Head-to-head reliability
BMW R 1200 ST vs Honda Accord
How the BMW R 1200 ST 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 1200 ST vs Honda Accord: The BMW has 7 complaints over 8 years (0.9/year) and 10 recalls, while the Honda has 4,524 complaints over 10 years (452.4/year) and 38 recalls. The BMW's main reported issue is fuel leaks from plastic quick-disconnects; the Honda's include electronic steering and braking failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW R 1200 ST or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW R 1200 ST
The BMW R 1200 ST is a sport-touring motorcycle with a small but consistent complaint record: 7 complaints over 8 years, or about 0.9 per year. The pattern is dominated by fuel system issues, especially plastic quick-disconnect fittings that crack and spray fuel onto a hot engine. There are also reports of throttle cable bell cranks cracking and a rear wheel wobble from a loose final drive adapter. With 10 recalls and no reported crashes or injuries in this data, it appears to be a niche machine where fuel-system upkeep is critical.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 452 per year. Complaints span engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and fuel systems, with 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths in the data. Owners describe sudden power loss, electronic steering and braking failures, and false forward collision warnings. It has 38 recalls, including hybrid power control software and fuel pump issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW R 1200 ST | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.9 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 1200 ST
- 01FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
- 02FUEL SYSTEM2
- 03GASOLINE2
- 04POWER TRAIN2
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
Owners report plastic quick-disconnect fuel fittings cracking, causing high-pressure fuel to spray onto the hot engine. One owner smelled fuel while riding and saw it leaking onto the motor, noting an extreme fire risk. Another said the plastic parts 'will/do break unexpectedly' and replaced them with steel.
Complaints describe fuel leaks from cracked plastic couplers and fuel pump mounting plates. A rider reported fuel spraying onto the air-cooled engine, which could lead to a fire. This is a recurring theme in the sample text.
Same fuel leak issue reported under the gasoline category: owners smell fuel, see it leaking onto the hot motor, and find cracked plastic quick-disconnect couplers. The risk is fire, especially on an air-cooled engine.
One owner reported the rear wheel developed a wobble greater than 1 mm at 15,750 miles because the interference fit wheel adapter on the final drive axle tube lost its proper fit. This caused a handling problem and required a new splined adapter.
“THE FUEL PUMP ON MY R 1200 ST MOTORCYCLE IS MOUNTED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND PROVIDES FUEL UNDER PRESSURE TO THE PRESSURE REGULATOR. FUEL EXITS THE TANK THROUGH A QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING SCREWED INTO THE PLATE ON WHICH THE FUEL PUMP IS MOUNTED. DURING A ROUT…”
“THROTTLE CABLE BELL CRANKS CRACK DUE TO POOR QUALITY PLASTIC MATERIAL. THIS CAUSES MOTORCYCLE TO SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AS HAND THROTTLE NO LONGER WORKS, AND ENGINE RETURNS TO IDLE SPEED. THIS CAN LEAD TO A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF THIS OCCURS ON HIGH SPEED ROAD…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden power loss and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS, critical failure) while driving. Another describes rattling noises while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, with the engine jerking when the charge button is pressed.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking systems failing and locking up simultaneously at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another owner had a TPMS warning repaired, then the passenger-side tire catastrophically failed hours later.
Owners report the system failing to prevent collisions or activating unexpectedly. One incident involved adaptive cruise control set to 70 mph when the vehicle suddenly braked or failed to respond, occurring twice under similar conditions.
Reports include a persistent rotten-egg/sulfur odor that remained after a $407 filter replacement and odor treatment. Another owner described a foot slipping behind a plastic side panel of the center console, which could interfere with pedal operation.
“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 1200 ST — 10 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 R1200GS and R1200RT, 2006-2010 R1200GS Adventure, 2007-2010 R1200R, 2007 R1200S and K1200R Sport, 2005-2007 R1200ST, 2008-2009 HP2 Megamoto, 2006 HP2 Enduro, 2008-2010 HP2 Sport, 2005-2008 K1200S, 2006-2008 K1200R, K1200GT, 2…
The risk: If the rear wheel mounting flange cracks, the mounting bolts may loosen and the rear wheel may not remain secured to the motorcycle, causing a loss of stability and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing aluminum rear wheel flange with a steel one, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 model year R-model motorcycles, model year 2005-2012 K-model motorcycles, model year 2010-2011 S 1000 model motorcycles, and model year 2006-2010 HP2 motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, the fuel pump flange (and the aux…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will either reinforce the fuel pump flange or replace the pump, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW…
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, EXPOSURE OF THE THROTTLE HOUSING TO ROAD DEBRIS COULD FALL AND BECOME CAUGHT BETWEEN THE THROTTLE-BODY AND THE ENGINE BLOCK.
The risk: THIS COULD RESTRICT MOVEMENT OF THE THROTTLE-CABLE PULLEY THAT, IN TURN, COULD AFFECT THROTTLE OPERATION AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COVER OVER THE THROTTLE-CABLE PULLEY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, UNDER RAPID, REPEATED, AND UNUSUALLY HARSH BRAKING, LOSS OF ABS CAPABILITY COULD TEMPORARILY OCCUR.
The risk: TEMPORARY LOSS OF ABS BRAKING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL ADD A PHYSICAL RESTRICTION, IN THE FORM OF A BANJO BOLT WITH A FLOW RESTRICTOR TO THE BRAKE LINE, AND ON CERTAIN MODELS DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FRONT BRAKE DISCS OF A SLIGHTLY LARGER THICKNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN…
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 1200 ST or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW R 1200 ST has far fewer complaints per year (0.9 vs. 452.4), but its issues cluster around fuel leaks that can spray onto a hot engine. The Honda Accord's much higher volume brings a wider range of problems, including electronic failures and crash-related reports. In practice, the BMW demands vigilance for fuel-system cracks, while the Accord requires attention to electrical and driver-assist systems.
Key differences
- The BMW R 1200 ST has 7 complaints over 8 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 over 10 years, a massive difference in reported volume.
- BMW complaints center on fuel leaks from plastic quick-disconnect fittings that can spray fuel onto a hot engine, a fire risk.
- Honda Accord complaints include electronic power steering and braking failures at highway speeds, plus forward collision avoidance issues.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths in the data; the BMW has 0 in each category.
- Inspect the plastic fuel quick-disconnect fittings at the tank and fuel pump plate for cracks, discoloration, or fuel smell; replace with steel if original plastic is still present.
- Check the throttle cable bell cranks for cracks and test for sudden loss of throttle response, and inspect the rear wheel for any wobble or play in the final drive adapter.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems for warning lights or lock-up, especially at highway speeds, and verify all recalls for hybrid power control software are done.
- Check for persistent sulfur/rotten-egg odors and confirm the forward collision avoidance system operates without false alerts during a test drive.
Before you buy
- Ask for a complete NHTSA recall history and proof that all open recalls have been repaired on the specific vehicle.
- For the BMW, smell for fuel and inspect all plastic fuel line connectors; for the Honda, scan for stored trouble codes in the ABS, steering, and hybrid systems.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds to check for sudden power loss, warning lights, or unexpected braking.
- Have a mechanic familiar with the model inspect the BMW's final drive and throttle linkage, and the Honda's electrical harness and driver-assist sensors.
- Review the NHTSA complaint database for the exact model year to see if the reported issues are common for that year.
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 1200 ST or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW R 1200 ST vs Honda Accord
- BMW R 1200 ST total complaints
- 7
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- BMW R 1200 ST total recalls
- 10
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW R 1200 ST avg complaints/year
- 0.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- BMW R 1200 ST
- BMW R 1200 ST top complaint area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE