Head-to-head reliability
BMW I8 vs FORD F 150
How the BMW I8 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 I8 vs FORD F 150: The i8 has only 10 complaints over 6 years (1.7/yr) with no crashes, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/yr) and 328 crashes. The i8's issues are rare but severe, like engine stalling; the F-150's transmission problems are frequent. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW I8 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW I8
The BMW i8 is a low-volume hybrid sports car that, in ownership terms, means low complaint volume but high severity when issues occur. Over six model years, owners have filed just 10 complaints, averaging 1.7 per year, with no crashes or injuries reported. The pattern centers on electrical gremlins and engine stalling, often at speed, which can be alarming. While rare, these failures suggest that when the i8 does break, it can leave you stranded or struggling for power.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume full-size pickup with a much larger complaint footprint: 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,131 per year. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners reporting hard shifts, jerks, and sudden power loss. Electrical problems, especially camera and sensor malfunctions, are also common. With 328 crashes and 287 injuries linked to these failures, the F-150's issues are more frequent and can have direct safety implications.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW I8 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 10 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.7 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 I8
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
- 02ENGINE3
- 03TIRES1
- 04SUSPENSION1
- 05AIR BAGS1
Owners report electrical failures that can disable the car or cause warning lights, sometimes related to prior damage or battery issues. This can lead to unexpected shutdowns or loss of drive power.
The hybrid powertrain can stall at speed, showing extreme heat warnings, or hesitate for seconds when pulling into traffic. Dealerships sometimes fail to replicate the issue, leaving owners without a fix.
Summer performance tires wear quickly and lose grip in rain, leading to spins. Owners report needing replacement after only a few hundred miles, which is a safety and cost concern.
The rear suspension can collapse even at low mileage, with a BMW bulletin recommending replacement but no owner notification. This is a critical safety risk if it fails while driving.
“I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding a significant safety issue with my 2015 BMW i8. I purchased the vehicle from United BMW in Alpharetta, Georgia, on [XXX]. At the time of purchase, the car had 25,000 miles and now has 30,000 miles. Recently,…”
“I purchased a 2015 BMW i8 (salvage title) from Parkline Motors. The vehicle history (Carfax) disclosed prior front/right damage, which I accepted. However, the dealership failed to disclose critical safety-related defects associated with that damage. Shortly…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is the biggest headache: hard shifts, clunks, jerks between gears, and occasional complete power loss. Some trucks shut off and restart, but the unpredictability is dangerous in traffic.
Owners see recurring warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' every time they start the truck. These issues may disable safety features and are often not resolved by dealers.
Headlight problems are common, with failures that can reduce visibility at night. This is a direct safety concern for driving in low-light conditions.
Engine issues, while less frequent than transmission, include stalling and performance problems that can occur without warning, adding to the list of potential breakdowns.
“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 I8 — 6 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 i8 vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2014, to September 16, 2014. A bolt used to attach a ground cable between the tank and the vehicle chassis may not have been properly welded during manufacturing.
The risk: An inadequate weld of the bolt to the fuel tank could cause a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fuel leak could lead to a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank if necessary, free of charge. The recall began in November 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 530e iPerformance and X3 xDrive30e and MINI Cooper Countryman All4 SE, 2020 BMW i8, and 2021 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le xDrive and X5 xDrive45e vehicles. Debris may have entered one or more of the hybrid battery cells d…
The risk: The debris could result in a short-circuit, increasing the risk of fire or injury.
The fix: BMW will inspect and, if necessary, replace the battery module free of charge. The remedy is currently being developed. Until the remedy is completed, drivers are instructed to not charge their vehicles. Drivers are instructed to not drive…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 i8 vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Improperly drilled holes within the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) hydraulic unit may restrict one or more pistons impairing the DSC functions, including braking.
The risk: Impaired DSC functionality may negatively impact vehicle handling and braking and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the DSC hydraulic unit, and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 8, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mi…
The risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. 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 I8 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW i8 has far fewer complaints per year (1.7 vs. 1,131), but its issues are more severe when they occur, such as engine stalling and suspension collapse. The F-150's problems are more frequent and often relate to the transmission, which can be a constant annoyance and safety risk. In practice, the i8 offers a more reliable ownership experience in terms of frequency, but the F-150's issues are more predictable and well-documented.
Key differences
- BMW i8: 10 complaints over 6 years vs. F-150: 11,311 over 10 years – a massive difference in frequency.
- i8's top issue is electrical (5 complaints) and engine stalling; F-150's is transmission (3,553 complaints) with hard shifts and power loss.
- i8 has zero crash-related complaints; F-150 has 328 crashes and 287 injuries linked to failures.
- i8's suspension collapse is a rare but critical safety defect; F-150's transmission issues are more common but less immediately life-threatening.
- Inspect the rear suspension for signs of wear or collapse, especially if the car has over 20,000 miles – ask if the BMW bulletin fix was applied.
- Check for any electrical warning lights or history of stalling; test drive at highway speeds to see if the engine temperature warning appears.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: accelerate through all gears, watch for hard shifts or jerks, and listen for clunks. Ask if the 10R80 has been updated or replaced.
- Look for recurring dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' – these may indicate unresolved electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the i8: get a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the hybrid battery and electrical system, and verify any recall work (fuel system, battery, ESC) is done.
- For the F-150: check the transmission fluid condition and service history; consider a diagnostic scan for stored transmission codes.
- For both: obtain a full NHTSA recall report and confirm all recalls are completed.
- Test drive both vehicles in stop-and-go traffic and at highway speeds to feel for any hesitation or shifting issues.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for the i8's tires and suspension, and the F-150's transmission service.
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 I8 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 33 |
| 2019 | 0 | 36 |
| 2017 | 0 | 43 |
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 I8 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW I8 vs FORD F 150
- BMW I8 total complaints
- 10
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- BMW I8 total recalls
- 6
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- BMW I8 avg complaints/year
- 1.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW I8
- BMW I8 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN