Head-to-head reliability
BMW M5 vs Honda Accord
How the BMW M5 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 M5 vs Honda Accord: The M5 has 21 complaints over 10 years (2.1/year) and 15 recalls, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints (452.4/year) and 38 recalls. The Accord also reports 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; the M5 reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW M5 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW M5
The BMW M5 is a high-performance luxury sedan with a low complaint rate—21 over 10 years—but the complaints that do appear often involve expensive engine and drivetrain failures. Owners report coolant expansion tank failures that can damage engine components, catastrophic engine failure with metal shavings, and transmission jerking out of gear. These issues can lead to repair bills in the tens of thousands, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is critical.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint volume—4,524 over 10 years—and a wider range of issues, including serious safety-related problems. Owners report engine stalling, electrical failures that can lock up steering and brakes, and forward collision avoidance systems that may brake unexpectedly. There are also 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths reported, so buyers should be aware of these potential risks.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW M5 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 21 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.1 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 M5
- 01ENGINE8
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 03POWER TRAIN5
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
Owners report coolant expansion tank failures that can leak onto and damage critical engine components, as well as catastrophic engine failure with metal shavings found in the oil system. These can result in repair bills up to $44,000, making engine health a major financial risk.
Complaints include the car jerking and kicking out of drive into neutral at highway speeds, and engine failures at low mileage. Such sudden loss of power is dangerous and can lead to costly repairs.
Owners report fuel injector and ignition coil failures, sometimes multiple injectors failing in sequence. This can cause misfires, rough running, and potential stalling, and parts may be backordered.
Issues like the front license plate holder detaching and windshields cracking without impact are reported. While not safety-critical, they indicate build quality or material concerns that can be annoying and costly.
“I actively participate in online F90 forums, and it seems like the coolant expansion tank seems to fail for almost all owners (both pre-LCI and LCI). In many cases, it also damages critical engine components underneath the tank and results in expensive repair…”
“Despite following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule and having the car serviced at authorized BMW dealerships, I am facing an engine failure that BMW has quoted $44,000 to repair. BMW is only offering $4,000 towards this repair, leaving us w…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) and rough transitions between EV and gas modes with rattling noises. These can leave you stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and tire failure after TPMS service. These are severe safety risks that could lead to loss of control.
Owners report the system braking unexpectedly or failing to respond, even with no obstacles present. This can cause sudden deceleration and increase crash risk.
Fuel pump issues are noted in recalls and complaints, which can cause engine stalling or failure to start. This is a safety concern, especially at speed.
“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 M5 — 15 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 M5 and 2020 M8 Gran Coupe, M8 Coupe, and M8 Convertible vehicles. The transmission wiring harness can become damaged, resulting in an electrical short circuit.
The risk: An electrical short circuit can cause the transmission to shift to neutral resulting in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace any damaged transmission harnesses. All harnesses will be rerouted and secured. These repairs will be performed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 3, 2020. Owners may…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 750i xDrive, 2019 M850i xDrive Coupe, M850i xDrive Convertible, X5 xDrive50i, X7 xDrive50i, and M5 vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may not have been properly attached to the engine, which may cause the fuel pump flange to crack, result…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pumps, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Co…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may c…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles. A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured.…
The risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. 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 M5 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW M5 has far fewer complaints per year (2.1 vs. 452.4 for the Honda Accord), but its issues tend to be severe and expensive, often involving engine or transmission failure. The Honda Accord has many more complaints, including serious safety-related electrical and collision avoidance problems. In practice, the M5 may cost more to maintain but has fewer reported problems overall, while the Accord has a higher volume of issues that could affect safety and reliability.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: BMW M5 has 21 complaints over 10 years; Honda Accord has 4,524, a massive difference in reported issues.
- Safety-related complaints: Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; BMW M5 has 0 in these categories.
- Common failure types: BMW M5 complaints often involve engine and transmission failures (e.g., coolant tank, metal shavings); Honda Accord complaints include electrical failures (steering/braking) and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- Recall counts: BMW M5 has 15 recalls; Honda Accord has 38, covering more systems like air bags, seat belts, and hybrid software.
- Check the coolant expansion tank for cracks or leaks, as owners report frequent failures that can damage engine components.
- Listen for engine rattles or misfires and check for metal shavings in the oil, as catastrophic engine failure has been reported.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems for any warning lights or intermittent failure, as sudden lock-up has been reported.
- Verify that forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control function correctly without unexpected braking, as owners report false activations.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website for both models.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the BMW's cooling system and engine, and the Honda's electrical and braking systems.
- For the BMW M5, ask for maintenance records and specifically inquire about coolant tank replacement and engine health.
- For the Honda Accord, test drive at highway speeds to check for warning lights, steering feel, and any unexpected braking from safety systems.
- Consider an extended warranty for the BMW M5 due to potential high-cost repairs, and for the Honda Accord, verify that all safety recalls have been addressed.
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 M5 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 2 | 109 |
| 2023 | 1 | 226 |
| 2022 | 1 | 252 |
| 2021 | 2 | 234 |
| 2020 | 2 | 362 |
| 2019 | 8 | 691 |
| 2018 | 4 | 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 M5 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW M5 vs Honda Accord
- BMW M5 total complaints
- 21
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- BMW M5 total recalls
- 15
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW M5 avg complaints/year
- 2.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW M5
- BMW M5 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE