Head-to-head reliability
BMW F 650 GS vs Honda Accord
How the BMW F 650 GS 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 F 650 GS vs Honda Accord: The BMW has 9 complaints and 0 crash-related reports over 10 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints, 162 crash-related reports, and 3 deaths. The BMW's issues are mainly fuel-related; the Accord's span engine, electrical, and safety systems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW F 650 GS or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW F 650 GS
The BMW F 650 GS is a middleweight adventure motorcycle with a modest complaint volume—9 over 10 years, or about 0.9 per year. The pattern is dominated by fuel-related issues, especially fuel pump controller failures and plastic fuel tank cracking, which owners report repeatedly. There are no crash, injury, or death reports in this dataset, but the fuel smell and stalling complaints point to real ownership annoyances. With 8 recalls, it's a machine that needs regular attention to fuel and lighting systems.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with 4,524 complaints over 10 years—roughly 452 per year—and 38 recalls. The data shows a wide range of problems, from engine and electrical failures to forward collision avoidance glitches, with 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. Owners describe serious symptoms like simultaneous power steering and braking failure, engine rattling, and unintended automatic braking. This is a vehicle where advanced electronics and safety systems generate many owner reports.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW F 650 GS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 9 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.9 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 F 650 GS
- 01FUEL SYSTEM3
- 02GASOLINE3
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
- 05ENGINE2
Owners repeatedly report fuel pump controller failure—a small electronic device on top of the fuel tank—sometimes needing replacement about twice a year. They also describe gasoline smell and visible cracks in the plastic fuel tank, which can lead to fuel leaks and stalling.
Complaints mention hairline cracks on both sides of the fuel tank and a U-shaped cut, with owners smelling gas while riding. This is a known issue on owner forums and can worsen over time, posing a fire risk if fuel leaks onto hot engine parts.
One owner reported the engine stalling at 50 mph after disengaging the clutch, which could be dangerous in traffic. Another noted extensive hairline cracks on the fuel tank, a highly reported issue on BMW forums.
The headlight reflector's coating peels or burns, dramatically reducing nighttime illumination. Owners describe it as an unsafe riding situation after dark, and it's a common complaint that can affect visibility and safety.
“THIS COMPONENT HAD FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE (ABOUT TWICE PER YEAR) SINCE NEW. THE COMPONENT THAT IS REPLACED EACH TIME HAS BEEN THE FUEL PUMP CONTROLLER (SMALL ELECTRONIC DEVICE MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK). I AM ABOUT TO PURCHASE MY FOURTH O…”
“SMELLING GAS BEHIND ME WHEN I RIDE. I HAVE A BMW F650GS WITH UNDER SEAT TANK - I NOTICED BOTH RIDE AND LEFT SIDE OF THE SIDES OF THE TANK ARE CRACKING. TANK SEEMS TO BE PLASTIC AND THERE IS A U SHAPED CUT THAT RUNS DOWN BOTH SIDES. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SPLIT O…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises while accelerating, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and jerking when the charge button is pressed. Some also describe sudden loss of speed with multiple alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) and critical failure messages.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another owner had a TPMS warning repaired, but the passenger-side tire catastrophically failed hours later.
Owners report the system activating unexpectedly, such as sudden braking with adaptive cruise control set at 70 mph on open roads. These incidents occurred under similar conditions and routes, suggesting a recurring defect that could cause rear-end collisions.
Some owners report persistent rotten-egg/sulfur odors that remain after paid treatments, and one noted a foot slipping behind a plastic side panel, which could interfere with pedal control. These issues are hard to diagnose and may indicate broader quality concerns.
“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 F 650 GS — 8 recalls
The defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 F650 GS AND F 800 GS MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 THROUGH MARCH 30, 2009. THE DRIVE CHAINS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PRODUCED TO SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, OVER TIME THE DRIVE CHAIN COULD BREAK.
The risk: IF THE BROKEN CHAIN BECOMES TRAPPED BETWEEN THE REAR WHEEL AND THE FRAME, THE REAR WHEEL COULD LOCK UP, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
The fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVE CHAIN AND SPROCKETS ON THE AFFECTED MOTORCYCLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 F650 GS AND F800 GS MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 2008 AND DECEMBER 2009. DURING ENGINE OPERATION, A VACUUM IS CREATED IN ORDER TO DRAW FRESH AIR INTO THE CANISTER. THIS AIR THEN MIXES WITH THE FUEL VAPORS CAPTURED BY THE CANISTER, AN…
The risk: WATER COULD FLOW INTO THE CANISTER CAUSING A STALLING CONDITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ADD AN ADDITIONAL HOSE AND ROUTE IT SUCH THAT THE PRESENT DEFECT IS PREVENTED. THIS REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
The defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2008 THROUGH 2010 F 650 GS MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 11, 2008, THROUGH DECEMBER 8, 2009. A WASHER MAY INTERFERE WITH THE FRONT DISC BRAKE FASTENERS' TORQUE. AS A RESULT, OVER TIME, A FASTENER OR MUTIPLE FASTENERS COULD BECOME LOOSE, ALLOWING THE BRAKE DISC TO BE…
The risk: A LOOSE BRAKE DISC MAY INTERFERE WITH PROPER BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW IS RECALLING 373 MY 2008 F650 GS MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO PRODUCTION AND ASSEMBLY TOLERANCES, THE LENGTH OF ONE OR MORE OF THE FRONT BRAKE DISC FASTENERS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT. IF THE LENGTH OF A FASTENER WAS INSUFFICIENT, THIS COULD RESULT IN THE FASTENER NOT BEING TIGHTENED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIO…
The risk: IF THIS HAPPENED, THE FASTENER COULD WORK LOOSE FROM ITS THREADS. IN SOME CASES INVOLVING MULTIPLE FASTENERS, THE BRAKE DISC COULD LOOSEN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE BRAKE DISC FASTENERS AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEW LONGER FASTENERS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
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 F 650 GS or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW F 650 GS has far fewer complaints per year (0.9 vs. 452.4) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in this dataset, while the Honda Accord has thousands of complaints and hundreds of crash/injury reports. In practice, the BMW's issues are mostly fuel-related and manageable with inspections, whereas the Accord's problems span critical safety systems and electronics. However, the Accord's much larger sales volume means complaint counts aren't directly comparable without context.
Key differences
- The BMW F 650 GS complaints center on fuel pump controller failures and plastic fuel tank cracking, while the Honda Accord complaints involve engine rattling, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance glitches.
- The BMW has 0 crash-related, 0 injury, and 0 death reports in this dataset; the Honda Accord has 162 crash-related, 146 injury, and 3 death reports.
- The BMW has 8 recalls over 10 years; the Honda Accord has 38 recalls, including hybrid power control software and fuel pump delivery issues.
- The BMW's reported issues are mostly mechanical and fuel-related, whereas the Honda's include advanced driver-assistance system malfunctions that owners describe as sudden and dangerous.
- Inspect the fuel tank for hairline cracks, especially on the left and right sides, and check for any gasoline smell after riding.
- Test the fuel pump controller function and ask for service records showing how often it has been replaced, as some owners report failures twice a year.
- Check for any history of electronic power steering or braking failure, and test all driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning during a test drive.
- Look for engine rattling noises during acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and verify that any TPMS or tire repairs were properly completed.
Before you buy
- Run a free NHTSA recall check by VIN for both vehicles and confirm all open recalls have been repaired.
- For the BMW F 650 GS, inspect the fuel tank for cracks and smell for gasoline; ask the seller about fuel pump controller replacement history.
- For the Honda Accord, test the electronic power steering, braking, and forward collision avoidance systems at highway speeds if possible, and listen for engine rattles.
- Request a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on the reported problem areas.
- Review owner forums and complaint databases for the exact model year to see if the issues described here are common and whether fixes exist.
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 F 650 GS or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW F 650 GS vs Honda Accord
- BMW F 650 GS total complaints
- 9
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- BMW F 650 GS total recalls
- 8
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW F 650 GS avg complaints/year
- 0.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW F 650 GS
- BMW F 650 GS top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE