Head-to-head reliability
BMW R 1300 GS vs FORD F 150
How the BMW R 1300 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 1300 GS vs FORD F 150: The BMW averages 1.3 complaints per year over 3 years, while the F-150 averages 1,131 per year over 10 years. BMW has 2 recalls, F-150 has 145. BMW issues include adaptive ride height and cruise control; F-150 issues include transmission hard shifting and electrical warnings. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW R 1300 GS or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW R 1300 GS
The BMW R 1300 GS is a premium adventure motorcycle with a relatively low complaint volume, averaging about 1.3 per year over three model years. Owners report issues with the adaptive ride height and adaptive cruise control, which can affect stability and speed control, as well as a clutch failure in off-road conditions. These are electronic and mechanical glitches that could be concerning for a bike in this class, but the low frequency suggests they are not widespread.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume pickup with a much higher complaint rate, averaging over 1,100 per year over ten years. The dominant issues are transmission problems, especially hard shifting and loss of power, along with electrical glitches like camera and pre-collision warnings. These are common complaints that indicate potential reliability concerns, particularly with the 10-speed automatic transmission.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW R 1300 GS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.3 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 1300 GS
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 02SUSPENSION1
- 03POWER TRAIN1
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
Owners report failures with the adaptive ride height and adaptive cruise control. The suspension can drop to a lower position, making the bike unstable at speed, and the cruise control may cause sudden deceleration in traffic.
The adaptive ride height system can malfunction, leaving the suspension in a low position and causing instability, especially at highway speeds. This is a safety concern as it affects handling.
One owner experienced a sudden clutch failure at around 3,000 miles while off-roading, where the clutch stopped engaging entirely, leaving the bike unable to move.
The adaptive cruise control can abruptly slow the motorcycle without clear reason, which could be startling or dangerous in congested traffic.
“The contact owns a 2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH on the highway in congestive traffic with the adaptive cruise control activated. The contact then stated that the motorcycle abruptly slow down as a…”
“1)Adaptive Rider Height failure ! 3 times the suspension warning display and on causing the suspension to remain in lower position making the motorcycle unstable at speed. Dealer had vehicle for a while to remedy the issue. Warranty fix 2)Engine control red w…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is with the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners report shifting hard, jerking, or clunking between gears, and sometimes losing power or stalling entirely.
Owners frequently see warnings for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear on the dash and may disable safety features.
There are numerous complaints about headlights, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample, but recall data indicates headlight issues.
Engine-related complaints are also common, but the sample text does not provide specific symptoms, so it is unclear what engine problems owners face.
“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 1300 GS — 2 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 R 1300 GS motorcycles. The housing for the starter motor relay may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in a damaged relay that can overheat.
The risk: An overheated electrical relay increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the starter relay and update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 23, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 F 900 GS, F 800 GS, R 1300 GS Adventure, R 1300 GS, S 1000 RR, S 1000 R, and K 1600 GT vehicles equipped with the optional emergency call system. The emergency call system (eCall) may have been deactivated due to a software programming error.
The risk: In an emergency, first responders may not receive notification of the crash or emergency location, increasing the risk of injury to riders.
The fix: The electronic control unit software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed September 12, 2025. 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 1300 GS or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The BMW R 1300 GS has far fewer complaints per year (1.3 vs 1,131) and fewer recalls (2 vs 145), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the F-150's high volume reflects its popularity and longer production run, but the transmission problems are a significant concern. In practice, the BMW appears more reliable based on complaint frequency, but the F-150's issues are more widespread and potentially more costly to fix.
Key differences
- The BMW has a much lower complaint rate (1.3/yr) compared to the F-150 (1,131/yr).
- BMW issues are primarily electronic (adaptive ride height, cruise control) and a clutch failure, while F-150 issues are dominated by transmission problems.
- F-150 has a higher number of crash-related complaints (328) and injuries (287) compared to BMW's 1 crash and 0 injuries.
- BMW has only 2 recalls, while F-150 has 145 recalls, indicating more widespread safety campaigns.
- Check the adaptive ride height system for any warning lights or unusual suspension behavior, as failures can cause instability.
- Test the adaptive cruise control to ensure it does not brake unexpectedly, and verify the clutch operation, especially if you plan off-road use.
- Test drive the truck and pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears, for hard shifts or jerks.
- Check for any warning messages about the front camera or pre-collision assist, as these may indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the BMW, ask for service records related to suspension and electrical system repairs.
- For the F-150, check the transmission fluid condition and ask if the 10R80 has been updated or repaired.
- Inspect the BMW's clutch for wear if it has high mileage or off-road use.
- For the F-150, verify all recalls have been performed, especially those related to transmission and electrical systems.
- Take both vehicles for a test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for any issues.
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 1300 GS | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 2 | 329 |
| 2024 | 2 | 617 |
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 1300 GS or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW R 1300 GS vs FORD F 150
- BMW R 1300 GS total complaints
- 4
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- BMW R 1300 GS total recalls
- 2
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- BMW R 1300 GS avg complaints/year
- 1.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- BMW R 1300 GS
- BMW R 1300 GS top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN