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 zero owner complaints over 7 years, while the Accord has 4,438 over 10 years, including 160 crashes and 3 deaths. The Accord's top issues are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance problems. 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 high-performance luxury coupe or convertible that, in the data, shows a remarkably clean owner complaint record over seven years—zero complaints filed. This suggests that, from the available NHTSA data, owners have not reported the kinds of recurring mechanical or electrical issues that plague many modern vehicles. However, it has had seven recalls, mostly for software or component updates (like power windows, backup camera, seat belt buckles, and brakes), which are typical for a complex, low-volume model. In practical terms, the M850i appears to be a low-drama ownership experience in terms of reported failures, but buyers should still verify that all recall work has been performed.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, in contrast, has a high volume of owner complaints—over 4,400 over ten years—with the most common areas being the engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and service brakes. Owners describe real-world failures like engine noises, sudden loss of power with warning lights, electrical issues causing tire pressure monitoring problems, and false or intermittent activation of safety systems. These complaints often involve newer models (2025-2026), suggesting that recent Accords may have quality issues that could affect reliability and safety. While the Accord has a long-standing reputation for dependability, this data indicates that buyers should be cautious and thoroughly inspect any used model, especially for the specific problems reported.
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 | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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 M850i
No component data available.
The BMW M850i has zero complaints in the NHTSA database over seven years, so there are no specific failure patterns to describe. This absence of data is notable but does not guarantee perfection; it may reflect low sales volume or owners not reporting issues.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises from the engine shortly after purchase, and in some cases, the vehicle loses power and triggers multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) while driving at highway speeds, indicating potential serious engine or drivetrain issues.
Electrical problems include tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings that lead to tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses (like the camshaft position sensor) even on relatively new vehicles, causing check engine lights and potential stalling.
The forward collision avoidance system can malfunction, causing the vehicle to brake unexpectedly or display intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and other driver-assist features, which can be startling and potentially dangerous.
Brake-related complaints include sudden loss of braking power or activation of ABS and other brake warnings, often in conjunction with other system failures, which could increase the risk of a collision.
“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 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 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.
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…
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 M850i or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
Based on the NHTSA data, the BMW M850i has far fewer reported issues per year (0.0 complaints per year) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8 per year). This means that, on average, M850i owners have not reported problems, while Accord owners have reported a wide range of issues, including safety-critical ones. In practice, the M850i appears to be a more trouble-free vehicle in terms of owner complaints, but the Accord's higher volume may reflect its much larger sales base and the fact that many complaints are from recent model years.
Key differences
- The BMW M850i has zero owner complaints, while the Honda Accord has thousands, with the most common being engine and electrical issues.
- The Accord has reported safety-related problems like unintended braking and loss of power, whereas the M850i has no such reports.
- The Accord's complaints often involve recent models (2025-2026), suggesting potential quality control issues, while the M850i's recalls are mostly for software or minor components.
- The M850i has fewer recalls (7) than the Accord (38), but both have had recalls for brakes and electrical systems.
- Since there are no owner complaints for the BMW M850i, the main red flags are the recalls themselves: check that all recall repairs (power windows, backup camera, seat belt buckles, brakes) have been performed, as these could affect safety.
- Inspect the vehicle for any signs of unreported issues, such as warning lights or unusual noises, since the absence of complaints does not mean the car is perfect.
- For the Honda Accord, be alert to engine noises or loss of power, as these are common complaints and could indicate serious problems.
- Check the electrical system, especially the TPMS and wiring harnesses, for any signs of damage or malfunction, and test the forward collision avoidance system to ensure it does not activate falsely.
Before you buy
- For the BMW M850i: verify that all seven recalls have been completed by a dealer, and ask for documentation.
- For the Honda Accord: obtain a full service history and check for any open recalls, especially those related to fuel pump, brakes, and airbags.
- For the Accord: have a mechanic inspect the engine and electrical system, and test all driver-assist features on a road test.
- For the Accord: ask if the vehicle has had any repairs for the specific issues mentioned in complaints, such as TPMS or wiring harness damage.
- For both: consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic, and check the NHTSA website for any new complaints or recalls.
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 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 0 | 226 |
| 2020 | 0 | 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 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
- 4,438
- BMW M850i total recalls
- 7
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW M850i avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- BMW M850i
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE