Head-to-head reliability
BMW I5 vs FORD F 150
How the BMW I5 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 i5 vs FORD F 150: The BMW i5 has 27 complaints over 3 years (9/yr) and 10 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/yr) and 145 recalls. The i5's issues center on brakes and electrical systems, whereas the F-150's transmission problems dominate. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW I5 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW I5
The BMW i5 is a relatively new electric luxury sedan, with complaints concentrated in its first three model years. Owners report issues with the brake system, including unexpected forward movement and warnings about braking force, as well as electrical problems like sudden loss of power steering and coolant valve defects. These issues suggest that early adopters may face software and component reliability challenges that could affect daily usability and safety.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a long-running, high-volume pickup with a decade of complaints, averaging over 1,100 per year. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners describing hard shifts, jerking, and even sudden power loss. Electrical problems, including camera malfunctions and battery cable issues, also feature prominently, alongside exterior lighting and engine concerns. This pattern indicates that while the F-150 is popular, its drivetrain and electronics have been recurring trouble spots.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW I5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 27 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 287 |
| 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 I5
- 01SERVICE BRAKES11
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE5
- 05ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)5
Owners report the car unexpectedly accelerating into a vehicle ahead while at a stop, and dashboard warnings that braking may require extra force during highway merging. These issues point to potential problems with the brake-by-wire system or its software, which could compromise stopping confidence.
Sudden loss of power steering with no warning, and a persistent coolant valve defect that affects the high-voltage battery, are reported. These electrical gremlins can leave you without steering assist and may lead to battery cooling failures, impacting safety and reliability.
Failures in the acoustic pedestrian warning system and errors during automated driving have been noted. These issues could reduce the car's ability to alert pedestrians or maintain safe driving assistance, increasing collision risk.
Recalls related to ESC and brake control modules suggest that the stability system may have software or hardware flaws. Owners might experience unexpected activation or failure of stability control, affecting vehicle handling in slippery conditions.
“I was driving a brand-new 2025 BMW i5 electric car, just leased from dealer the day before. The car was at rest, waiting for traffic light to turn green. Then the car started to move forward, and suddenly hit the car in front with a big thrust. My foot was on…”
“While merging onto [XXX] from an on-ramp in [XXX] , I received a dashboard warning stating “Brake system and chassis stabilization – braking may require additional force.” This occurred during active acceleration and merging into highway traffic. At the time…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is a major sore point: owners describe hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power while driving. This can be alarming and potentially dangerous, especially in traffic.
Frequent warnings about front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist unavailability are common, often appearing every time the truck starts. These issues disable safety features and may indicate underlying wiring or sensor problems.
Headlight-related recalls suggest that lighting components may fail or be improperly aimed, reducing visibility at night. Owners might experience dim or non-functional headlights, increasing the risk of accidents.
Engine-related complaints and recalls point to potential issues like stalling or performance problems. While not as frequent as transmission issues, engine failures can leave you stranded and require costly repairs.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
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 I5 — 10 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2025 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (A…
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between June and December 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877…
The defect: BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 X1, 2024-2025 X5, 2025 X6, 2023-2025 X7, 740i, 760i, 2024 XM, 530i, 540i, i7, 750e, X2, 2024-2025 i5, 2024 Rolls Royce Spectre, 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4, JCW Countryman ALL4, and 2025 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S) vehicles. Pleas…
The risk: A loss of brake power assist or rear brake function can result in extended stopping distance. A loss of ABS or DSC can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 13, 2024. Owners can contact BMW Customer Service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 Mini Cooper S, Mini Countryman S All4, X2, 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre, 2023-2025 i7, 7 Series, X7, 2024-2025 i5, 5 Series, 2023-2024 XM, X1, 2024-2025 X6, and X5 vehicles. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss o…
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: The Integrated brake system will be inspected and, if necessary, replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce custo…
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 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
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 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
BMW I5 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW i5 has far fewer complaints per year (9.0) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the i5's problems are concentrated in safety-critical systems like brakes and electrical components, which may be more concerning for a luxury EV buyer. The F-150's high volume reflects its popularity, but the transmission issues are widespread and can be severe.
Key differences
- The BMW i5 has a much lower complaint rate (9 per year) than the Ford F-150 (1,131 per year), but its issues often involve safety systems like brakes and steering.
- The Ford F-150's most common problem is the 10-speed transmission, causing hard shifts and power loss, while the BMW i5's top issue is brake-related unexpected movement.
- The BMW i5 has had recalls for ESC and pedestrian warning systems, while the F-150 has recalls for headlights and battery cables, reflecting different reliability concerns.
- The BMW i5 is an EV with electrical system failures like power steering loss, whereas the F-150's electrical issues are more about camera and sensor malfunctions.
- Check for any brake system warnings or unusual brake pedal feel, and test the car's ability to hold at a stop without surging forward.
- Inspect the coolant valve and high-voltage battery for any signs of leakage or previous repairs, and ensure the power steering operates smoothly at all speeds.
- Test drive the truck through various speeds, especially around 4th-6th gears, to feel for hard shifts or clunks, and listen for any unusual transmission noises.
- Check if the front camera and pre-collision assist warnings appear on startup, and have a mechanic inspect the battery cables for corrosion or damage.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models; ensure all recalls have been addressed.
- For the BMW i5, have a certified EV technician inspect the battery cooling system and brake-by-wire components.
- For the Ford F-150, take an extended test drive that includes stop-and-go traffic and highway merging to assess transmission behavior.
- Ask for service records, especially for transmission repairs or software updates on the F-150, and for any brake or electrical work on the i5.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty that covers electrical and drivetrain components, given the reported issues.
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 I5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 7 | 329 |
| 2024 | 20 | 617 |
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 I5 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW I5 vs FORD F 150
- BMW I5 total complaints
- 27
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- BMW I5 total recalls
- 10
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- BMW I5 avg complaints/year
- 9.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW I5
- BMW I5 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN