Head-to-head reliability
BMW M4 vs FORD F 150
How the BMW M4 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 M4 vs FORD F 150: The BMW M4 has 16 complaints over 10 years (1.6 per year) and 10 recalls, with no reported crashes or injuries. The Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints (1,131 per year), 145 recalls, and 328 crash-related complaints. The M4 shows far fewer reported issues, but the F-150's higher volume may reflect sales. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW M4 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW M4
The BMW M4 is a high-performance coupe with a relatively low complaint volume: 16 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1.6 per year. Owners report issues like fuel tank leaks, rear-view camera failures, and recall-related delays for power train parts. With 10 recalls and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data, it appears to have fewer safety-related complaints than the Ford F-150, but buyers should still be aware of the specific problems noted.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1,131 per year. The most common issues involve the power train, electrical system, and exterior lighting, with reports of hard shifting, loss of power, and camera malfunctions. There are also 328 crash-related complaints, 287 injuries, and 1 death reported, indicating a higher frequency of safety-related incidents in the data.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW M4 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 16 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.6 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 M4
- 01FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
- 02BACK OVER PREVENTION3
- 03ENGINE2
- 04POWER TRAIN2
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
Owners report fuel tank leaks, often after filling up, with one complaint describing the tank cracking due to heat expansion. This can lead to fuel loss and potential fire risk, so buyers should inspect for leaks or odors.
Complaints include rear-view cameras becoming inoperable and rear cross-traffic alert not providing warnings. These failures can make reversing less safe, especially in tight spaces.
One owner reported a wheelbase failure causing the front end to lift while turning at 40 mph. While only two engine complaints exist, this suggests potential handling or structural concerns that warrant a thorough test drive.
Owners have experienced recall-related delays for power train parts, with some waiting months for repairs. This means a used M4 might have an outstanding recall that could affect drivability or safety.
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Fuel Tank on my BMW under 50k miles started leaking after a fill up. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I didn't notice any leaks at the g…”
“Fuel tank was leaking. I brought it in to BMW of San Antonio who found the left side top area of fuel tank leaking fuel from the sealed portion. Heat caused the top of fuel tank to expand and crack. BMW of SA required me to buy a replacement fuel tank. When I…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and even sudden loss of power with the 10-speed automatic transmission. These issues can occur while driving and may lead to dangerous situations, so a test drive should include varied speeds and gear changes.
Complaints include warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs from the transmission area. Electrical glitches can disable safety features and are often intermittent, making them hard to diagnose.
With 1,164 complaints, exterior lighting issues are common, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should check all lights, including headlights and taillights, for proper function.
There are 847 engine complaints, but no sample text is given. Given the high overall complaint volume, engine problems may be varied; a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic is strongly advised.
“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 M4 — 10 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2026 M4 and 430i vehicles. The positive battery cables may not be properly connected to the power distribution box, resulting in an engine stall and a fire.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash and a fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace cables and power distribution box as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Nu…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, and M4 convertible vehicles. The Emergency Locking Retractors (ELR) within the front seat belt assemblies may have been produced with incompatible vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism housings.
The risk: If the vehicle has an incompatible vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism, the seat belt may not restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary replace, the front seat belt assemblies, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive, M2 Competition Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, and 2019 330i xDrive Sportswagon vehicles. The driver and passenger knee air bag assemblies may have been improperly folded and asse…
The risk: An improperly folded and assembled air bag may not deploy as intended, increasing risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the knee air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 M2 Coupe and 2020 M4 Coupe vehicles. Fuel injectors may have been installed without a damping component which is used to reduce vibration. If a damping component is not present, vibration will increase at the connection between the fuel…
The risk: A damaged connection between the fuel line and the fuel rail could lead to a fuel leak and, in the presence of an ignition source, increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel injectors and if a damping component is missing, the injectors and the fuel rail will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW custome…
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 M4 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW M4 has far fewer complaints per year (1.6) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data. In practice, this means the M4 may have fewer reported safety-related issues, but the F-150's much larger sales volume could influence complaint counts. Buyers should weigh the specific problems reported for each vehicle against their needs.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years versus 16 for the BMW M4, a massive difference in reported issues per year.
- The F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints, 287 injuries, and 1 death, while the M4 has none of these in the data.
- Common M4 issues include fuel tank leaks and rear camera failures; common F-150 issues include transmission jerking and electrical warnings.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls compared to 10 for the M4, meaning more potential safety fixes to track.
- Check for fuel leaks or strong gasoline odors, especially after filling the tank, as owners report tank cracking and leaking.
- Test the rear-view camera and rear cross-traffic alert to ensure they function properly, as failures have been reported.
- During a test drive, pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears, for jerking or delayed engagement.
- Check for dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' that may appear at startup.
Before you buy
- Look up the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall website to see if any open recalls exist and have them addressed before purchase.
- Take a lengthy test drive covering city and highway speeds, including reversing, to check for transmission issues (F-150) or camera failures (M4).
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the fuel system for the M4 and the transmission/electrical systems for the F-150.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes (F-150) and fuel tank inspections (M4).
- Verify that all safety features, such as rear cameras and collision warnings, are operational.
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 M4 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 4 | 617 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 2 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 1 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 1 | 33 |
| 2019 | 0 | 36 |
| 2018 | 6 | 56 |
| 2017 | 2 | 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 M4 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW M4 vs FORD F 150
- BMW M4 total complaints
- 16
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- BMW M4 total recalls
- 10
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- BMW M4 avg complaints/year
- 1.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW M4
- BMW M4 top complaint area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN