Head-to-head reliability
BMW R 1150 R vs Honda Accord
How the BMW R 1150 R 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 R 1150 R vs Honda Accord: The BMW has 5 complaints over 8 years (0.6/yr) and 1 recall, while the Accord has 4438 complaints over 10 years (443.8/yr) and 38 recalls. BMW owners report fuel leaks and engine stalling; Accord owners report engine power loss and false collision warnings. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW R 1150 R or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW R 1150 R
The BMW R 1150 R is a niche motorcycle with a low complaint volume, averaging less than one per year over eight years. Owners report fuel leaks from the fuel lines and hoses, as well as engine hesitation, surging, and stalling at low speeds. These issues point to potential fuel system and engine management problems that could affect rideability and safety. While the low complaint count is reassuring, the nature of the reported failures suggests a need for careful inspection of fuel and engine components.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume sedan with a much higher complaint rate, averaging over 400 per year over ten years. Complaints span multiple systems, including engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and brakes, with some incidents leading to crashes and injuries. Owners report issues like sudden power loss, electrical malfunctions, and false activation of safety systems. This pattern indicates a broader range of potential reliability and safety concerns compared to the BMW.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW R 1150 R | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.6 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 R 1150 R
- 01FUEL SYSTEM3
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
- 03OTHER2
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 05GASOLINE1
Owners report raw gasoline leaking from fuel lines and hoses, sometimes resulting in a noticeable odor and loss of fuel. This poses a fire hazard and requires immediate attention.
The engine may hesitate, surge, or stall at speeds below 4000 RPM, especially during deceleration and downshifting. This can lead to unexpected power loss while riding.
Some complaints mention transmission and driveline issues, though details are sparse. These could affect power delivery and require costly repairs.
“I OWN A 2004 BMW R1150R MOTORCYCLE. THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK I SMELLED A GASOLINE ODOR. I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING OBVIOUS SINCE IT WAS DARK OUT. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK IT APPEARED THAT ABOUT A PINT OF RAW GASOLINE HAD LEAKED OUT OF MY FUEL LINES ONTO THE…”
“BMW R1150R MOTORCYCLE.*MR THIS LETTER IS TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING A WARRANTY PROBLEM WHICH THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ADDRESS FURTHER. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS FOR TRANSMISSION, DRIVELINE AND FUEL I…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report engine noises, sudden power loss, and warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. Some incidents occur at highway speeds, leading to loss of speed and potential safety risks.
Electrical issues include TPMS warnings, wiring harness damage (e.g., rodent damage to camshaft position sensor), and intermittent system failures. These can cause dashboard alerts and affect vehicle operation.
The system may activate falsely or show intermittent problems with adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. This can be distracting and undermine driver trust in safety features.
Brake-related complaints include issues with the antilock braking system and electronic stability control, sometimes leading to critical failure warnings and reduced braking performance.
“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 R 1150 R — 1 recall
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE 3RD AND 4TH TRANSMISSION GEAR (SHIFT) WHEELS MAY NOT BE SECURELY SEATED ON THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM 5TH TO 6TH GEAR, ENGAGEMENT OF THE TWO GEARS MAY OCCUR SIMULTANEOUSLY.
The risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE GEAR WHEELS COULD CRACK RESULTING IN A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION CAPABILITY, OR, A LOCK OF TRANSMISSION COULD OCCUR. THE REAR WHEEL COULD LOCK WHICH, DEPENDING UPON TRAFFIC AND ROAD CONDITIONS, AND THE RIDER'S REACTION, COU…
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLES AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AN…
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 R 1150 R or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW R 1150 R has far fewer complaints per year (0.6) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the BMW's problems are concentrated in fuel and engine areas that could be serious, while the Accord's issues are more varied and include safety-critical systems. In practice, the BMW may offer a more predictable ownership experience in terms of complaint volume, but the Accord's higher count reflects its larger sales and broader issue spectrum.
Key differences
- The BMW R 1150 R has a very low complaint rate (0.6 per year) versus the Accord's high rate (443.8 per year), but the BMW's complaints are primarily about fuel leaks and engine stalling, which are safety-relevant.
- The Honda Accord has a wide range of issues, including engine power loss, electrical glitches, and false activation of forward collision avoidance, leading to 160 crashes and 144 injuries.
- The BMW has only one recall (transmission), while the Accord has 38 recalls covering electrical, brakes, airbags, and fuel pump, indicating more widespread manufacturer-identified defects.
- The Accord's complaints often involve modern electronic systems (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) that can malfunction, whereas the BMW's issues are more mechanical and fuel-related.
- Inspect fuel lines and hoses for cracks or leaks, as raw gasoline leakage is a common complaint.
- Test ride at low speeds to check for engine hesitation, surging, or stalling, especially below 4000 RPM.
- Check for any warning lights related to engine, brakes, or collision avoidance systems, and have the vehicle scanned for stored codes.
- Inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage, especially around the engine bay, as this has been reported.
Before you buy
- For the BMW: have a mechanic inspect the fuel system for leaks and verify the engine runs smoothly at idle and low RPM.
- For the Honda: test all driver-assistance features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping, automatic braking) to ensure they function correctly without false alerts.
- Check the recall status for both vehicles and ensure any open recalls have been addressed.
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if previous owners reported similar issues.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic familiar with the specific model.
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 R 1150 R or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW R 1150 R vs Honda Accord
- BMW R 1150 R total complaints
- 5
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- BMW R 1150 R total recalls
- 1
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW R 1150 R avg complaints/year
- 0.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- BMW R 1150 R
- BMW R 1150 R top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE