Head-to-head reliability
BMW R 1250 GS vs Honda Accord
How the BMW R 1250 GS 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 1250 GS vs Honda Accord: The BMW averages 5.8 complaints per year with 14 recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year with 38 recalls. BMW owners report brake failures, while Accord owners report engine and sensor issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW R 1250 GS or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW R 1250 GS
The BMW R 1250 GS is a premium adventure motorcycle with a relatively low complaint rate, averaging about 5.8 per year over five years. The majority of complaints center on the braking system, with owners reporting loss of brake pressure and caliper issues, which can be alarming. Electrical and engine problems also appear, including random failure to start. While no crashes were reported, the brake failures pose a serious safety concern for any rider.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume, averaging about 443.8 per year over ten years. Complaints are spread across engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and brakes, with many reports of sudden power loss, sensor malfunctions, and unintended braking. The Accord also has a higher incidence of crashes and injuries, reflecting both its larger sales volume and the severity of some reported issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW R 1250 GS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 29 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.8 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 1250 GS
- 01SERVICE BRAKES21
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 03ENGINE4
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
- 05HYDRAULIC2
Owners report sudden loss of brake pressure, often at low speeds, and rear caliper seizing that can affect cruise control. These are critical safety issues that could lead to a crash.
The motorcycle may randomly fail to start, even after riding 30 miles, with no diagnostic trouble code found. This can leave riders stranded.
Engine problems are often linked to the electrical issues, such as stalling or failure to start, but some complaints mention unusual noises or performance issues.
“4/2021 Prior to 4/2021, I had complained verbally with visits and calls to the dealership about an intermittent (CC ) Cruise Control issue. They could not find a problem w/the CC. I now consider this issue is related to the rear caliper ceasing. 5/30/2022 (RC…”
“- DRIVING BRAND NEW 2019 BMW R 1250 GS MOTORCYCLE ON WELL-MAINTAINED, RURAL, TWO-LANE ROADS IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA - UPON BRAKING WHILE APPROACHING A SLOW-SPEED RIGHT-HAND TURN, THE BRAKES LOST ALL PRESSURE (APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN 2ND GEAR) - THE FRONT TIRE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report sudden loss of power while driving, accompanied by warning lights for brakes, ABS, and hill descent. This can be dangerous on highways.
Issues include TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures, rodent damage to wiring harnesses, and intermittent electrical glitches affecting multiple systems.
The system may falsely trigger automatic braking at highway speeds with no obstacles, or display intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise and lane keeping, causing driver distraction and potential rear-end collisions.
Brake-related complaints often involve the ABS or collision mitigation system, with reports of unintended braking or loss of braking assist.
“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 1250 GS — 14 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2023 R1250GS, R1250GS Adventure, and R1250RTP motorcycles. In certain engine operating and riding conditions, the gearbox input shaft may become damaged or break, possibly resulting in a blocked rear wheel.
The risk: A damaged gearbox input shaft or a blocked rear wheel can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the engine control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 22, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 R 1250 GS, GS Adventure and R 1250 RT, 2020 S 1000 RR and S 1000 XR motorcycles. The front brake calipers may leak brake fluid when parked. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Saf…
The risk: Overtime, a leaking front brake caliper can reduce the amount of brake fluid in the reservoir. Low volume could affect brake performance, increasing the risk of crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the front brake calipers with an improved version, free of charge. BMW issued owners an interim notification on October 12, 2020. As of January 19, 2021, a remedy w…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2020 RnineT Scrambler and RnineT, 2020 R1250R and R1250RS, 2019-2020 Rnine T Pure, R1250GS,R1250GS Adventure and R1250RT and 2018 RnineT Racer motorcycles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not clearly state the required type of brake fluid…
The risk: Improper brake system maintenance could affect braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain Motorcycle Accessory Brake Fluid Reservoir Covers, part numbers 8405-752, 8405-753, 8405-754 and 9829547 designed to fit certain 2019-2020 BMW R 1250 motorcycles, and part numbers 8404-098, 8405-100, 8405-102, and 1542056 designed to fit certain…
The risk: Improper brake system maintenance could affect braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap, free of charge. The recall began December 14, 2020. Parts will be available in mid-September 2020 for the recall repairs. Owners may contact BMW customer servi…
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 1250 GS or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW R 1250 GS has far fewer complaints per year (5.8 vs 443.8) and no reported crashes, making it appear more reliable in terms of owner-reported issues. However, the brake failures on the BMW are severe and could be life-threatening. The Accord's higher complaint count reflects its larger market presence, but the nature of its issues (e.g., unintended braking) also poses significant risks.
Key differences
- The BMW has a much lower complaint rate (5.8/yr) compared to the Accord (443.8/yr), but its brake complaints are more severe, including total loss of pressure.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance system is a major source of complaints, with reports of phantom braking, while the BMW has no such system.
- The BMW's electrical issues are mainly starting failures, while the Accord's electrical problems include wiring damage and sensor malfunctions.
- The Accord has a higher incidence of crashes and injuries (160 crashes, 144 injuries) compared to the BMW (0 crashes, 1 injury).
- Inspect the brake system thoroughly, especially the rear caliper, for signs of seizing or fluid leaks.
- Check for any intermittent starting issues by test-riding and letting the bike idle, then restarting after a short ride.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe area to see if it triggers false alerts or braking.
- Look for any warning lights related to ABS, TPMS, or adaptive cruise, and check the wiring harness for rodent damage.
Before you buy
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the BMW's brake system, including calipers and fluid lines, and check for any open recalls.
- For the Accord, verify that all recalls have been performed, especially those related to the fuel pump and ABS control unit.
- Take both vehicles for an extended test drive, including highway speeds, to check for any loss of power or unexpected braking.
- Ask for service records to see if the BMW has had repeated brake repairs or the Accord has had multiple electrical issues.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty to cover potential costly repairs, especially for the BMW's brakes and the Accord's electronics.
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 R 1250 GS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 224 |
| 2022 | 3 | 238 |
| 2021 | 1 | 226 |
| 2020 | 8 | 355 |
| 2019 | 15 | 677 |
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 1250 GS or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW R 1250 GS vs Honda Accord
- BMW R 1250 GS total complaints
- 29
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- BMW R 1250 GS total recalls
- 14
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW R 1250 GS avg complaints/year
- 5.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- BMW R 1250 GS
- BMW R 1250 GS top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE