Head-to-head reliability
BMW 750li vs Honda Accord
How the BMW 750li 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 750li vs Honda Accord: The BMW has 78 complaints over 10 years (7.8/yr) with no crashes, while the Accord has 4290 complaints (429/yr) with 154 crashes. The BMW's main issue is sudden engine power loss; the Accord's includes collision avoidance failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 750li or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 750li
The BMW 750li is a luxury sedan that, based on NHTSA data, has a relatively low complaint rate of about 7.8 per year over 10 years, but owners report serious engine and powertrain failures that can cause sudden loss of power, especially during merging or highway driving. The top complaint area is the engine, with reports of violent vibration, no acceleration, and sporadic power loss. While no crashes or injuries were reported, the nature of these failures—stalling or losing power at speed—poses a real safety concern.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint rate of 429 per year, with 154 crashes, 141 injuries, and 3 deaths reported. The top complaint areas are engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with owners describing sudden loss of drive power, false collision warnings, and electrical failures. The high volume of complaints and crash-related incidents suggest that the Accord may have more frequent and varied issues that can lead to accidents.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 750li | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 78 Better | 4,290 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 154 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.8 Better | 429.0 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 141 |
| 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 750li
- 01ENGINE28
- 02POWER TRAIN19
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM10
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
Owners report the engine malfunctioning while driving, causing the car to sporadically stop operating with full power. Some describe violent vibration and no acceleration when merging onto highways, leaving them stuck between lanes.
Similar to engine complaints, the powertrain fails to deliver power, with the car vibrating violently and not accelerating when the accelerator is pressed. A warning message appears on the display.
Electrical issues include AC unit failure followed by smoke inside the cabin while driving, and doors failing to open from the inside, which could trap occupants.
Fuel leaks into the engine cause smoke under the hood, and oil leaks from seals produce white smoke from both exhaust and under the hood, along with rough idle and check engine lights.
“THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED IN MY CAR WHILE DRIVING AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON PUBLIC ROADS WITH MULTIPLE ENGINE PARTS IDENTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE CAR SPORADICALLY STOPS OPERATING WITH FULL POWER AND THERE HAVE BEEN SE…”
“WHEN ENTERING THE ON RAMP TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I ACCELERATED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND CAR VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I CONTINUED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR BUT NOTHING HAPPENED AND A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY. NOW, I'M STUCK BETWE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE924
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM820
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE798
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER696
- 05SERVICE BRAKES577
Owners report engine noise from new vehicles and sudden loss of power at highway speeds, accompanied by multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) and the vehicle losing speed uncontrollably.
Electrical failures include TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses causing camshaft position sensor issues, even on relatively new cars.
The collision avoidance system can cause sudden loss of drive power, leading to crashes. Owners also report false activations at low speeds with no obstructions, creating unexpected braking.
Brake-related complaints are common, with some tied to the antilock/traction control system. Recalls include software updates for the brake control module.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“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…”
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 750li — 13 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear taillight assemblies. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requireme…
The risk: Vehicles with the incorrect left rear lamp assemblies may be less conspicuous to other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect left rear taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began August 11, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear taillight assemblies. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requireme…
The risk: Vehicles with the incorrect left rear lamp assemblies may be less conspicuous to other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect left rear taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began August 11, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Co…
The risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notif…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear taillight assemblies. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requireme…
The risk: Vehicles with the incorrect left rear lamp assemblies may be less conspicuous to other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect left rear taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began August 11, 2017. 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 are expected to be mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is availa…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
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 750li or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW 750li has far fewer complaints per year (7.8 vs 429) and no reported crashes or injuries, while the Honda Accord has a much higher complaint rate and 154 crash-related incidents. In practice, the BMW's issues are more concentrated on sudden power loss, whereas the Accord's problems are more varied and include safety system malfunctions that have led to accidents.
Key differences
- The BMW 750li has 78 complaints over 10 years vs 4290 for the Honda Accord, a 55x difference in complaint rate.
- The BMW's top issue is engine/powertrain sudden power loss, while the Accord's top issues include forward collision avoidance malfunctions that can cause crashes.
- The Accord has 154 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths; the BMW has zero crash-related complaints.
- The BMW's recalls focus on exterior lighting and turbocharger issues; the Accord's recalls cover hybrid control units, brake modules, and airbag sensors.
- Check for engine and powertrain warning lights and test acceleration from a stop and at highway speeds to detect hesitation or vibration.
- Inspect for fuel or oil leaks under the hood and white smoke from exhaust, which indicate seal failures.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe area to ensure it doesn't activate falsely or cause power loss.
- Check the electrical system for any warning lights, especially TPMS, and inspect wiring for rodent damage.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full service history and check for any open recalls on both vehicles.
- For the BMW 750li, test drive at highway speeds and during merging to check for power loss.
- For the Honda Accord, test the collision avoidance system and brakes at low speeds.
- Have a mechanic inspect the BMW's turbocharger and fuel system for leaks.
- For the Accord, check the hybrid system (if applicable) and electrical harnesses for damage.
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 750li | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 214 |
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 750li or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 750li vs Honda Accord
- BMW 750li total complaints
- 78
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,290
- BMW 750li total recalls
- 13
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW 750li avg complaints/year
- 7.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 429.0
- More reliable overall
- BMW 750li
- BMW 750li top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE