Head-to-head reliability
BMW M235i vs Honda Accord
How the BMW M235i 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 M235i vs Honda Accord: The BMW M235i averages 2.4 complaints per year with 0 crash-related reports, while the Honda Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 162 crash-related reports and 3 deaths. The BMW has fewer complaints but reports serious engine and electrical issues; the Honda has many more complaints, including safety-critical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW M235i or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW M235i
The BMW M235i is a sporty coupe with a relatively low complaint rate—about 2.4 per year over eight years—but owners report serious issues like brake light wiring failures, transmission leaks, and engine oil starvation. Recalls cover fuel pumps and side air bags, but no crashes, injuries, or deaths are recorded in the data. For a buyer, this means fewer overall complaints but potentially costly repairs if the car has been driven hard.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint volume—over 450 per year—and a wide range of reported problems, from engine rattles to electronic power steering failures. It has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths, plus 38 recalls. While many complaints may reflect its huge sales volume, the data shows owners frequently report safety-critical failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW M235i | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 19 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.4 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 M235i
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 02POWER TRAIN3
- 03EXTERIOR LIGHTING3
- 04ENGINE2
- 05AIR BAGS2
Owners report rear brake light failure due to faulty wiring, similar to an older BMW recall, and a transmission sensor that gets wet from cupholder spills, causing warning messages. These can lead to lighting failures or transmission warnings that may affect safety and drivability.
Complaints include a 'drive train malfunction' warning followed by stalling, and a transmission leak through the metal case. These issues can leave a driver stranded and require expensive repairs.
Rear brake light failure from faulty wiring is reported, and some owners note instrument cluster gauges with low contrast that become nearly invisible when lights are off. This can impair visibility of critical driving information.
The N55 engine's oiling system can cause oil starvation during high-G driving, such as track use, leading to engine damage. This is a significant risk for buyers who plan to drive spiritedly or on a track.
“Rear brake light failure due to faulty wiring. Identical to the details located in this article (https://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/01/bmw-recalling-241-000-3-series-models-over-faulty-tail-lights/) for which the NHTSA had issued a recall for older BMW models i…”
“According to the dealer, a transmission sensor underneath the gear shifter got wet due to a liquid spill from the cupholders. While driving on the highway returning from scheduled dealer maintenance on the car, the informations screen showed a warning that th…”
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 experience sudden loss of speed with multiple alarms, indicating potential hybrid system failures.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and a TPMS warning followed by a tire failure. These are severe safety risks that could lead to loss of control.
Owners report the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions, such as adaptive cruise control suddenly braking or not reacting. This undermines a key safety feature.
Persistent rotten-egg odor after filter replacement, and a foot slipping behind a plastic side panel, are reported. These may indicate design flaws affecting comfort and safety.
“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 M235i — 8 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 228i Coupe, M235i Coupe, 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, ActiveHybrid 3, 328xi Sports Wagon, 428i Coupe, 428xi Coupe, 435i Coupe, 435xi Coupe, 428i Convertible, 428xi Convertible, 435i Convertible, 328xi Gran Turismo, 335xi…
The risk: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 28, 2015. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 4…
The risk: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive), and 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i, M235i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fa…
The risk: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 4…
The risk: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. 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 (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 M235i or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW M235i has far fewer complaints per year (2.4 vs. 452.4) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths, while the Honda Accord has many more complaints and a significant number of crash-related incidents. In practice, the BMW may have fewer overall issues, but the ones reported can be serious; the Honda's higher volume suggests more frequent problems, some of which are safety-critical.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: BMW M235i averages 2.4 complaints per year; Honda Accord averages 452.4 per year, a massive difference likely due to sales volume but still notable.
- Safety outcomes: BMW M235i has 0 crash-related complaints, 0 injuries, 0 deaths; Honda Accord has 162 crash-related, 146 injuries, 3 deaths.
- Common failure types: BMW M235i reports electrical, power train, and engine issues like brake light wiring and oil starvation; Honda Accord reports engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance issues like power steering failure and collision system malfunctions.
- Recalls: BMW M235i has 8 recalls (fuel pump, air bags); Honda Accord has 38 recalls (hybrid software, tires, seat belts, air bags, fuel pump).
- Check rear brake light operation and wiring for signs of failure, as owners report faulty wiring causing brake light failure.
- Inspect transmission for leaks, especially around the case, and listen for any drive train malfunction warnings during a test drive.
- Test electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, as simultaneous failure has been reported.
- Listen for engine rattling during acceleration and check for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which owners report.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup.
- For the BMW M235i, have a mechanic inspect the oiling system and transmission for leaks or modifications.
- For the Honda Accord, test all advanced safety features (forward collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control) and electronic steering/braking.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for oil changes and any transmission or electrical repairs.
- During a test drive, pay attention to warning lights, unusual noises, and any hesitation or stalling.
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 M235i | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 1 | 252 |
| 2021 | 0 | 234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 362 |
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 M235i or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW M235i vs Honda Accord
- BMW M235i total complaints
- 19
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- BMW M235i total recalls
- 8
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW M235i avg complaints/year
- 2.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW M235i
- BMW M235i top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE