Head-to-head reliability
BMW K 1300 S vs Honda Accord
How the BMW K 1300 S 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 K 1300 S vs Honda Accord: The BMW has 4 complaints and 4 recalls over 10 years, with owners reporting engine stalling and electrical cutouts. The Honda has 4,524 complaints, 38 recalls, and 162 crash-related reports, with issues like engine failure and unexpected braking. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW K 1300 S or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW K 1300 S
The BMW K 1300 S is a low-volume sport-touring motorcycle, so you'll see very few on the used market and dealer support may be limited. Over 10 years it has only 4 complaints, but the pattern is concerning: owners repeatedly report the engine stalling or cutting out while riding, sometimes at speed. There are also 4 recalls, mostly for the fuel pump, which can cause stalling if it fails. With no crash or injury reports in this data, the main risk is sudden loss of power, not a crash record.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan, so used examples are everywhere and parts are easy to find. But it has 4,524 complaints over 10 years, including 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. Owners describe serious issues like engine failure, electrical shutdowns, and forward collision avoidance braking unexpectedly. Recalls cover hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, seat belts, airbags, and spare tires.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW K 1300 S | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.4 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 K 1300 S
- 01ENGINE3
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
Owners report the engine stalling when slowing to a stop, and in one case the engine failed and 'self destructed' at low speed. This means the bike can quit without warning, leaving you without power in traffic.
A rider described the bike stalling in motion as if the kill switch was hit, with all power gone until the key was cycled off and on. This intermittent electrical cutout can happen at any speed and is hard to diagnose.
Another complaint repeats the same stall-in-motion symptom, calling it 'very dangerous.' Because the cause isn't clear, a buyer should assume any used K 1300 S could have this unresolved stalling issue.
“LESS THAN ONE WEEK AFTER TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THE BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE (AUGUST 2012) I EXPERIENCED THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THE ENGINE STALLING WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO A STOP. SINCE THEN THE MACHINE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES SPECIFICALLY…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW K1300S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND SELF DESTRUCTED INT…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and 'critical failure' while driving, followed by loss of speed. Others hear rattling noises like a diesel and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These can mean expensive engine or hybrid system repairs.
One owner said electronic power steering and braking failed and locked up at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another had a tire fail catastrophically after a TPMS warning was supposedly fixed. Electrical faults can disable steering and braking assist.
Owners describe the system braking suddenly on open roads or with adaptive cruise set, sometimes twice on the same route. This unexpected braking can cause a crash if a driver behind doesn't react in time.
Complaints include a persistent rotten-egg odor and a foot slipping behind a plastic panel near the center console. These are not always safety-critical, but they show build and design issues that can annoy or distract a driver.
“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 K 1300 S — 4 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2014 S 1000 RR/R/ HP4, R 1200 GS/GS Adventure/R/RT, K 1300 S, K 1600 GT/GTL/GTL Exclusive and 2014 R nine T motorcycles. The fuel pump, and auxiliary fuel pump in certain models, may crack and leak fuel during vehicle operation.
The risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2014 S 1000 RR/R/ HP4, R 1200 GS/GS Adventure/R/RT, K 1300 S, K 1600 GT/GTL/GTL Exclusive and 2014 R nine T motorcycles. The fuel pump, and auxiliary fuel pump in certain models, may crack and leak fuel during vehicle operation.
The risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2014 S 1000 RR/R/ HP4, R 1200 GS/GS Adventure/R/RT, K 1300 S, K 1600 GT/GTL/GTL Exclusive and 2014 R nine T motorcycles. The fuel pump, and auxiliary fuel pump in certain models, may crack and leak fuel during vehicle operation.
The risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 K1200 S, K1200 R, and K1200 R Sport motorcycles and 2012 and 2013 K1300 S motorcycles. In October 2012, BMW recalled 2062 2007-2008 K1200 S, K1200 R, and K1200 R Sport motorcycles. In November 2012, BMW informed the agency that it was adding model year…
The risk: Brake fluid that foams could lead to a reduced braking capability of the front brake system, possibly resulting in a crash.
The fix: The front brake fluid reservoir will be retrofitted with a screen insert, free of charge. The recall began on December 19, 2012. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
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 K 1300 S or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW K 1300 S has far fewer issues per year (0.4 vs 452.4), but both have serious stalling or failure patterns. In practice, the Honda Accord's much higher complaint volume means you're more likely to encounter a problem, while the BMW's low volume means fewer reports but potentially harder-to-find parts and service.
Key differences
- The BMW K 1300 S has only 4 complaints and 4 recalls, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints and 38 recalls over the same 10-year span.
- BMW owners report engine stalling and electrical cutouts that kill power; Honda owners report engine failure, electrical steering/braking lockup, and unexpected forward collision braking.
- The Honda Accord has 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths in this data; the BMW has 0 in each category.
- BMW recalls focus on the fuel pump and hydraulic brakes; Honda recalls cover hybrid software, fuel pump, seat belts, airbags, and spare tires.
- Test ride at low speed and during deceleration to check for any stalling or hesitation, since owners report the engine quitting when slowing to a stop.
- Ask for service records related to the fuel pump and electrical system, and check if the recalls for the fuel pump and brakes were performed.
- During a test drive, watch for warning lights for brake, ABS, or collision avoidance, and feel for any sudden braking or steering resistance.
- Check for a rotten-egg odor and inspect the center console area for loose panels, as owners reported foot entrapment and persistent odors.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check to confirm all recalls were completed, especially fuel pump on the BMW and hybrid software, fuel pump, seat belts, and airbags on the Honda.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds, stops, and use of adaptive cruise control if equipped, to trigger any stalling or unexpected braking.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine and electrical systems, focusing on the specific complaints: stalling for the BMW, and hybrid/electrical faults for the Honda.
- For the Honda, check tire condition and TPMS history, since one owner reported a catastrophic tire failure after a TPMS repair.
- For the BMW, verify the brake system recall was addressed, as hydraulic brake issues were recalled.
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 K 1300 S | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 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 K 1300 S or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW K 1300 S vs Honda Accord
- BMW K 1300 S total complaints
- 4
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- BMW K 1300 S total recalls
- 4
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW K 1300 S avg complaints/year
- 0.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW K 1300 S
- BMW K 1300 S top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE