Head-to-head reliability
BMW M850i vs Honda Accord
How the BMW M850i 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 M850i vs Honda Accord: the M850i has 0 complaints over 7 years and 7 recalls, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years, 38 recalls, and 162 crash-related reports. The Accord's engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance complaints are the main concern. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW M850i or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW M850i
The BMW M850i is a low-volume luxury performance coupe that, over the seven years in this data, has no owner complaints on record. That silence is unusual and may reflect a small, specialized owner base rather than a proven trouble-free design. It does have seven recalls, including backup camera, seat belt buckle, brake, and power window issues, so some safety-related fixes were required. For a buyer, the main takeaway is that there is little real-world complaint data to judge long-term reliability, so a pre-purchase inspection and recall check are essential.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with 4,524 complaints over ten years, averaging about 452 per year. The most common complaint areas are the engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and fuel system. Owners describe serious symptoms such as sudden power loss, electronic power steering and braking failure, and adaptive cruise control problems. There are also 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths in the data, which makes these patterns worth understanding before buying.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW M850i | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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 M850i
No component data available.
Recalls cover the backup camera system. A failing camera can reduce rear visibility, making parking and reversing riskier, especially for a large coupe.
A recalled front seat belt buckle assembly could affect how securely the belt latches. Buyers should confirm the recall was completed, since a faulty buckle may not restrain properly in a crash.
A hydraulic brake system recall is listed. Brake problems can directly affect stopping ability, so any open recall should be fixed before driving.
A power window recall is on record. A window that fails or behaves unexpectedly can be a safety and security concern, especially if it will not close properly.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure, followed by loss of speed. Others describe rattling noises while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which can point to expensive engine or hybrid system repairs.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking systems failing and locking up at highway speeds, causing near-collisions. Another owner reported a TPMS warning repair followed by a catastrophic tire failure, showing how electrical faults can cascade into safety risks.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve a threat, and adaptive cruise control suddenly braking or misbehaving under the same driving and weather conditions. This matters because a driver-assist system that acts unpredictably can surprise the driver and increase crash risk.
Fuel system complaints are common, and a fuel pump recall is listed. A failing fuel pump can cause stalling or loss of power, which is dangerous at speed and can leave a buyer stranded.
“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 M850i — 7 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series C…
The risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. 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 X3 xDrive30e, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, X4M, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, M8 Gran Coupe, X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, and 840i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The sensors…
The risk: If the air bag and/or seat belt pretensioners deploy improperly in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i,…
The risk: A loss of ABS and a reduction in braking assistance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2021. 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 M850i or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW M850i has 0 complaints per year in this data, while the Honda Accord averages about 452 complaints per year. That is a huge difference in reported problem volume, though the BMW's low number may reflect fewer owners rather than better reliability. In practice, the Accord has a much larger and more detailed record of engine, electrical, and driver-assist complaints that a buyer should review carefully.
Key differences
- The BMW M850i has 0 owner complaints over 7 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 over 10 years, so the Accord has far more reported problems to consider.
- The Accord's complaints include sudden power loss, electronic steering and braking failure, and adaptive cruise control issues, while the M850i has no complaint text on record.
- The M850i has 7 recalls covering backup camera, seat belt buckle, brakes, and power windows; the Accord has 38 recalls including hybrid power control software, fuel pump, and air bag sensor issues.
- The Accord data includes 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths, while the M850i data shows 0 in each of those categories.
- Check whether the backup camera, front seat belt buckle, hydraulic brake, and power window recalls were completed, since these are the only specific safety issues listed for the M850i.
- Because there are no owner complaints to review, ask for a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes, seat belts, camera operation, and window controls.
- Listen for rattling noises while accelerating and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, as owners report these engine and hybrid symptoms.
- Test the electronic power steering, braking, and forward collision avoidance systems at low speed first, and watch for warning lights or unexpected braking, since owners report sudden failures and near-collisions.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN for both vehicles to confirm all open recalls are fixed, especially the M850i's brake, seat belt, camera, and window recalls and the Accord's fuel pump, hybrid software, and air bag recalls.
- For the Accord, ask for service records related to engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance complaints, and test drive at highway speeds if possible.
- For the M850i, arrange a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with BMW electronics and brakes, since there is no complaint history to guide you.
- Check tire condition and TPMS operation on the Accord, because one owner reported a tire failure after a TPMS repair.
- Verify that the Accord's adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking work normally during a test drive, and note any warning messages.
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 M850i | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 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 M850i or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW M850i vs Honda Accord
- BMW M850i total complaints
- 0
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- BMW M850i total recalls
- 7
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW M850i avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW M850i
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE