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 and 4 recalls over 3 years, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints and 38 recalls over 10 years, with 162 crash-related reports. The Accord’s higher volume and injury reports contrast with the DB12’s limited data. 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 sports car, so it has very few owner complaints on file—zero over three years. However, it has four recalls, including two for engine oil/lubrication pipes and hoses, and two for back-over prevention display function. With no complaint text available, buyers should rely on recall patterns and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with 4,524 complaints over ten years, averaging about 452 per year. The most common problem areas are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. Recalls cover hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, seat belts, air bags, and spare tires.
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 | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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.
Aston Martin DB12
No component data available.
Two recalls address engine oil/lubrication pipes and hoses. A failure here could lead to oil leaks or loss of lubrication, potentially causing engine damage. Buyers should verify these recalls were performed.
Two recalls concern the back-over prevention display, which may fail to show the rearview image. This could increase the risk of backing into a person or object. Confirm the display works and any recall remedy was applied.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS, with speed loss, as well as rattling noises during acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can affect drivability and may require dealer attention.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and a TPMS warning followed by a tire failure. Such failures can be dangerous and leave the car hard to control.
Owners describe the system failing to prevent collisions, sometimes with adaptive cruise control engaged, leading to near-misses or crashes. This undermines a key safety feature.
There are 602 complaints about the fuel/propulsion system, though specific text is not provided. Recalls include a fuel pump issue, so buyers should check for related repairs.
“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.
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 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
Aston Martin DB12 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin DB12 has far fewer issues per year (0 complaints/year vs. 452.4/year for the Honda Accord), but it still has four recalls. The Accord’s much higher complaint volume and reports of crashes, injuries, and deaths mean it demands more scrutiny. In practice, the DB12 is a niche car with limited data, while the Accord is a mass-market vehicle with widespread, documented problems.
Key differences
- The Aston Martin DB12 has 0 complaints and 4 recalls, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints and 38 recalls over 10 years.
- Honda Accord owners report serious electrical failures like power steering and braking lock-up, and forward collision avoidance issues; the DB12 has no complaint text but recalls for oil pipes and rearview displays.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; the DB12 has none reported.
- The Accord’s top complaint areas are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance; the DB12’s recalls focus on engine oil lines and back-over prevention.
- Check for oil leaks or weeping around engine oil pipes and hoses, as two recalls address these components.
- Test the back-over prevention display to ensure it shows a clear rearview image and that any recall remedy has been applied.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and feel for jerky transitions between EV and gas modes, which owners report.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking at low and highway speeds, and verify the forward collision avoidance system works, as failures have been reported.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and confirm all safety recalls are closed, especially for the DB12’s oil pipes and display, and the Accord’s hybrid software, fuel pump, and air bag recalls.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the DB12 for oil leaks and test the rearview display; for the Accord, check the electrical system, brakes, and forward collision avoidance.
- During a test drive, listen for engine rattles and feel for rough EV-to-gas transitions in the Accord, and note any warning lights.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and any recall repair documentation.
- For the Accord, consider a pre-purchase inspection at a Honda dealer to check for open recalls and software updates.
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 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
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
- 4,524
- Aston Martin DB12 total recalls
- 4
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Aston Martin DB12 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin DB12
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE