Head-to-head reliability
BMW M8 vs FORD F 150
How the BMW M8 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 M8 vs FORD F 150: The BMW M8 has 0.8 complaints per year, but owners report dangerous unintended full-throttle acceleration. The Ford F-150 has 1131 complaints per year, mostly transmission hard shifts and electrical glitches. The M8 has 6 recalls, the F-150 has 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW M8 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW M8
The BMW M8 is a high-performance luxury coupe that, in ownership terms, demands attention to its electronic and powertrain systems. Owner complaints over six years are few but serious, centering on unintended full-throttle acceleration that owners report as sudden and difficult to stop, along with a separate engine issue linked to a coolant leak. While the low complaint count suggests rarity, the nature of the reported failures—especially those involving loss of control—makes thorough pre-purchase inspection critical.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a high volume of complaints, reflecting its popularity and years of production. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners describing hard shifts, jerking, and occasional loss of power. Electrical system problems, including camera and sensor malfunctions, also appear frequently. The sheer number of complaints and recalls indicates that buyers should expect some issues, particularly with the transmission, and should verify that all recalls have been performed.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW M8 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 M8
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 03ENGINE1
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
- 05SERVICE BRAKES1
Owners report sudden unintended acceleration with the engine surging to redline (7000-8000 RPM) and sticking at full throttle, even with the brake applied. This can lead to loss of control and crashes, as one owner hit a curb before the car stopped.
The same unintended acceleration incidents are also logged under electrical system, suggesting a possible electronic throttle or sensor malfunction rather than a mechanical stuck pedal. Owners describe the engine continuing to run at full power even after the vehicle was forced to stop.
A separate engine complaint involves a coolant tank leak that allowed coolant to enter the fuel injectors, causing misfires and loss of power. The owner notes that BMW's recall only replaces injectors, not the tank, which they argue is the root cause.
This complaint overlaps with the engine issue, highlighting a coolant leak into the fuel system that leads to misfires. The owner expresses frustration that the recall does not address the tank itself, which they believe is the underlying defect.
“While driving, the vehicle immediately went into full unintended acceleration without any input from the accelerator pedal. I removed my foot completely from the pedal, but engine RPM increased to full 7000 rpm’s and the throttle was stuck there. The vehicle…”
“On [XXX]. My car went into unintended acceleration at full throttle of 8000 RPMs. The engine was stuck at maximum power and would not slow down. My car slide until it hit a curb and was forced to stop. However, the engine was still running at full maximum cap…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is the 10R80 automatic transmission, with owners reporting hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and occasional loss of power. Some describe the vehicle shutting off and then restarting with a violent jerk, which is a safety concern in traffic.
Many complaints involve warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, appearing every time the truck is started. Owners also report loud bangs from the transmission area, which may be related to electronic control issues.
While not detailed in the sample, the high number of complaints in this category suggests issues with headlights or other exterior lights, which could affect visibility and safety. Buyers should check that all lights function properly.
Engine-related complaints are less frequent but still notable. The sample does not provide specifics, but given the overall pattern, buyers should be alert to any engine performance issues or warning lights.
“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 M8 — 6 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series C…
The risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i,…
The risk: A loss of ABS and a reduction in braking assistance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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 Americal, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 8 Series Coupe (840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Convertible (840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Gran Coupe (840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, Alpine B8 xDrive), 2 Series Coupe (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i xDrive,…
The risk: Unintentionally closing the windows or sunroof without the key present can increase the risk of injury to occupants inside the vehicle.
The fix: Dealers will update the software for the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. In addition, the digital key function via cellular service and Wi-Fi capability will be deactivated until the vehicle is updated with new software. Own…
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 M8 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW M8 has far fewer complaints per year (0.8) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), but the nature of the M8's issues—unintended acceleration—is more severe. In practice, the F-150's transmission problems are more common but often less immediately dangerous, while the M8's rare but critical failures demand extra caution.
Key differences
- The BMW M8 has a very low complaint rate (0.8/yr) but its complaints are dominated by unintended full-throttle acceleration, which can lead to loss of control.
- The Ford F-150 has a high complaint rate (1131/yr) with the majority focused on transmission harshness and shifting issues, which are annoying but not always immediately dangerous.
- The M8 also has a separate engine issue from a coolant leak into injectors, while the F-150 has frequent electrical system warnings for camera and pre-collision systems.
- The F-150 has many more recalls (145 vs 6), indicating a broader range of potential defects, but also a longer production history and higher sales volume.
- Test the throttle response and check for any history of unintended acceleration or engine surging. Have a mechanic inspect the electronic throttle control and related sensors.
- Check for coolant leaks around the engine and verify if the coolant tank has been replaced as part of any recall, not just the injectors.
- Take a thorough test drive to feel for hard shifts, jerking, or clunking, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears. Ask for transmission service records and whether any software updates have been applied.
- Start the truck and check for any warning messages about front camera or pre-collision assist. If present, have the system diagnosed.
Before you buy
- For the BMW M8: obtain a full service history and check for any open recalls, especially those related to backup camera, brakes, transmission, and power windows.
- For the Ford F-150: verify that all 145 recalls have been performed, particularly those for exterior lighting, battery cables, engine, and seats.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic who can scan for trouble codes and test the transmission operation.
- Check the NHTSA website for the specific VIN to see any unrepaired recalls.
- Consider an extended warranty that covers electronic and transmission components, given the potential for costly repairs.
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 M8 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 0 | 617 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 0 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 5 | 33 |
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 M8 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW M8 vs FORD F 150
- BMW M8 total complaints
- 5
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- BMW M8 total recalls
- 6
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- BMW M8 avg complaints/year
- 0.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW M8
- BMW M8 top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN