Head-to-head reliability
BMW IX vs FORD F 150
How the BMW IX 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 IX vs FORD F 150: The BMW iX has 114 complaints over 5 years (22.8/yr) with 28 recalls, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131.1/yr) with 145 recalls. The iX's issues are more severe, including sudden power loss, whereas the F-150's are more frequent but less dangerous. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW IX or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW IX
The BMW iX is a luxury electric SUV that, in ownership terms, promises a high-tech, quiet ride. However, the complaint data reveals a pattern of sudden, complete power loss while driving, often accompanied by loss of steering and braking assist, which can leave the driver stranded in traffic. Electrical system issues are the most common, with owners also reporting problems with the forward collision avoidance system and unintended acceleration, particularly during parking maneuvers. These are serious safety concerns that a buyer should weigh heavily.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup known for its capability and durability. Yet, the complaint data shows a high volume of issues, especially with the powertrain, where owners report harsh shifting, jerking, and even complete loss of power. Electrical system problems are also frequent, including camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions. While the F-150 has been on the market longer and has more total complaints, the sheer number per year indicates that these issues are not rare, and buyers should be prepared for potential transmission and electrical gremlins.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW IX | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 114 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 28 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 34 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 22.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 19 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 IX
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM33
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE29
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER20
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL15
- 05AIR BAGS13
Owners report sudden loss of propulsion, power steering, and braking without warning, often leading to the vehicle shutting down in traffic. This is the most common issue and can be life-threatening.
The system can engage on its own, causing the car to accelerate or roll unexpectedly, even when the driver is parking or stopped. This has led to crashes into trees and buildings.
Unintended sudden acceleration has been reported, particularly during parking, with a loud whirring sound. This is a critical safety defect that can cause loss of control.
Recalls related to the air bag/restraint control module software suggest potential issues with air bag deployment, which could affect occupant protection in a crash.
“On November 16, 2023, I was driving the vehicle in the far left lane of the freeway when, without any warning, the vehicle lost propulsion and would not accelerate. It also lost power assisted steering AND power assisted braking. I had to decelerate with no p…”
“The vehicle automatically lost power, shut down, and came to a complete stop in the middle of the road. During the shut down, I was unable to accelerate, brake, or steer the vehicle to the side of the road to a safe stopping location. The vehicle computer app…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners experiencing hard shifts, jerks, clunks, and even complete power loss. This can be dangerous in traffic and is a common reason for repair.
Beyond transmission-related electrical issues, owners report persistent warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist being unavailable, indicating problems with safety systems.
Headlight issues are common enough to have been a recall subject, which could affect visibility and safety at night.
Engine problems are also reported, though less frequently than transmission issues, and have been the subject of recalls, suggesting potential reliability concerns.
“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 IX — 28 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive40, iX XDrive50, and iX M60 vehicles. The air bag malfunction indicator light and display message may not illuminate in the event of a problem with the air bag control or pedestrian protection systems, due to incorrect software.
The risk: An air bag malfunction indicator light that fails to warn the driver of a problem increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the air bag control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 13, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive40, iX xDrive50, iX M60, 2022 i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles equipped with hybrid electric powertrains. While in Valet Parking Mode, the Central Information Display (CID) may not display critical safety information, such as w…
The risk: A display that does not show critical information, such as warning messages and/or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the display's head unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive50, iX M60, 2022 i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles. The high voltage battery may have internal damage, resulting in an electrical short-circuit.
The risk: A short-circuit in a high voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive or charge their vehicles, and to park outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informi…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one 2023 iX M60 hybrid electric vehicle. The transmission final drive gear in the electric drive unit may have an improperly manufactured weld seam.
The risk: The gear weld seam could break, resulting in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: A dealer will replace the electric drive unit, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on November 30, 2022. The owner notification letter is expected to be mailed November 28, 202…
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 IX or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW iX has far fewer complaints per year (22.8) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the iX's problems are more severe in nature, involving sudden loss of control, while the F-150's issues are more about drivability and annoyance. In practice, the iX may be more reliable in terms of frequency, but the consequences of its failures are potentially more dangerous.
Key differences
- The BMW iX has a much lower complaint rate per year (22.8) than the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), but its complaints often involve sudden loss of power and unintended acceleration, which are safety-critical.
- The Ford F-150's most common issues are transmission-related, with hard shifting and jerking, which are less likely to cause immediate danger but can be costly to fix.
- The BMW iX has had recalls for air bag software and battery thermal management, while the Ford F-150 has had recalls for headlights and engine problems.
- The BMW iX's forward collision avoidance system can activate unexpectedly, causing the car to move on its own, whereas the F-150's pre-collision assist malfunctions are more about warnings not working.
- Check for any history of sudden power loss or electrical system failures, as these are the most common and dangerous issues.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and cruise control systems in a safe area to ensure they do not engage without input.
- Inspect the transmission for any signs of harsh shifting or jerking, especially between gears 4-5 and 5-6, and ask for maintenance records.
- Verify that the front camera and pre-collision assist systems are functioning properly, as they are known to malfunction.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the electrical system and transmission.
- Test drive the vehicle in various conditions, including stop-and-go traffic and highway speeds, to feel for any transmission issues.
- For the BMW iX, test the parking assist and self-driving features in a safe, empty area to ensure they do not activate unexpectedly.
- For the Ford F-150, ask about any transmission software updates or repairs that have been done, as many issues are addressed with updates.
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 IX | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 24 |
| 2025 | 12 | 329 |
| 2024 | 32 | 617 |
| 2023 | 38 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 29 | 3432 |
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 IX or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW IX vs FORD F 150
- BMW IX total complaints
- 114
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- BMW IX total recalls
- 28
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- BMW IX avg complaints/year
- 22.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW IX
- BMW IX top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN