1997 BMW 540I vs 1997 Honda Accord
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 BMW 540I | 1997 Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 27 | 460 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 21 | 75 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 42 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 16–18 | 19–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 107,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 540I | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 | 113 |
| Electrical System | 3 | 96 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 13 | 48 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 38 |
| Power Train | 1 | 33 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 32 |
| Suspension | 2 | 28 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 23 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 32 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 26 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 10 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 8 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 8 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 5 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 5 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 5 |
1997 BMW 540I
1997 Honda Accord
Compare all BMW 540I vs Honda Accord years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.