Head-to-head reliability
BMW 428I vs Honda Accord
How the BMW 428I 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 428I vs Honda Accord: The BMW 428I averaged 37.7 complaints per year over 3 years, while the Honda Accord averaged 452.4 per year over 10 years. The 428I had 12 recalls and 15 crash-related complaints; the Accord had 38 recalls and 162 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 428I or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 428I
The BMW 428I is a sporty luxury coupe that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over three years, owners filed 113 complaints, with electrical and engine issues dominating. Reported problems include sudden power steering loss, failure to start, and brake malfunctions. With 12 recalls and 15 crash-related complaints, it demands careful inspection before purchase.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a mixed reliability record. Over ten years, it accumulated 4,524 complaints, averaging 452 per year. Common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Some owners report alarming failures like simultaneous power steering and brake loss, but many issues are software-related and addressed by recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 428I | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 113 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 15 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 37.7 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 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 428I
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM51
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING35
- 03ENGINE21
- 04SERVICE BRAKES15
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER14
Owners report losing power steering at highway speeds with a 'Chassis Unstable' warning, and some cars fail to start intermittently. These electrical glitches can be dangerous and expensive to diagnose.
Complaints include no-start conditions and a recall for engine cooling and electrical issues where parts were unavailable. Overheating or stalling can leave you stranded.
Similar to cooling issues, engine complaints often involve starting problems and recall-related defects. A used 428I may need immediate attention to these engine faults.
Owners describe brakes failing to slow the car and unexpected surging forward even with the pedal pressed. Brake problems are a serious safety concern.
“The contact owns a 2014 BMW 428I. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 - 70 MPH and attempting to change lanes, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The message “Chassis Unstable” was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact…”
“The contact owns a 2015 BMW 428I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, while attempting to start the vehicle, it failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle eventually started. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of power, multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS), and rattling noises during acceleration. These can indicate major engine or hybrid system faults.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and tire failures after TPMS service. Electrical faults can be unpredictable and dangerous.
Owners describe the system braking unexpectedly or failing to intervene, sometimes under identical conditions. This undermines a key safety feature.
Issues include fuel pump failures and hybrid management software problems, leading to stalling or loss of power. These can be costly and affect drivability.
“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 428I — 12 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW…
The risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800…
The defect: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 228i Coupe, M235i Coupe, 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, ActiveHybrid 3, 328xi Sports Wagon, 428i Coupe, 428xi Coupe, 435i Coupe, 435xi Coupe, 428i Convertible, 428xi Convertible, 435i Convertible, 328xi Gran Turismo, 335xi…
The risk: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 28, 2015. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 4…
The risk: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The fix: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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 428I or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW 428I has far fewer complaints per year (37.7) than the Honda Accord (452.4), but the Accord's higher volume reflects its much larger sales. In practice, the 428I's issues are more concentrated in electrical and engine areas, while the Accord's problems span many systems. Neither is trouble-free, but the 428I may require more specialized attention.
Key differences
- The BMW 428I has 113 complaints over 3 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 over 10 years, but the Accord sells in much higher volumes.
- BMW 428I owners frequently report power steering loss and brake failure, whereas Honda Accord owners report engine power loss and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- The BMW 428I has 12 recalls, including fuel pump and air bag issues; the Honda Accord has 38 recalls, covering hybrid software and fuel pumps.
- Crash-related complaints are 15 for the BMW 428I and 162 for the Honda Accord, but the Accord's higher count aligns with its larger fleet.
- Check for any history of power steering loss or 'Chassis Unstable' warnings, and test the steering at highway speeds if possible.
- Inspect brake function carefully for any surging or failure to slow, and confirm all recalls (especially fuel pump and air bag) are completed.
- Test the electronic power steering and brakes for simultaneous failure, and listen for engine rattles or rough transitions between EV and gas modes.
- Verify that forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control work correctly, and check for any lingering fuel or sulfur odors.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are repaired.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, brakes, and engine for both models.
- For the BMW 428I, specifically test the power steering and brakes during a test drive.
- For the Honda Accord, test the forward collision avoidance and hybrid system if applicable.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and be wary of any repeated electrical or engine repairs.
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 428I or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 428I vs Honda Accord
- BMW 428I total complaints
- 113
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- BMW 428I total recalls
- 12
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW 428I avg complaints/year
- 37.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW 428I
- BMW 428I top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE