Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin DB12 vs Honda Accord
How the Aston Martin DB12 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
Aston Martin DB12 vs Honda Accord: The DB12 has 0 complaints over 3 years (0/yr) and 4 recalls, while the Accord has 4,290 complaints over 10 years (429/yr) and 38 recalls. The DB12 shows no owner-reported failures, but the Accord has frequent engine, electrical, and collision avoidance issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin DB12 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin DB12
The Aston Martin DB12 is a low-volume luxury grand tourer with an exceptionally clean complaint record—zero owner complaints on file over three model years. This suggests either very few units sold or genuinely rare issues, but the four recalls, all for engine oil hoses and backup camera display function, indicate that when problems do arise, they involve critical systems. Owners should expect a vehicle that is largely trouble-free in the database, but the recall history points to potential oil leaks and camera failures that require dealer attention.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume mainstream sedan with a heavy complaint burden: 4,290 complaints over ten years, averaging 429 per year. The top problem areas are the engine (924 complaints), electrical system (820), and forward collision avoidance (798), with owners reporting sudden power loss, brake system failures, and unintended braking. The 38 recalls cover hybrid control units, spare tires, ABS modules, occupant sensors, and fuel pumps, reflecting widespread systemic issues that affect daily drivability and safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin DB12 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 4,290 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 154 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 429.0 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 141 |
| 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.
Aston Martin DB12
No component data available.
Two recalls address engine oil lubrication pipes, hoses, and fittings, which could lead to oil leaks and potential engine damage if not repaired. Owners should verify recall completion.
Two recalls for the backup prevention display function suggest the rearview camera may fail to show the image, increasing the risk of backing into obstacles. Ensure the camera works and recall was performed.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE924
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM820
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE798
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER696
- 05SERVICE BRAKES577
Owners report unusual noises, sudden loss of power, and warning lights for brakes, hill descent, and ABS, often at highway speeds. This can cause unexpected deceleration and loss of control.
Complaints include TPMS warnings followed by tire failures, rodent damage to wiring harnesses, and electrical gremlins that disable safety systems. These issues can leave you stranded or compromise safety.
The system may trigger false braking or fail to prevent crashes, with some owners reporting loss of drive power linked to the collision avoidance system. This creates a risk of rear-end collisions or sudden stops.
Brake system failures, including ABS and hill descent warnings, are common. Owners describe the vehicle losing speed and becoming difficult to control, a serious safety concern.
“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.
Aston Martin DB12 — 4 recalls
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2024-2025 DBX707, 2024-2025 DB12, and 2025 Vantage vehicles. The engine oil cooler hose may split during vehicle operation, resulting in a loss of oil and oil pressure.
The risk: A sudden loss of oil and oil pressure could lead to the engine stalling or seizing, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2024. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this recall is RA-03-1973.
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2024-2025 DB12, 2025 Vantage, and 2025 DBX707 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
The risk: An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: The head unit software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Ma…
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2024-2025 DBX707, 2024-2025 DB12, and 2025 Vantage vehicles. The engine oil cooler hose may split during vehicle operation, resulting in a loss of oil and oil pressure.
The risk: A sudden loss of oil and oil pressure could lead to the engine stalling or seizing, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2024. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this recall is RA-03-1973.
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2024-2025 DB12, 2025 Vantage, and 2025 DBX707 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
The risk: An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: The head unit software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Ma…
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 are expected to be mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is availa…
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
Aston Martin DB12 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin DB12 has zero complaints per year versus the Honda Accord's 429 per year, a stark difference. In practice, the DB12 owner is unlikely to encounter any reported issues, while the Accord owner faces a high probability of engine, electrical, or collision avoidance problems that can affect safety and reliability.
Key differences
- The DB12 has zero owner complaints; the Accord has 4,290, with engine and electrical failures being common.
- The DB12's recalls focus on oil hoses and backup cameras; the Accord's recalls cover hybrid control units, ABS, airbag sensors, and fuel pumps.
- Accord owners report sudden power loss and unintended braking; DB12 owners report no such incidents.
- The DB12 has no crash or injury reports; the Accord has 154 crashes, 141 injuries, and 3 deaths linked to complaints.
- Check that all four recalls (engine oil hoses and backup camera) have been completed, as unaddressed oil leaks or camera failure could be safety issues.
- Inspect the engine bay for any signs of oil seepage around hoses and fittings, given the recall focus on oil lubrication pipes.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system on a safe road to ensure it doesn't brake unexpectedly; false activations are a common complaint.
- Check for any warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent, and review service history for electrical system repairs, especially wiring harness damage.
Before you buy
- For the DB12: Verify all four recalls are performed by checking the VIN on NHTSA.gov.
- For the DB12: Test the backup camera display in reverse and ensure it activates promptly.
- For the Accord: Request a full service history and check for any engine or electrical system repairs.
- For the Accord: Drive the car at highway speeds and monitor for warning lights or power loss.
- For both: Check for open recalls using the NHTSA recall lookup tool before purchase.
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 | Aston Martin DB12 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 4 |
| 2025 | 0 | 96 |
| 2024 | 0 | 207 |
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 Aston Martin DB12 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin DB12 vs Honda Accord
- Aston Martin DB12 total complaints
- 0
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,290
- Aston Martin DB12 total recalls
- 4
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Aston Martin DB12 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 429.0
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin DB12
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE