Head-to-head reliability
BMW M340i vs Honda Accord
How the BMW M340i 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 M340i vs Honda Accord: The BMW M340i has 68 complaints over 7 years (avg 9.7/yr) and 18 recalls, with no crashes or injuries. The Honda Accord has 4,438 complaints over 10 years (avg 443.8/yr), 38 recalls, 160 crashes, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW M340i or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW M340i
The BMW M340i is a sport sedan with a relatively low complaint rate of about 10 per year over seven years. Most owner complaints center on engine lubrication problems, particularly with the B58 engine's plastic oil pump adjuster, which some fear can lead to catastrophic failure. Electrical and power train issues also appear, including a front differential whine and software-related problems. Recalls cover electrical, seat belt, and camera systems, but there are no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint volume—over 4,400 in ten years, averaging about 444 per year. Complaints span engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and brake systems, with many reports of warning lights, loss of power, and unintended braking. There are 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths, plus 38 recalls. This suggests a wide range of safety-related issues that owners frequently report.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW M340i | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 68 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.7 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 M340i
- 01ENGINE44
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER10
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
- 04POWER TRAIN6
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
Owners report concerns about the B58 engine's plastic oil pump adjuster, which can fail and potentially cause catastrophic engine damage. Complaints also mention engine lubrication system defects that may lead to sudden power loss.
Electrical complaints include repeated failures after recall repairs, such as issues with the body control module software. Owners describe persistent electrical glitches that can affect multiple systems.
Some owners report a whining noise from the front differential or xDrive drivetrain, often starting around 38,000 miles. This can indicate premature wear and may require costly repairs.
Complaints include a dashboard panel detaching and falling onto the driver's feet, obstructing pedals, and displaying a powertrain failure warning. Such issues pose a direct safety risk while driving.
“I am submitting this complaint regarding a potential safety defect involving the engine lubrication system on my 2020 BMW M340i with the B58 engine. The vehicle was purchased used from a single owner with low mileage and comprehensive maintenance records, wit…”
“I am reporting a safety concern involving BMW vehicles equipped with the B58 Technical Update (B58TU) engine, commonly found in model years 2019–2021. These vehicles utilize a variable-displacement engine oil pump containing an internal thermoplastic adjustin…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) appearing at highway speeds. Some vehicles lose speed and cannot accelerate, creating a safety hazard.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system failures leading to tire blowouts, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new vehicles. These can cause sudden loss of control or breakdowns.
Owners describe intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams. In some cases, the system may brake unexpectedly or fail to operate, increasing crash risk.
Brake-related complaints often involve ABS or traction control module failures, leading to warning lights and reduced braking performance. This can compromise stopping ability in emergencies.
“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 M340i — 18 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, 330e, 330e xDrive, 430i Convertible, 430i xDrive, M440i, 2022-2023 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive, i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles. During a service visit, a replacement electronic control unit (…
The risk: Doors that do not lock as intended while the vehicle is in motion may open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2022 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 2022 430i Coupe, 2021-2022 430i, M440i Convertible, and 2020-2022 228i xDrive Gran Coupe vehicles. The receiver audio module control unit software may fail to properly generate audible seat belt warnings to the…
The risk: An audible chime that does not properly alert the driver to fasten their seat belt increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the receiver audio module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (…
The risk: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-8…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The connection between t…
The risk: Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021. Owners may contact B…
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 M340i or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW M340i has far fewer complaints per year (about 10) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444). In practice, this means BMW owners report fewer overall problems, but the issues they do report—like engine oil pump failures—can be severe. The Accord's higher volume includes many safety-related complaints, but it also sells in much larger numbers, so the rate per vehicle may be lower.
Key differences
- The BMW M340i has 68 complaints over 7 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,438 over 10 years—a massive difference in reported issues.
- BMW complaints often focus on engine oil pump failures and drivetrain noises, whereas Honda complaints frequently involve forward collision avoidance malfunctions and brake issues.
- The Honda Accord has 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths in the data; the BMW M340i has none of these reported.
- Both have recalls, but Honda's include hybrid power control software and fuel pumps, while BMW's cover electrical body control and seat belts.
- Listen for a whining noise from the front differential or xDrive system, especially around 38,000 miles, as owners report this as an early sign of drivetrain wear.
- Ask for service records related to the engine oil pump and lubrication system; some owners fear the plastic adjuster can fail and cause catastrophic engine damage.
- Check for any history of forward collision avoidance warnings or unintended braking, as owners report intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist.
- Inspect tires and TPMS sensors carefully; complaints include tire pressure monitoring failures leading to sudden tire blowouts, even after dealer service.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and all maintenance records, paying special attention to engine and electrical repairs.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on the BMW's oil pump and differential, and the Honda's brake and forward collision systems.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for warning lights, unusual noises, or loss of power, especially in the Honda Accord.
- Verify that all outstanding recalls have been performed, and ask for proof of completion.
- For the Honda Accord, check for any signs of rodent damage to wiring and ensure the sunroof operates properly, as owners report exploding glass.
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 M340i | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 6 | 238 |
| 2021 | 11 | 226 |
| 2020 | 51 | 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 M340i or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW M340i vs Honda Accord
- BMW M340i total complaints
- 68
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- BMW M340i total recalls
- 18
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW M340i avg complaints/year
- 9.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- BMW M340i
- BMW M340i top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE