Head-to-head reliability
BMW I7 vs Honda Accord
How the BMW I7 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 i7 vs Honda Accord: The i7 has 25 complaints over 4 years (6.3/year) and 19 recalls, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints over 10 years (443.8/year) and 38 recalls. The i7's issues often involve brakes and electrical faults; the Accord's include engine and forward collision problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW I7 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW I7
The BMW i7 is a flagship electric luxury sedan, and its NHTSA record shows 25 complaints over 4 years (about 6.3 per year) plus 19 recalls. Owners most often report braking problems—sudden self-braking, unresponsive pedals, and hydraulic failures—along with electrical and driver-assistance glitches. Living with it means dealing with frequent software and brake-related service visits, and some recalls still lack a fix.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much larger owner base, generating 4,438 complaints over 10 years (about 444 per year) and 38 recalls. The most common trouble spots are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance systems, with reports of noises, warning-light cascades, and unexpected braking. It is a high-volume vehicle, so even a small defect rate produces many complaints, and some issues like tire failures and sunroof shattering appear in the sample.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW I7 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 25 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.3 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 I7
- 01SERVICE BRAKES12
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE9
- 04HYDRAULIC4
- 05ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)4
Owners describe the car suddenly braking on its own at normal speeds with no obstacle ahead, and some say the brake pedal occasionally does nothing when pressed. These are serious because they can cause a crash or leave you unable to stop.
Reports include the vehicle accelerating in reverse when park assist is active, plus repeated software glitches. This matters because parking maneuvers can become unpredictable and dangerous.
Owners report software issues that cause the car to brake unexpectedly or fail to respond when the driver tries to brake. This undermines trust in the safety features you paid for.
Some owners say the brake pedal fails to respond or the car becomes inoperable at speed, requiring the parking brake to stop. A brake system that can quit without warning is a major safety concern.
“I have now experienced multiple instances where the vehicle suddenly brakes on its own while driving at normal speeds, without any obstruction or hazard ahead. This is not only unacceptable — it's extremely dangerous, putting both myself and other drivers at…”
“I have contacted the BMW dealership in Henderson several times about the recall and they do not have a fix from the BMW. I contacted BMW about the issue and filed a complaint with them to offer a solution of replacing the vehicle or return the vehicle for a b…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises that worsen over time and sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS). This can leave you stranded or unable to maintain highway speeds.
Complaints include tire pressure warning failures leading to a tire blowout, and rodent damage to wiring in nearly new cars. Electrical gremlins can cause safety systems to misbehave or leave you with costly repairs.
Drivers report unexpected braking with no obstruction and intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise, lane keeping, and road departure mitigation. These false activations can startle you and increase crash risk.
Reports include a sunroof glass exploding over the roof and onto the highway, and a tire catastrophically failing shortly after a TPMS repair. These are sudden, dangerous events that can happen with little warning.
“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 I7 — 19 recalls
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…
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…
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, 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.
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 I7 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW i7 has far fewer complaints per year (about 6.3) than the Honda Accord (about 444), but the i7's complaints cluster around brakes and electrical faults that can be severe. The Accord's much higher volume means more total reports, yet many are engine noises or warning-light glitches. In practice, the i7 may need fewer visits but each issue can be more alarming, while the Accord may have more frequent but often less critical problems.
Key differences
- The BMW i7 has 25 complaints over 4 years (6.3/year) versus the Honda Accord's 4,438 over 10 years (443.8/year), but the i7's complaints often involve sudden braking or unresponsive brakes.
- The i7 has 19 recalls, including brake and stability control issues; the Accord has 38 recalls, covering hybrid software, tires, air bags, and fuel pumps.
- Honda Accord owners report engine noises and power loss, while BMW i7 owners report electrical glitches like unintended reverse acceleration during parking assist.
- The Accord's sample includes a sunroof shattering and a tire blowout after TPMS service; the i7's sample includes brake pedal failure and unintended braking at speed.
- Test the brakes at low and moderate speeds for any sudden self-braking or a pedal that feels unresponsive; ask for proof that all brake-related recalls (especially 24V104000) have been completed.
- Check the parking assist and forward collision systems for software glitches by trying them in a safe area; confirm any open electrical or ADAS recalls have been fixed.
- Listen for engine noises at idle and during acceleration, and watch for multiple warning lights (brake, ABS, hill descent) that may indicate a power-loss issue.
- Inspect tires for uneven wear or damage, especially if a TPMS warning was recently serviced, and check the sunroof glass for cracks or signs of stress.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full NHTSA recall history for the specific VIN and confirm all open recalls have been remedied.
- Take a test drive that includes braking from various speeds, parking assist use, and highway acceleration to feel for unexpected braking or power loss.
- Ask for service records showing any brake, electrical, or engine repairs, and note if problems recurred.
- Have a independent mechanic inspect the brake system, electrical components, and (for the Accord) engine and sunroof.
- Check tire condition and TPMS function, and for the Accord, inspect for rodent damage to wiring if parked outdoors.
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 I7 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 | 101 |
| 2024 | 15 | 214 |
| 2023 | 8 | 224 |
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 I7 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW I7 vs Honda Accord
- BMW I7 total complaints
- 25
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- BMW I7 total recalls
- 19
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW I7 avg complaints/year
- 6.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- BMW I7
- BMW I7 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE