuel leaks. With 13 recalls, it demands diligent maintenance and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,162.1 per year. Power train and electrical issues dominate, with many owners describing transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window defroster shorts. There are 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death reported. With 151 recalls, it has a high volume of safety actions.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 750li | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 78 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.8 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 750li
- 01ENGINE28
- 02POWER TRAIN19
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM10
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
Owners report the engine malfunctioning while driving, causing the car to sporadically stop operating with full power. Some describe violent vibration and inability to accelerate when merging onto the highway. These failures can leave a driver stranded in traffic.
Complaints mirror engine issues, with sudden power loss and transmission problems. One owner noted the car vibrated violently and would not accelerate, with a warning message appearing. This can create dangerous situations when merging or passing.
Owners report smoke after AC service and doors that fail to open when parked. These electrical glitches can affect safety and convenience. A door that won't open could be a problem in an emergency.
Fuel leaks into the engine causing smoke under the hood, and some cars leak oil from seals creating white smoke from exhaust and engine bay. These leaks pose fire risks and indicate poor sealing. Rough idle and check engine lights are also common.
“THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED IN MY CAR WHILE DRIVING AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON PUBLIC ROADS WITH MULTIPLE ENGINE PARTS IDENTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE CAR SPORADICALLY STOPS OPERATING WITH FULL POWER AND THERE HAVE BEEN SE…”
“WHEN ENTERING THE ON RAMP TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I ACCELERATED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND CAR VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I CONTINUED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR BUT NOTHING HAPPENED AND A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY. NOW, I'M STUCK BETWE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners describe a never-ending lead frame issue that can cause near collisions, and transmissions that go into limp mode and stick in 5th gear. Some experience daily transmission malfunctions. These problems can lead to sudden loss of power and reduced control.
The lead frame issue also appears here, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger highway limp mode. A rear window defroster short caused a back window to explode outward. Electrical faults can disable safety features and cause unexpected damage.
A short in the rear window defroster led to the back window shattering outward with no impact. This is a serious safety concern as glass could injure occupants or other drivers. Owners report similar unexplained electrical shorts.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Lighting problems can reduce visibility and increase crash risk. Buyers should check all lights function correctly.
“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 750li — 13 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 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 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 — 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 750li or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 750li has far fewer complaints per year (7.8) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,162.1). However, the F-150's much higher sales volume means more vehicles on the road. In practice, the BMW may have fewer reported issues per vehicle, but both have serious safety-related complaints.
Key differences
- The BMW 750li averages 7.8 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages 1,162.1 per year, but the F-150 sells in much higher numbers.
- The BMW's top issues are engine and power train failures causing sudden power loss; the F-150's top issue is power train problems like lead frame failures and limp mode.
- The Ford F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death, while the BMW 750li has 0 in these categories.
- The BMW has 13 recalls; the Ford F-150 has 151 recalls, indicating more safety-related actions over the same period.
- Check for engine hesitation, vibration, or sudden power loss during a test drive, especially when accelerating hard.
- Inspect for fuel or oil leaks under the hood and white smoke from the exhaust, which could indicate seal failures.
- Test the transmission for limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in gear, particularly during highway merges.
- Check the rear window defroster for proper function and look for any signs of electrical shorts or cracked glass.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the BMW for engine, power train, and fuel system leaks before purchase.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for transmission error codes and test drive at highway speeds to check for limp mode.
- Verify that all electrical components, including lights, windows, and defroster, work correctly.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission and engine repairs.
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 750li | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 3493 |
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 750li or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 750li vs FORD F 150
- BMW 750li total complaints
- 78
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- BMW 750li total recalls
- 13
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- BMW 750li avg complaints/year
- 7.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 750li
- BMW 750li top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN