Head-to-head reliability
BMW R 1250 GS vs FORD F 150
How the BMW R 1250 GS 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 R 1250 GS vs FORD F 150: The BMW has 29 complaints over 5 years (5.8/yr) with 14 recalls, while the Ford has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131.1/yr) with 145 recalls. BMW's top issue is brakes (21 complaints), Ford's is powertrain (3,553). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW R 1250 GS or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW R 1250 GS
The BMW R 1250 GS is a premium adventure motorcycle that owners ride for long distances and sometimes off-road. Its complaint history is relatively small, but it centers on braking issues, with some electrical and engine concerns. Owners report intermittent brake failures and caliper problems, which are serious safety issues for any vehicle, especially a motorcycle.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck known for its utility and towing capability. Its complaint history is much larger, with frequent reports of transmission problems, electrical glitches, and lighting issues. Owners describe hard shifts, sudden power loss, and malfunctioning driver-assist systems, which can be frustrating and potentially dangerous in traffic.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW R 1250 GS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 29 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.8 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 R 1250 GS
- 01SERVICE BRAKES21
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 03ENGINE4
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
- 05HYDRAULIC2
Owners report a sudden loss of brake pressure, often at low speeds, and a rear caliper that seizes, causing intermittent cruise control issues. This is critical because brake failure can lead to crashes.
The motorcycle may fail to start randomly, even after riding 30 miles, and the battery checks out fine. BMW has not been able to diagnose the issue, leaving owners stranded.
Some engine complaints are linked to the electrical issue, where the bike stalls or won't restart. Others mention a lack of power or rough running, though details are sparse.
“4/2021 Prior to 4/2021, I had complained verbally with visits and calls to the dealership about an intermittent (CC ) Cruise Control issue. They could not find a problem w/the CC. I now consider this issue is related to the rear caliper ceasing. 5/30/2022 (RC…”
“- DRIVING BRAND NEW 2019 BMW R 1250 GS MOTORCYCLE ON WELL-MAINTAINED, RURAL, TWO-LANE ROADS IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA - UPON BRAKING WHILE APPROACHING A SLOW-SPEED RIGHT-HAND TURN, THE BRAKES LOST ALL PRESSURE (APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN 2ND GEAR) - THE FRONT TIRE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard or delayed shifts, clunking noises, and occasional loss of power or vehicle shutdown. This can be dangerous in traffic and leads to costly repairs.
Owners report warning lights for front camera and pre-collision assist malfunctioning, often appearing every time the truck starts. These issues may disable safety features and require dealer visits.
Headlight problems are common, with owners reporting flickering, dimming, or complete failure, which reduces visibility at night and increases crash risk.
“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 R 1250 GS — 14 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2023 R1250GS, R1250GS Adventure, and R1250RTP motorcycles. In certain engine operating and riding conditions, the gearbox input shaft may become damaged or break, possibly resulting in a blocked rear wheel.
The risk: A damaged gearbox input shaft or a blocked rear wheel can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the engine control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 22, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 R 1250 GS, GS Adventure and R 1250 RT, 2020 S 1000 RR and S 1000 XR motorcycles. The front brake calipers may leak brake fluid when parked. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Saf…
The risk: Overtime, a leaking front brake caliper can reduce the amount of brake fluid in the reservoir. Low volume could affect brake performance, increasing the risk of crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the front brake calipers with an improved version, free of charge. BMW issued owners an interim notification on October 12, 2020. As of January 19, 2021, a remedy w…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2020 RnineT Scrambler and RnineT, 2020 R1250R and R1250RS, 2019-2020 Rnine T Pure, R1250GS,R1250GS Adventure and R1250RT and 2018 RnineT Racer motorcycles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not clearly state the required type of brake fluid…
The risk: Improper brake system maintenance could affect braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain Motorcycle Accessory Brake Fluid Reservoir Covers, part numbers 8405-752, 8405-753, 8405-754 and 9829547 designed to fit certain 2019-2020 BMW R 1250 motorcycles, and part numbers 8404-098, 8405-100, 8405-102, and 1542056 designed to fit certain…
The risk: Improper brake system maintenance could affect braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap, free of charge. The recall began December 14, 2020. Parts will be available in mid-September 2020 for the recall repairs. Owners may contact BMW customer servi…
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 R 1250 GS or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW R 1250 GS has far fewer complaints per year (5.8) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the BMW's brake failures are more severe in nature, while the F-150's transmission problems are more frequent but less immediately life-threatening.
Key differences
- BMW has 21 brake complaints out of 29 total, while Ford has 3,553 powertrain complaints out of 11,311.
- BMW has no crash-related complaints, but Ford has 328, indicating more incidents on the road.
- BMW's electrical issues cause starting failures, while Ford's electrical issues disable driver-assist features.
- Ford has 145 recalls over 10 years, while BMW has 14 over 5 years, suggesting more frequent factory fixes for the F-150.
- Inspect the brake system thoroughly, especially the rear caliper, for signs of seizing or fluid leaks.
- Check for any starting issues by letting the bike cool down and restarting it multiple times.
- Test drive the truck and pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-6th gears, for hard or delayed shifts.
- Check if the dashboard shows any warning lights for camera or pre-collision systems, and verify they clear after a restart.
Before you buy
- For the BMW, ask for service records related to brake recalls and any brake repairs.
- For the BMW, have a mechanic inspect the electrical system and battery connections.
- For the Ford, check the transmission fluid condition and service history.
- For the Ford, verify that all recalls have been performed, especially those for transmission and electrical issues.
- For both, get a pre-purchase inspection from a qualified mechanic.
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 R 1250 GS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 1 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 8 | 33 |
| 2019 | 15 | 36 |
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 R 1250 GS or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW R 1250 GS vs FORD F 150
- BMW R 1250 GS total complaints
- 29
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- BMW R 1250 GS total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- BMW R 1250 GS avg complaints/year
- 5.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW R 1250 GS
- BMW R 1250 GS top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN