Head-to-head reliability
BMW 335is vs Honda Accord
How the BMW 335is 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 335is vs Honda Accord: The BMW 335is averaged 7.4 complaints per year over 5 years, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths, while the Honda Accord averaged 452.4 complaints per year over 10 years, with 146 injuries and 3 deaths. The BMW's issues often involve stalling and limp mode, whereas the Honda's include power steering failure and unintended braking. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 335is or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 335is
The BMW 335is is a performance-oriented coupe that demands attentive ownership. Over five years, it averaged 7.4 complaints per year, with engine and electrical issues being the most common. Owners report stalling at speed, drivetrain malfunctions that force limp mode, and airbag concerns. While total complaints are low, the severity of some issues—like sudden power loss—makes it a car that needs careful maintenance.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 4,524 over ten years, averaging 452.4 per year. The most frequent problems involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Some complaints describe serious safety risks, including simultaneous power steering and braking failure, and unintended automatic braking. With 146 injuries and 3 deaths reported, it's clear that not all issues are minor.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 335is | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 37 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.4 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 335is
- 01ENGINE13
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
- 03AIR BAGS8
- 04POWER TRAIN7
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
Owners report stalling at highway speeds, often when going uphill, leaving the car unable to move and blocking traffic. Another complaint describes a front bolt pulling free and stripping threads, which can damage internal components. These failures can strand you and may require major repairs.
Complaints include a non-functional horn, which prevented a driver from warning others in a near-miss. Another owner found suspicious non-OEM wiring and connectors, raising concerns about electrical tampering or faults. Electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and expensive to fix.
One owner reported an airbag deploy error after a rear-end collision, and the vehicle was totaled. The same complaint also mentioned non-OEM electrical components near the fuse box. Airbag issues are critical because they can affect occupant protection in a crash.
Multiple owners experienced 'Drivetrain Malfunction' warnings that triggered limp mode, limiting speed to around 40 mph. This happened during merging or highway driving, creating a safety hazard. The problem can recur, and repairs may be costly.
“AS PER BMW, 5140 READ FAULT MEMORY, CONNECTED BATTERY CHARGER FAULT CODE 2A9A,31002A9B, RAN TEST PLAN, UPON INSPECTION, NOTED FRONT BOLT HAD BEEN PULLED FREE AND THREADS STRIPPED, THIS COMMON WITH AN ENGINE OVER REV.(DAMAGING INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENTS . THIS…”
“AUGUST 6, 2016 - CAR STALLED AT ABOUT 50MPH, JUST WHEN ABOUT TO GO UPHILL. I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER LEAVING THE CAR BLOCKING TRAFFIC WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN IT. ONCE IT STOPS, IT PUTS ITSELF IN PARK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH ASIDE. WE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe losing speed with multiple alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS, critical failure) and rattling noises during acceleration. These symptoms suggest potential engine or hybrid system faults that can lead to sudden power loss. Such issues can be dangerous in traffic.
A 2025 Accord Hybrid owner reported complete failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another complaint involved a TPMS repair followed by a tire failure. Electrical faults can disable critical safety systems.
Owners report unintended automatic braking or failure to resolve defects, sometimes occurring under identical conditions. One complaint described adaptive cruise control suddenly braking at 70 mph. These malfunctions can cause rear-end collisions or loss of control.
Complaints include persistent rotten-egg odors and a foot slipping behind a plastic panel, which could interfere with pedal operation. These seemingly minor issues can distract the driver or indicate deeper problems.
“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 335is — 4 recalls
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 2008-2013 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 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and ai…
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 replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may cont…
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…
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 335is or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW 335is has far fewer complaints per year (7.4 vs. 452.4), but the Honda Accord's higher volume reflects its much larger sales. In practice, the BMW's issues tend to be severe when they occur, while the Honda's problems are more frequent but often less catastrophic. Buyers should weigh the likelihood of problems against their potential severity.
Key differences
- The BMW 335is averages 7.4 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 452.4—a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- BMW owners report stalling and limp mode, whereas Honda owners describe unintended braking and power steering failure.
- The Honda Accord has 146 injuries and 3 deaths in its complaint data; the BMW 335is has 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
- Both have airbag-related recalls, but the BMW's recalls focus on driver-side inflator modules, while the Honda's include occupant classification sensors.
- Check for any signs of engine over-rev damage, such as stripped bolts or prior stalling incidents, and ask for a fault memory scan.
- Test the horn and inspect the passenger-side fuse box for non-OEM wiring or connectors, which could indicate electrical tampering.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, and look for any warning lights or error messages.
- Verify that forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control function correctly, and check for any history of unintended braking.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially airbag and electrical recalls.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, including a scan for stored fault codes.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for stalling, limp mode, or unintended braking.
- Inspect electrical components, including horn, wiring, and fuse boxes, for aftermarket modifications.
- For the Honda, verify that all safety systems (collision avoidance, power steering, brakes) operate without warnings.
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 335is or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 335is vs Honda Accord
- BMW 335is total complaints
- 37
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- BMW 335is total recalls
- 4
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW 335is avg complaints/year
- 7.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW 335is
- BMW 335is top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE