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.

BMW 760I0 complaints · 18 recalls Fewer issues per year
FORD F 15027,552 complaints · 141 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

BMW 760i vs FORD F 150: The BMW 760i has 0 owner complaints and 18 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 27,552 complaints and 141 recalls over 10 years. Ford owners report transmission failures and sudden power loss; BMW has no reported issues. 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 has zero owner complaints on record, which is unusual and suggests either very few owners report issues or the vehicle is exceptionally reliable in the eyes of NHTSA. However, it has 18 recalls, indicating that while owners may not be complaining, the manufacturer has identified and addressed numerous potential defects. For a buyer, this means the car has a clean complaint history but requires checking that all recall work has been performed.

FORD F 150

The Ford F-150 has a massive volume of complaints—over 27,500 in 10 years—with frequent reports of powertrain failures, engine problems, and electrical system issues. Owners describe the transmission failing to shift into park, sudden loss of power while driving, and unintended acceleration. With 141 recalls and numerous crash-related incidents, the F-150 shows a pattern of serious reliability and safety concerns that buyers should investigate thoroughly.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryBMW 760IFORD F 150
Total complaintsAll model years combined0 Better27,552
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns18 Better141
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints0 Better762
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years0.0 Better2755.2
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better714
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better10

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.

What these mean
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

The BMW 760i has two recalls for door latches, indicating a potential issue where doors may not latch properly or could open unexpectedly. This is a safety concern for occupants.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

A recall for the automatic transmission suggests possible defects that could affect shifting or cause loss of drive power. No owner complaints detail the specific failure.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:DRIVER MONITORING:CAMERA/SENSOR

A recall for the driver monitoring camera/sensor indicates potential malfunction of advanced safety features, which could affect driver assistance systems.

FORD F 150

  1. 01POWER TRAIN9,967
  2. 02ENGINE4,861
  3. 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,479
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,210
  5. 05STRUCTURE1,485
What these mean
POWER TRAIN

Owners report the transmission shifter getting stuck in drive when trying to park, and turbo/wastegate issues causing power loss. These failures can leave the vehicle immobile or unsafe.

ENGINE

Engine complaints include the integrated park module failing to engage park, leading to roll-away risks. Also, sudden loss of power while driving has been reported, which is dangerous.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Electrical failures cause complete loss of power while driving, disabling brakes, airbags, and steering. ABS system issues after recall repairs have also been noted.

In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

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 760I — 18 recalls

Latches/Locks/Linkages — Doors — Latch
#17V328000

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.

Latches/Locks/Linkages — Doors — Latch
#12V504000

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.

Power Train — Automatic Transmission
#12V502000

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.

Electrical System — Adas — Driver Monitoring — Camera/Sensor
#23V700000

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 — 141 recalls

Electrical System — Integrated Trailer Brake Control
#26V104000

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.…

Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Oil/Lubrication
#24V851000

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…

Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Fluid/Lubricant — Valves/Valve Body
#25V164000

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Oil/Lubrication
#25V198000

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 760I or FORD F 150: which should you buy?

The BMW 760i has zero complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages over 2,755 complaints per year. This stark difference means the BMW is far less likely to have reported issues, but the F-150's high complaint volume indicates widespread problems that could affect safety and reliability.

Recommendation. If you prioritize a trouble-free ownership experience with minimal reported issues, choose the BMW 760i, but ensure all recalls are completed. If you need a truck for work or towing and are willing to accept higher risk of problems, the Ford F-150 may still be suitable, but inspect for transmission and electrical issues.

Key differences

  • The BMW 760i has zero owner complaints, while the Ford F-150 has over 27,500 complaints, including 762 crash-related incidents.
  • Ford F-150 owners report serious failures like sudden power loss and unintended acceleration; BMW has no such reports.
  • The BMW has 18 recalls but no complaints; the Ford has 141 recalls and many complaints, indicating unresolved issues.
  • Ford's powertrain and electrical system failures are well-documented; BMW's issues are only known through recalls.
Watch on BMW 760I
  • Check that all 18 recalls have been performed, especially door latch and transmission recalls, as they affect safety.
Watch on FORD F 150
  • Test the transmission park function repeatedly; listen for unusual noises from the turbo/wastegate.
  • Check for any history of sudden power loss or electrical system failures, and verify recall completion for brake and electrical issues.

Before you buy

  • Obtain a full recall history for both vehicles and confirm all recalls are completed.
  • For the BMW 760i, inspect door latches and transmission operation during a test drive.
  • For the Ford F-150, test the park function multiple times and check for vibrations or power loss.
  • Review the Ford's service records for any transmission or electrical repairs.
  • Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with these models.

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.

YearBMW 760IFORD F 150
202609
20250320
20240597
202301448
Years to scrutinize: the 2019 FORD F 150 drew the most (5,718). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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

BMW 760I vs FORD F 150 — comparison facts
Comparison
BMW 760I vs FORD F 150
BMW 760I total complaints
0
FORD F 150 total complaints
27,552
BMW 760I total recalls
18
FORD F 150 total recalls
141
BMW 760I avg complaints/year
0.0
FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
2755.2
More reliable overall
BMW 760I
FORD F 150 top complaint area
POWER TRAIN