Head-to-head reliability
BMW 840I vs Honda Accord
How the BMW 840I 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 840I vs Honda Accord: The BMW 840I has 0 complaints and 0 recalls over 7 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,438 complaints and 38 recalls over 10 years. The Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year, with top issues in engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 840I or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 840I
The BMW 840I is a low-volume luxury coupe with no owner complaints or recalls filed with NHTSA over seven years. That clean record suggests very few reported problems, but it also means there is little public data on long-term reliability. As a buyer, you should rely on a thorough pre-purchase inspection and maintenance history rather than complaint counts.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with thousands of owner complaints and dozens of recalls over ten years. Reported issues span the engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and brakes, with some complaints describing sudden power loss, warning lights, and even a sunroof shattering. The high complaint volume reflects both the huge number of Accords on the road and a wide range of recurring problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 840I | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 144 |
| 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 840I
No component data available.
NHTSA has no owner complaints or recalls on record for the BMW 840I, so there are no documented failure patterns to describe. This absence of data means you cannot assume the car is problem-free; it simply has not generated enough reports to identify trends.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, warning alarms, and sudden loss of speed at highway speeds, with some saying the vehicle could not maintain speed. These symptoms can indicate serious powertrain issues that may leave you stranded or require costly repairs.
Complaints include TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on nearly new cars. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and expensive to trace, affecting safety systems and daily reliability.
Owners describe intermittent dashboard warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, and one report of a failure to resolve a threat. These advanced driver aids may not work consistently, which could reduce driver confidence and safety.
The brake system is a top complaint area, with reports of ABS and hill descent alarms and critical failure messages. Brake problems are safety-critical and should be addressed immediately if they appear.
“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 840I
No recalls on record.
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 (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 840I or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW 840I has zero complaints per year on record, while the Honda Accord averages about 444 complaints per year. In practice, the Accord has a much larger and more varied set of reported problems, but the BMW's lack of data means you have less public information to judge its reliability.
Key differences
- The BMW 840I has no NHTSA complaints or recalls, while the Honda Accord has 4,438 complaints and 38 recalls over ten years.
- Honda Accord owners report engine noises, sudden speed loss, and electrical failures like TPMS-related tire blowouts and rodent-damaged wiring; the BMW has no such reports.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance system is a frequent complaint area, with intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control and lane keeping; the BMW has no reported issues in this area.
- The Accord has 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths reported, while the BMW has none, though these figures are not proof of cause.
- Since there are no reported failures, focus on a full mechanical inspection and verify all maintenance records, especially for the engine and electrical systems.
- Check for any signs of accident damage or prior repairs, as the lack of complaints does not guarantee a clean history.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and test-drive at highway speeds to check for sudden power loss or warning alarms.
- Inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage and verify that all driver-assist features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) work consistently without intermittent warnings.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the Honda Accord.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the engine, electrical system, and brakes, focusing on the specific complaint areas for each model.
- Test-drive the Honda Accord at highway speeds and engage all driver-assist features to check for warnings or failures.
- For the BMW 840I, verify maintenance records and check for any signs of electrical or engine issues, even without complaints.
- Ask the seller for any repair invoices and check if the car has been in any accidents.
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 840I | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 0 | 226 |
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
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 840I or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 840I vs Honda Accord
- BMW 840I total complaints
- 0
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- BMW 840I total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW 840I avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- BMW 840I
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE