Head-to-head reliability
BMW R 1250 RT vs FORD F 150
How the BMW R 1250 RT 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 RT vs FORD F 150: The BMW has 23 complaints over 6 years (3.8/yr) with no crashes, while the Ford has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/yr) with 328 crashes. BMW's main issues are brake leaks and ACC dropouts; Ford's are transmission failures and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW R 1250 RT or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW R 1250 RT
The BMW R 1250 RT is a premium touring motorcycle with a relatively low complaint rate, averaging about 3.8 per year over six years. The most frequent issues center on the service brakes, with owners reporting leaks and malfunctions of the Hill Start Control feature. Other complaints involve adaptive cruise control dropping out, loose bodywork, and electrical glitches. While no crashes or injuries were reported, these issues can be annoying and potentially affect safety.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year over ten years. The dominant problems are in the powertrain, especially the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as hard shifting, jerking, and occasionally losing power. Electrical system issues, including camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions, are also common. With hundreds of crashes and injuries reported, these failures can have serious safety implications.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW R 1250 RT | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 23 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.8 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 R 1250 RT
- 01SERVICE BRAKES14
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE4
- 03STRUCTURE2
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 05ENGINE2
Owners report leaking front brake fluid and Hill Start Control malfunctions that may fail to hold the bike on gradients, potentially leading to unexpected rolling.
Adaptive cruise control intermittently drops out despite dealer recalibration and software updates, which could increase the risk of rear-ending another vehicle if the system fails to maintain speed or distance.
The front fender and windscreen have been reported loose or causing whistling noises, indicating potential fit and finish issues that may require repeated repairs.
Intermittent issues with turn signals, low beam headlights, and horn malfunctions have been reported, which could affect visibility and communication with other road users.
“Hill Start Control malfunction this feature Hold the bike when it comes to a stop uphill or downhill of 5' degree gradient or more for max 2.5 minute, when auto mode on the brake will automatically hold the bike when it comes to a stop on a gradient and relea…”
“SINCE DAY ONE THIS BIKE HAS HAD LEAKING FRONT BRAKES. TODAY, I GO OUT IN MY GARAGE AND SEE MY BRAKES ARE LEAKING AGAIN FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME. THIS IS BEYOND A DEALERSHIP FIX. BOTH DEALERS I'VE TAKEN THE BIKE TO (IRON HORSE BMW IN TUCSON, GOAZ IN PEORIA) HAVE…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners experiencing hard shifts, clunks, jerks, and occasional loss of power or stalling, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Many owners report persistent warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which may disable safety features and require dealer visits.
Headlight issues are common, with some owners reporting failures that reduce visibility at night, increasing the risk of accidents.
Engine-related complaints include stalling, rough idling, and loss of power, which can occur unexpectedly and compromise vehicle control.
“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 RT — 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 2019-2023 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 2021 R 1250 RT, R 1250 R, R 1250 RS, R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure motorcycles. The tire pressure labels may not remain affixed to the motorcycle frame. As a result, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehi…
The risk: If the label detaches from the motorcycle, proper tire pressure information may not be readily available. This could result in the rider improperly filling the tires which may affect motorcycle handling and control, increasing the risk of…
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tire pressure label, free of charge. The recall began October 19, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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.
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 RT or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW R 1250 RT has far fewer complaints per year (3.8) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the BMW's brake and electronic problems, while less frequent, are still significant for a motorcycle. In practice, the F-150's transmission and electrical issues are more widespread and have been linked to crashes and injuries, making the BMW appear more reliable in terms of complaint frequency.
Key differences
- The BMW has a much lower complaint rate (3.8/yr) than the Ford (1,131/yr), indicating a lower frequency of reported problems.
- BMW's top issue is service brakes (leaks, Hill Start Control), while Ford's is powertrain (transmission hard shifting and failures).
- Ford has reported crashes (328) and injuries (287) linked to complaints, whereas BMW has none.
- BMW's electrical issues are minor (turn signals, headlights), while Ford's electrical problems disable safety features like pre-collision assist.
- Inspect the front brake system for any signs of fluid leaks, as owners report recurring leaks that may not be fixed by dealers.
- Test the Hill Start Control on a slope to ensure it engages and releases properly, as malfunctions have been reported.
- Test drive the truck and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears, for hard jerks or clunks.
- Check for any warning lights related to the front camera or pre-collision assist, as these are common and may indicate a need for repair.
Before you buy
- For the BMW: check brake fluid levels and look for wet spots around calipers and lines; test the Hill Start Control on an incline.
- For the BMW: verify that adaptive cruise control maintains speed without dropping out on a test ride.
- For the Ford: perform a thorough test drive including highway speeds to assess transmission shift quality.
- For the Ford: check the electrical system by starting the vehicle and looking for any warning messages on the dash.
- For both: review the vehicle's recall history and ensure all outstanding recalls have been addressed.
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 RT | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 617 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 4 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 6 | 33 |
| 2019 | 9 | 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 RT or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW R 1250 RT vs FORD F 150
- BMW R 1250 RT total complaints
- 23
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- BMW R 1250 RT total recalls
- 14
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- BMW R 1250 RT avg complaints/year
- 3.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW R 1250 RT
- BMW R 1250 RT top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN