Head-to-head reliability
BMW 760I vs FORD F 150
How the BMW 760I 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 760I vs FORD F 150: The BMW 760I has 0 complaints over 6 years and 18 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years, 151 recalls, and 330 crash-related reports. The F-150's power train and electrical issues are frequently reported by owners. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 760I or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 760I
The BMW 760I is a flagship luxury sedan with a complex electrical system. Over six years, it has zero owner complaints on file, but 18 recalls—mostly for electronic stability control and electrical system issues. That means no reported breakdowns from drivers, but a high number of factory-issued fixes for safety-related electronics. For a buyer, this suggests the car may have known electronic vulnerabilities that were addressed through recalls, not owner complaints.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a huge owner base and a very high number of complaints—over 11,600 in ten years, averaging more than 1,100 per year. The most common problem areas are the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Owners report serious issues like transmissions stuck in limp mode, lead frame failures, and even a rear window exploding. With 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and one death, the data shows real safety consequences tied to these failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 760I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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 760I
No component data available.
The BMW 760I has multiple recalls for electronic stability control, which helps keep the car from skidding. If this system fails, you could lose stability in a turn or emergency maneuver, increasing crash risk. Buyers should confirm all ESC recalls were completed.
Recalls for the electrical system suggest possible problems with wiring, sensors, or control modules. These can cause warning lights, stalling, or non-working safety features. Since there are no owner complaints, the exact symptoms are unknown, but the recalls show the factory identified defects.
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Owners report transmissions that go into limp mode, get stuck in 5th gear, and fail due to a 'lead frame' issue. One owner said the lead frame problem 'nearly ended my life' after a near collision. This is the most common complaint area, with 3,648 reports.
Electrical complaints often involve the same lead frame problem, plus other sensor failures. One owner described an Output Speed Sensor failure that caused highway limp mode. These faults can leave you stranded or unable to accelerate safely.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common. While not detailed in the sample, lighting failures can make you less visible at night or fail to signal turns, raising crash risk. Buyers should test all lights and check for recalls.
Engine complaints number 880, though no sample text is given. Engine problems can range from rough running to stalling. Given the high overall complaint volume, it's worth having a mechanic inspect the engine and check for related recalls.
“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 760I — 18 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2005-2008 745i, 745Li, 750i, 750Li, 760i, 760Li, and B7 Alpina vehicles equipped with both the Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options. In these vehicles, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open.
The risk: The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the door latch system, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
The defect: BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 7-Series vehicles, equipped with both Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through September 3, 2007. Due to a software problem, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently…
The risk: The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners and dealers will update software. The recall began on December 12, 2012. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
The defect: BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 7-Series vehicles, equipped with the Comfort Access option, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through July 24, 2008. The affected vehicles have an electronic key and an electronic connection between the gear shifter and the transmission (shift-by-wire)…
The risk: If the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may rollaway. Unattended rollaway incidents often result in a crash or cause injury to pedestrians attempting to stop or ent…
The fix: BMW will notify owners beginning in November 2012. The remedy became available in March 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
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.
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 760I or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW 760I has far fewer issues per year—0 complaints per year versus 1,162 for the Ford F-150. In practice, that means the BMW owner base reports almost no problems, while F-150 owners report frequent, sometimes dangerous failures. However, the BMW has many recalls, so it's not problem-free—just that owners haven't filed complaints.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints over 10 years; the BMW 760I has 0 complaints over 6 years.
- Ford F-150 owners report dangerous power train failures like limp mode and stuck gears; BMW 760I has no owner-reported symptoms, only recalls.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death; the BMW 760I has none of these.
- Both have many recalls (18 for BMW, 151 for Ford), but Ford's recalls cover engine, seat belts, door latches, and air bags, while BMW's are mostly electronic stability and electrical.
- Check for any open recalls on the electronic stability control and electrical system—these are the only known issues.
- Test all electronics: stability control warning lights, infotainment, and driver-assist features, since electrical recalls suggest possible gremlins.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for the transmission suddenly downshifting or getting stuck in 5th gear—a sign of the lead frame issue.
- Inspect the rear window defroster and window for cracks or signs of shattering, as one owner reported the back window exploding.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were fixed.
- For the Ford F-150, ask for transmission service records and test drive long enough to trigger limp mode.
- For the BMW 760I, ask for recall repair paperwork, especially for electronic stability control and electrical system.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Ford's transmission, electrical sensors, and exterior lights before purchase.
- On either vehicle, check for warning lights on the dashboard and scan for stored trouble 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 760I | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 0 | 345 |
| 2024 | 0 | 638 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1527 |
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 760I or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 760I vs FORD F 150
- BMW 760I total complaints
- 0
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- BMW 760I total recalls
- 18
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- BMW 760I avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW 760I
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN