Head-to-head reliability
BMW 135I vs Honda Accord
How the BMW 135I and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
BMW 135I vs Honda Accord: The BMW 135I has 100 complaints over 7 years (14.3/year) and 26 recalls, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years (452.4/year) and 38 recalls. The BMW's issues often involve stalling and air bags; the Accord's include power steering failure and unintended braking. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 135I or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 135I
The BMW 135I is a performance coupe that demands attention. Over 7 years, it has 100 complaints (14.3 per year) and 26 recalls, with air bags and engine issues dominating. Owners report stalling, transmission hesitation, and air bag inflator concerns, so living with one means staying on top of recalls and being prepared for potential mechanical quirks.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 4,524 over 10 years (452.4 per year) and 38 recalls. Complaints span engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance systems, with some reports of stalling, power steering failure, and unintended braking. While many are built into high sales volume, the data shows a wide range of potential problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 135I | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 100 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 14.3 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
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 135I
- 01AIR BAGS36
- 02ENGINE30
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19
- 04POWER TRAIN15
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11
Owners report air bag inflator defects that may cause serious injury or death, and some were not notified of recalls, leading to out-of-pocket repairs. This is a critical safety concern that buyers should verify recall completion.
Complaints describe the vehicle shutting off during operation at idle or when accelerating from a stop, which can leave drivers stranded in intersections. This stalling pattern is dangerous and points to potential fuel or ignition issues.
Owners report stalling, lagging dual-clutch transmission with hesitation and violent lunging, and power steering loss while driving. These electrical gremlins can affect drivability and safety.
Similar to engine complaints, the power train issues include stalling and transmission problems, such as holding gears and surging. These can make the car unpredictable to drive.
“I JUST HAD THE BOLTS ON BOTH THE (INTAKE AND EXHAUST REPLACED) THIS IS LISTED IN THE UNSPECIFIED RECALL AND NO ONE NOTIFIED ME ON THIS RECALL I DRIVE THE 2011 128I SERIES COUPE AND THIS COST ME OUT OF POCKET $1,800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE, WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND…”
“I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN 3/2016 THAT AIR BAG INFLATOR MAY RESULT IN "SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH" TO DRIVER AND /OR PASSENGERS. I LIVE AND WORK IN TALLAHASSEE, FL, THE AREA THAT TRIGGERS NEED FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. THIS GRAVE DEFECT IS ALSO ON MY CARFAX REPORT, DE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of power, alarms for brake and stability systems, and rattling noises with rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can lead to reduced speed and potential breakdowns.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can cause loss of control and near-collisions.
Owners describe unintended braking or failure to resolve threats, sometimes occurring under adaptive cruise control. This can surprise drivers and increase crash risk.
Reports include persistent rotten-egg odors and foot slipping behind interior panels, which, while not always safety-critical, indicate quality and design issues.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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 135I — 26 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
The risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This r…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi,…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
The risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This r…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
The risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This r…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
BMW 135I or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW 135I has far fewer complaints per year (14.3) compared to the Honda Accord (452.4), but the Accord's higher volume reflects its popularity. In practice, the BMW may have fewer reported issues overall, but the Accord's issues are more widespread and include serious safety-related failures.
Key differences
- The BMW 135I has 100 complaints over 7 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 over 10 years, but the Accord sells in much higher volumes.
- BMW complaints often involve stalling and transmission hesitation, while Honda complaints include power steering failure and unintended braking.
- The BMW has 26 recalls, many for electrical wiring and air bag inflators; the Honda has 38 recalls, including hybrid software and fuel pump issues.
- Honda reports include 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, while BMW has 1 crash-related and 0 deaths, though these numbers are not directly comparable due to volume.
- Check for open recalls, especially air bag inflator and electrical wiring, and confirm they have been fixed.
- Test drive at idle and during acceleration to detect any stalling or transmission hesitation.
- Inspect for electronic power steering and braking function, and test at highway speeds if possible.
- Check for forward collision avoidance system errors and ensure software updates are applied.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both vehicles and ensure all are remedied.
- For the BMW, ask for service records related to stalling and transmission repairs.
- For the Honda, test the electronic power steering, braking, and adaptive cruise control systems.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model.
- Review NHTSA complaints for the exact model year you are considering to spot patterns.
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 135I or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 135I vs Honda Accord
- BMW 135I total complaints
- 100
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- BMW 135I total recalls
- 26
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW 135I avg complaints/year
- 14.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW 135I
- BMW 135I top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE