Head-to-head reliability
BMW M5 vs FORD F 150
How the BMW M5 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 M5 vs FORD F 150: Over 10 years, the M5 had 21 complaints and 15 recalls, while the F-150 had 11,621 complaints and 151 recalls. The F-150 also had 330 crash-related reports and 297 injuries, versus none for the M5. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW M5 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW M5
The BMW M5 is a high-performance luxury sedan that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over 10 years, it has 21 complaints (about 2.1 per year) and 15 recalls, with no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data. Owner complaints often describe serious engine and power train failures, including coolant tank leaks that damage engine parts and sudden loss of drive. These issues can lead to expensive repairs, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is essential.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that is widely used for both work and daily driving. In the same 10-year period, it has 11,621 complaints (about 1,162 per year) and 151 recalls, with 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death. Many owner complaints focus on power train and electrical problems, such as transmission limp mode and lead frame failures. These patterns suggest that some model years may have recurring safety and reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW M5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 21 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.1 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 M5
- 01ENGINE8
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 03POWER TRAIN5
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
Owners report coolant expansion tank failures that can leak and damage nearby engine components, leading to expensive repairs. There are also reports of catastrophic engine failure with metal shavings found in the engine, sometimes requiring a full replacement.
Complaints include body parts like the front license plate holder detaching unexpectedly and windshields cracking without impact. These may seem minor but can be frustrating and costly to fix.
Some owners describe the car jerking and kicking out of drive into neutral at highway speeds, which is a serious safety concern. Others report total engine failure at low mileage with no warning.
Fuel injectors and ignition coils can fail, with one owner noting multiple injectors going bad and limited parts availability. This can cause misfires, poor performance, and potential breakdowns.
“I actively participate in online F90 forums, and it seems like the coolant expansion tank seems to fail for almost all owners (both pre-LCI and LCI). In many cases, it also damages critical engine components underneath the tank and results in expensive repair…”
“Despite following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule and having the car serviced at authorized BMW dealerships, I am facing an engine failure that BMW has quoted $44,000 to repair. BMW is only offering $4,000 towards this repair, leaving us w…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues can happen repeatedly and may require costly repairs.
The lead frame issue also appears under electrical complaints, causing intermittent failures and limp mode. Another reported problem is a short in the rear window defroster that can cause the back window to shatter.
Some complaints involve rear window defroster shorts leading to shattered glass, which can be dangerous. These issues may not be covered by recalls and can be expensive to fix.
While fewer complaints mention the engine directly, some owners report engine-related problems that contribute to power loss or poor performance. These can be linked to other systems like the transmission or electrical faults.
“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 M5 — 15 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 M5 and 2020 M8 Gran Coupe, M8 Coupe, and M8 Convertible vehicles. The transmission wiring harness can become damaged, resulting in an electrical short circuit.
The risk: An electrical short circuit can cause the transmission to shift to neutral resulting in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace any damaged transmission harnesses. All harnesses will be rerouted and secured. These repairs will be performed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 3, 2020. Owners may…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 750i xDrive, 2019 M850i xDrive Coupe, M850i xDrive Convertible, X5 xDrive50i, X7 xDrive50i, and M5 vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may not have been properly attached to the engine, which may cause the fuel pump flange to crack, result…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Co…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may c…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles. A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured.…
The risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service 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 M5 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW M5 has far fewer complaints per year (about 2.1) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but the M5's issues often involve expensive engine and transmission repairs. The F-150's higher complaint volume includes many power train and electrical problems that can affect safety and reliability. In practice, the M5 may be less likely to leave you stranded, but when it breaks, it can cost more.
Key differences
- The BMW M5 has 21 complaints over 10 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,621, but the M5's complaints often involve costly engine failures like coolant tank leaks and metal shavings.
- The Ford F-150 has 330 crash-related reports, 297 injuries, and 1 death, whereas the M5 has none in the data, though the M5 has reports of sudden loss of drive at speed.
- The F-150's most common complaint areas are power train and electrical, with recurring lead frame and transmission limp mode issues, while the M5's top areas are engine and unknown/other, including body and glass defects.
- Both vehicles have recalls, but the F-150 has 151 recalls versus 15 for the M5, covering issues like seat belts, air bags, and door latches.
- Check the coolant expansion tank for cracks or leaks, as owners report failures that can damage engine components underneath.
- Listen for unusual engine noises or check for metal shavings in the oil, which could indicate catastrophic engine failure requiring replacement.
- Test drive and watch for transmission shuddering, limp mode, or getting stuck in gear, which are common lead frame and transmission complaints.
- Inspect the rear window defroster for signs of shorting or cracks, as some owners report the window shattering unexpectedly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas for each model.
- For the BMW M5, ask for maintenance records and check the coolant system and engine for signs of failure.
- For the Ford F-150, test the transmission thoroughly and check for any electrical gremlins like window or sensor issues.
- Budget for potential repairs: the M5 may have fewer but more expensive issues, while the F-150 may have more frequent but sometimes cheaper fixes.
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 M5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 35 |
| 2025 | 2 | 345 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1527 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3493 |
| 2021 | 2 | 5349 |
| 2020 | 2 | 44 |
| 2019 | 8 | 52 |
| 2018 | 4 | 79 |
| 2017 | 0 | 59 |
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 M5 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW M5 vs FORD F 150
- BMW M5 total complaints
- 21
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- BMW M5 total recalls
- 15
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- BMW M5 avg complaints/year
- 2.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW M5
- BMW M5 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN