Head-to-head reliability
BMW R 1250 RT vs Honda Accord
How the BMW R 1250 RT 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 RT vs Honda Accord: The BMW averages 3.8 complaints per year over 6 years with no crashes, while the Accord averages 443.8 per year over 10 years with 160 crashes. BMW owners report brake leaks and ACC issues; Accord owners report engine power loss and false collision warnings. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW R 1250 RT or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW R 1250 RT
The BMW R 1250 RT is a premium touring motorcycle with a relatively low complaint rate, averaging about 3.8 per year over six years. Owners report recurring issues with the braking system, particularly leaks and Hill Start Control malfunctions, as well as intermittent adaptive cruise control failures. These are comfort and safety features that can be frustrating when they don't work reliably, but the bike has no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 440 per year over ten years. Complaints are widespread across engine, electrical, and driver-assistance systems, with some serious incidents including crashes and injuries. Owners frequently report sudden power loss, electrical glitches, and false activations of collision avoidance, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW R 1250 RT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 23 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.8 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 1250 RT
- 01SERVICE BRAKES14
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE4
- 03STRUCTURE2
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 05ENGINE2
Owners report leaking front brake calipers and malfunctioning Hill Start Control, which can cause the bike to roll on inclines or fail to hold. This is a critical safety component, and repeated leaks suggest a systemic issue.
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) intermittently drops out or may not maintain a safe following distance, as one owner feared a rear-end collision. Despite dealer recalibrations and software updates, the problem persists.
The front fender can come loose and the windscreen may whistle, indicating fit and finish issues that can distract the rider and potentially lead to parts detaching.
Owners report issues with comfort turn signals not canceling and intermittent low beam and horn malfunctions, which can reduce visibility and communication with other road users.
“Hill Start Control malfunction this feature Hold the bike when it comes to a stop uphill or downhill of 5' degree gradient or more for max 2.5 minute, when auto mode on the brake will automatically hold the bike when it comes to a stop on a gradient and relea…”
“SINCE DAY ONE THIS BIKE HAS HAD LEAKING FRONT BRAKES. TODAY, I GO OUT IN MY GARAGE AND SEE MY BRAKES ARE LEAKING AGAIN FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME. THIS IS BEYOND A DEALERSHIP FIX. BOTH DEALERS I'VE TAKEN THE BIKE TO (IRON HORSE BMW IN TUCSON, GOAZ IN PEORIA) HAVE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power at highway speeds, accompanied by warning lights for brakes and hill descent. This can be a serious safety concern if the engine stalls or loses power unexpectedly.
There are reports of TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, indicating potential vulnerabilities in electrical components that can cause unexpected failures.
The system can falsely activate or show errors for adaptive cruise, lane keeping, and automatic high beams, sometimes at highway speeds, which can be startling and undermine driver trust.
Brake system warnings and failures are reported, sometimes in conjunction with other system alerts, suggesting potential issues with the ABS or brake control modules.
“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 RT — 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 2019-2023 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 2021 R 1250 RT, R 1250 R, R 1250 RS, R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure motorcycles. The tire pressure labels may not remain affixed to the motorcycle frame. As a result, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehi…
The risk: If the label detaches from the motorcycle, proper tire pressure information may not be readily available. This could result in the rider improperly filling the tires which may affect motorcycle handling and control, increasing the risk of…
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tire pressure label, free of charge. The recall began October 19, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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.
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 RT or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The BMW R 1250 RT has far fewer complaints per year (3.8 vs. 443.8) and no reported crashes or injuries, indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Honda Accord's higher volume reflects a broader owner base and more widespread problems, but also includes more serious safety events. In practice, the BMW may offer more predictable reliability, but the Accord's issues are more varied and potentially more severe.
Key differences
- BMW owners report brake leaks and ACC dropouts, while Accord owners report engine power loss and false collision warnings.
- The BMW has no crash-related complaints, while the Accord has 160 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths.
- BMW complaints are concentrated in brakes and electronics, whereas Accord complaints span engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems.
- The BMW's complaint rate is about 1% of the Accord's, suggesting a much lower frequency of reported issues per year.
- Inspect the front brake calipers for any signs of fluid leaks, as owners report recurring leaks that may require repeated repairs.
- Test the Hill Start Control on a slope to ensure it engages and releases properly, and check for any warning lights related to the system.
- Ask for service records related to engine performance and any recalls for fuel pump or power control module, as sudden power loss is a common complaint.
- Check the operation of the forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control on a test drive, and look for any warning messages on the dashboard.
Before you buy
- For the BMW, have a mechanic inspect the brake system for leaks and verify the ACC works consistently on a test ride.
- For the Honda, check if all recalls have been performed, especially those for the fuel pump and brake control module.
- Test the Accord's engine for smooth acceleration and listen for any unusual noises, as owners report power loss issues.
- On the BMW, test the windscreen for whistling at highway speeds and ensure the front fender is securely attached.
- For both, review the vehicle's service history and look for repeated repairs to the same components.
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 RT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 214 |
| 2023 | 1 | 224 |
| 2022 | 1 | 238 |
| 2021 | 4 | 226 |
| 2020 | 6 | 355 |
| 2019 | 9 | 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 RT or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW R 1250 RT vs Honda Accord
- BMW R 1250 RT total complaints
- 23
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- BMW R 1250 RT total recalls
- 14
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- BMW R 1250 RT avg complaints/year
- 3.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- BMW R 1250 RT
- BMW R 1250 RT top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE