Head-to-head reliability
BMW 740I vs Honda Accord
How the BMW 740I 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 740I vs Honda Accord: The BMW 740I has 12 complaints over 10 years and 0 crash-related reports, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints, 162 crash-related, and 3 deaths. The BMW averages 1.2 complaints per year versus 452.4 for the Honda. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 740I or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 740I
The BMW 740I is a luxury sedan with low complaint volume—only 12 over 10 years—but 22 recalls and a pattern of electronic and engine-related faults. Owners report flaky driver-assist sensors, audio system freezes, false seatbelt warnings, and radiator blind failures that can cause overheating. These issues often require dealer visits and can be expensive after warranty. Overall, it's a complex vehicle with fewer reported problems but potentially high repair costs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with a huge complaint volume—4,524 over 10 years—and 38 recalls, including 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. Owners describe serious issues like engine stalling, power steering and braking failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions. Many complaints involve recent model years with advanced driver-assist systems. This suggests widespread, sometimes severe, reliability and safety concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 740I | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 12 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.2 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 740I
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- 02SEAT BELTS2
- 03ENGINE2
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
Owners report the automatic park distance control (PDC) activates unpredictably, and the audio system freezes or becomes unresponsive. These glitches can be distracting and may require software updates or hardware repairs.
False seatbelt warnings occur when the passenger seat is empty, often due to loose wiring in the seatbelt harness. This can lead to unnecessary warnings and potential safety system confusion.
The upper and lower radiator blinds (active air flaps) fail, causing engine overheating and malfunction lights. Some owners note BMW extended warranty for other models but not the 740I, leaving them with repair bills.
Complaints include issues with speed control systems, though specific details are limited. This could affect cruise control or other driver-assist features, requiring dealer attention.
“2016 BMW 740I IS EQUIPMENT WITH AUTOMATIC PARK DISTANCE CONTROL SYSTEM (PDC) THAT AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS CLOSE TO AN OBSTACLE WHEN DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEED. THE SYSTEM IS VERY FLAKY IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE, SOMETIMES IT ACTIVATES WHEN IT…”
“AUDIO CONTROL SYSTEM FREEZES ON THE BMW 740I. IT HAPPENS THAT AUDIO IS GONE COMPLETELY, SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TO RAISE VOLUME: 1. GESTURE COMMANDS TO RAISE VOLUME (THE SYSTEM DOES NOT EVEN SHOW GESTURE IS INVOLVED ON THE DASH DISPLAY…”
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 rough transitions between EV and gas modes in hybrids. Some describe rattling noises and jerking, with Honda refusing fixes.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. These are severe safety risks that can lead to crashes.
The system may activate unexpectedly or fail to respond, with incidents occurring under similar conditions. Owners report near-collisions and lack of dealer resolution.
Issues include fuel pump failures and hybrid management problems, leading to stalling or loss of power. This can strand drivers and is a major safety concern.
“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 740I — 22 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 740i, 740i xDrive, 760i xDrive, i7 eDrive50, i7 xDrive60, i7 M70, 2024 750e xDrive, 530i, 530i xDrive, i5 eDrive40, and i5 M60 vehicles. The ground connection to the steering wheel may not have been attached correctly, resulting in an i…
The risk: An inoperative hands-on detection system may fail to detect when the driver's hands are not on the steering wheel and therefore not engage the emergency stopping assistant system, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reattach the ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2025 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (A…
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between June and December 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877…
The defect: BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 X1, 2024-2025 X5, 2025 X6, 2023-2025 X7, 740i, 760i, 2024 XM, 530i, 540i, i7, 750e, X2, 2024-2025 i5, 2024 Rolls Royce Spectre, 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4, JCW Countryman ALL4, and 2025 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S) vehicles. Pleas…
The risk: A loss of brake power assist or rear brake function can result in extended stopping distance. A loss of ABS or DSC can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 13, 2024. Owners can contact BMW Customer Service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 Mini Cooper S, Mini Countryman S All4, X2, 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre, 2023-2025 i7, 7 Series, X7, 2024-2025 i5, 5 Series, 2023-2024 XM, X1, 2024-2025 X6, and X5 vehicles. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss o…
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: The Integrated brake system will be inspected and, if necessary, replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce custo…
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 740I or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW 740I has far fewer complaints per year (1.2 vs. 452.4) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths, while the Honda Accord has thousands of complaints and hundreds of crash-related reports. In practice, the BMW may have less frequent but potentially costly electronic and engine issues, whereas the Honda appears to have widespread, sometimes severe, safety defects.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: BMW 740I has 12 complaints over 10 years; Honda Accord has 4,524, indicating vastly different reported problem rates.
- Safety outcomes: Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; BMW 740I has none reported.
- Failure types: BMW issues are often electronic glitches and radiator blind failures; Honda issues include engine stalling, power steering/braking failure, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- Recalls: BMW has 22 recalls, Honda has 38, but Honda's recalls include critical systems like fuel pumps and air bags.
- Check for radiator blind (active air flap) operation and any history of overheating or engine malfunction lights.
- Test the park distance control and audio system for freezes or unresponsiveness, and verify seatbelt warnings with an empty passenger seat.
- Inspect for any signs of electronic power steering or braking failure, and test forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control.
- Check for fuel pump recalls and hybrid system issues, and listen for engine rattles or rough transitions between EV and gas modes.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the Honda's fuel pump and air bag recalls.
- Take a lengthy test drive covering highway speeds and low-speed maneuvers to check for stalling, warning lights, and driver-assist glitches.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the BMW's radiator blinds, electrical systems, and seatbelt wiring; for the Honda, focus on engine, transmission, and electronic safety systems.
- Search NHTSA complaints for the specific model year to see if common issues apply, and ask the seller for repair records.
- For the Honda, verify that any forward collision avoidance or adaptive cruise control software updates have been applied.
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 740I | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2021 | 0 | 234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 362 |
| 2019 | 0 | 691 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 0 | 537 |
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 740I or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 740I vs Honda Accord
- BMW 740I total complaints
- 12
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- BMW 740I total recalls
- 22
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW 740I avg complaints/year
- 1.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW 740I
- BMW 740I top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE