Head-to-head reliability
BMW G 650 vs FORD F 150
How the BMW G 650 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 G 650 vs FORD F 150: The BMW G 650 has 9 complaints over 10 years (0.9/year) and 0 crash-related reports, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621 complaints (1,162.1/year), 330 crash-related reports, and 297 injuries. The BMW shows stalling and brake issues; the Ford shows transmission and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW G 650 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW G 650
The BMW G 650 is a single-cylinder adventure-style motorcycle with a relatively low complaint volume: 9 complaints over 10 years, or about 0.9 per year. Owners report intermittent stalling at idle and occasional brake failures, but there are no crash-related complaints, injuries, or deaths in this data. For a buyer, this suggests a bike that can be reliable but may need attention to engine idle behavior and brake hydraulics.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 11,621 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 1,162 per year. The most common issues involve the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting, with some complaints describing limp mode, lead frame failures, and a rear window explosion. There are also 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death reported, so buyers should take these patterns seriously.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW G 650 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 9 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.9 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 G 650
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
- 02ENGINE2
- 03SERVICE BRAKES2
- 04HYDRAULIC2
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
Owners report the motorcycle randomly shuts off when the engine drops to idle, and one dealer blamed ethanol in the fuel. This can be dangerous if it stalls in traffic, and the problem may come and go.
Similar stalling complaints appear under the engine category, with one owner saying the bike would stall without warning at various speeds and then not idle after restart. A buyer should test ride and check for consistent idle.
One owner reported the rear foot brake failed while braking from 5-10 mph and had to use the emergency hand brake to stop. Another complaint mentions ABS failing to respond on a different BMW model, so brake function is worth verifying.
The hydraulic system complaints mirror the brake issues, including a rear brake failure and an ABS failure on a related model. These are safety-critical, so any brake warning lights or soft pedal feel should be investigated.
“MY MOTORCYCLE WILL START AND RUN FOR A WHILE BUT WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHEN THE ENGINE GETS DOWN TO IDLE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT PERSISTENT AND SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONE DAY, BE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THEN ARISE AGAIN. WHEN THE BIKE IS RUNNING AND I 'M UP AT SPEED…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW G650 GS US MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT WOULD NOT IDLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ETHANOL IN THE…”
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 some 2017 F-150s with the 6-speed automatic go into limp mode and get stuck in 5th gear. These transmission problems can leave you stranded or worse.
The lead frame problem also appears under electrical, and one owner reported an output speed sensor failure that triggered highway limp mode. Electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and may recur.
One owner reported the rear window exploded outward shortly after using the defroster, with no external cause. This is a rare but alarming issue that could cause injury or costly glass repair.
With 1,224 complaints, exterior lighting is a top category, though specific sample text is not provided. Buyers should check all lights and look for recalls related to lighting.
“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 G 650 — 1 recall
The defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 G 650 X COUNTRY, G 650 X CHALLENGE, AND G650 X MOTO MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 29, 2006 THROUGH MAY 19, 2008. OVER TIME, THE ROLL GEAR PIN'S MOUNTING ATTACHMENT COULD BREAK.
The risk: IF THIS OCCURS, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR FRAGMENTS OF THE ATTACHMENT TO BECOME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE DRIVE CHAIN AND THE REAR SPROCKET. THE REAR WHEEL COULD LOCK UP, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ROLL GEAR PIN'S MOUNTING ATTACHMENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW 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 G 650 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW G 650 has far fewer complaints per year (0.9 vs. 1,162.1) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in this data, while the Ford F-150 has thousands of complaints and hundreds of crash-related reports. In practice, the BMW appears to have a much lower reported problem rate, but both vehicles have specific failure patterns that a buyer should inspect.
Key differences
- The BMW G 650 averages 0.9 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages 1,162.1 per year, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- The BMW has 0 crash-related complaints, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths in this data; the Ford F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints, 297 injuries, and 1 death.
- BMW owners report stalling at idle and brake failures, while Ford owners report transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and a rear window explosion.
- The Ford F-150 has 151 recalls versus 1 for the BMW, covering areas like engine, seat belts, door latches, and air bags.
- Test ride the bike and let it idle for several minutes to see if it randomly shuts off or fails to idle, as owners reported.
- Check the rear brake and ABS function carefully; one owner had the rear foot brake fail at low speed and needed the emergency brake.
- During a test drive, watch for the transmission going into limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, or harsh shifting, which owners reported.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster for cracks or signs of stress, since one owner reported the window exploding after using the defroster.
Before you buy
- Ask for the vehicle's complete recall history and confirm all open recalls have been repaired, especially for the Ford F-150's many campaigns.
- For the BMW G 650, have a mechanic check fuel delivery and idle stability, and inspect brake hydraulics for leaks or softness.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for transmission trouble codes and test the lead frame/ output speed sensor function if possible.
- Check all exterior lights, door latches, and seat belts on the Ford F-150, as these are common complaint areas.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to reproduce stalling or limp mode symptoms.
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 G 650 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW G 650 vs FORD F 150
- BMW G 650 total complaints
- 9
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- BMW G 650 total recalls
- 1
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- BMW G 650 avg complaints/year
- 0.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW G 650
- BMW G 650 top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN