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 and 1 recall, while the Honda has 4,524 complaints over 10 years, 38 recalls, and 162 crash-related reports. The BMW reports center on fuel leaks and engine surging; the Accord reports include power loss and driver-assist failures. 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 motorcycle with a very small complaint footprint: 5 complaints over 8 years, about 0.6 per year, and 1 recall. Owners most often write about fuel leaks and engine running problems, not crashes or injuries. In day-to-day ownership, that means the main worry is keeping old fuel lines and engine tuning in good shape, not a long list of safety failures.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume car with a much larger complaint record: 4,524 complaints over 10 years, about 452 per year, plus 38 recalls. The reports include 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths, so the stakes are higher when something goes wrong. Owners describe engine stalling or power loss, electrical and steering/braking failures, and forward collision avoidance problems that can surprise a driver.
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 | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.6 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 R 1150 R
- 01FUEL SYSTEM3
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
- 03OTHER2
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 05GASOLINE1
Owners report smelling gasoline and finding raw fuel leaking from fuel lines or the fuel hose, sometimes about a pint at a time. This matters because a fuel leak near a hot engine is a fire risk and should be fixed before riding.
Riders describe engine surging below 4000 RPM, hesitation, misfiring, and stalling when slowing and downshifting. That makes low-speed riding jerky and can be dangerous in traffic if the engine quits.
One owner tied an electrical complaint to the same hesitation and misfiring issue covered by a recall campaign. Electrical faults on a motorcycle can cause running problems that are hard to diagnose without a dealer.
Some complaints mention repeated dealership visits for transmission, driveline, and fuel issues, plus fuel leaking from the fuel hose when starting. These are signs of nagging problems that may not be fixed by a single repair.
“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
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure, followed by the vehicle losing speed. Others hear rattling while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas mode, which can mean expensive engine or hybrid repairs.
Reports include electronic power steering and braking systems failing and locking up at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another owner had a TPMS warning repaired, then a tire failed catastrophically the same day, showing how electrical and tire issues can overlap.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve a threat, and adaptive cruise control suddenly braking or not reacting as expected. These are driver-assist features, so a fault can surprise the driver and increase crash risk.
The Accord has a recall for the gasoline fuel pump delivery system, and owners also report a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor. A failing fuel pump can cause stalling or power loss, and the odor may point to fuel or emissions problems.
“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 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 (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 R 1150 R or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW R 1150 R has far fewer issues per year, about 0.6 complaints annually versus about 452 for the Honda Accord. In practice, the BMW owner is dealing with a handful of fuel and engine complaints, while the Accord owner faces a much larger pool of reports including crashes, injuries, and deaths. That does not make one automatically safe or unsafe, but it means the Accord has more documented ways to strand or endanger a driver.
Key differences
- The BMW R 1150 R has 5 complaints over 8 years and 1 recall, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years and 38 recalls.
- BMW complaints center on fuel leaks from fuel lines and engine surging or stalling below 4000 RPM; Accord complaints include engine power loss, electronic steering and braking failure, and forward collision avoidance faults.
- The Accord record includes 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; the BMW record shows 0 crash-related, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths.
- The Accord has a fuel pump recall and a hybrid power control unit software recall, while the BMW recall is for the manual transmission/power train.
- Check the fuel lines and fuel hose for cracks, dampness, or a gasoline smell, especially after the bike sits overnight, because owners report raw fuel leaking.
- Test ride at low speeds and below 4000 RPM to feel for surging, hesitation, or stalling when downshifting, which owners describe as a common engine problem.
- Ask for proof that the fuel pump recall and hybrid power control unit software recall were completed, since these can cause stalling or power loss.
- During a test drive, watch for warning lights for brake, ABS, hill descent, or forward collision avoidance, and listen for rattling or jerking during EV-to-gas transitions.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to confirm all open recalls are fixed, especially the BMW transmission recall and the Honda fuel pump and hybrid software recalls.
- For the BMW, inspect fuel lines and hose with a flashlight and smell for gasoline before and after a test ride.
- For the Honda, test the electronic power steering, brakes, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning at low and highway speeds if safe.
- Ask for service records showing regular maintenance and any repeat repairs for engine, electrical, or fuel issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection focused on the specific complaint areas: fuel and engine for the BMW, engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems for the Honda.
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
- 4,524
- 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
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW R 1150 R
- BMW R 1150 R top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE