Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin DBS vs Honda Accord
How the Aston Martin DBS 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 DBS vs Honda Accord: The DBS has 0 complaints over 10 years but 18 recalls; the Accord has 4,290 complaints, 154 crashes, and 3 deaths. Owners report sudden power loss and electrical failures in the Accord. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin DBS or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin DBS
The Aston Martin DBS is a high-performance luxury grand tourer with zero owner complaints on file over a decade, which is extremely rare. However, it has 18 recalls covering latches, transmission control modules, seat heaters, accelerator pedals, and door locks. While no real-world failures are reported, the recall volume suggests potential quality issues that may not have surfaced in complaints.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with 4,290 complaints over 10 years, averaging 429 per year. Owners report serious issues like sudden loss of power at highway speeds, electrical failures, false collision warnings, and brake problems. With 154 crashes, 141 injuries, and 3 deaths linked to complaints, the Accord shows a pattern of safety-critical failures that affect daily driving.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin DBS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 4,290 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 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 DBS
No component data available.
Multiple recalls address door locks and latches, which could lead to doors opening unexpectedly or failing to secure. While no complaints exist, this is a safety concern for occupants.
Recalls for transmission control module software or hardware issues may cause erratic shifting or loss of drive. Without complaints, the actual failure rate is unknown.
Recalls for accelerator pedal defects could result in unintended acceleration or pedal sticking, a critical safety issue. No owner reports exist to confirm prevalence.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE924
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM820
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE798
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER696
- 05SERVICE BRAKES577
Owners report engine noises, sudden loss of power at highway speeds, and warning lights for brake, ABS, and hill descent systems. Some vehicles lose speed and become undrivable, posing crash risks.
Electrical failures cause total loss of power, including power steering, while driving. TPMS warnings lead to tire failures, and dashboards light up with multiple system alerts, indicating widespread electrical gremlins.
The system triggers false braking or fails to prevent crashes. Owners report collisions due to loss of drive power before recall fixes, and the system activates with no obstacles, causing rear-end risks.
Brake system failures are common, with complaints of reduced braking performance and ABS issues. Combined with electrical problems, this can lead to loss of stopping power.
“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 DBS — 18 recalls
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 DB9, 2010-2012 DBS, 2010-2016 V8 Vantage, 2012 Virage, 2010-2016 Rapide, 2014-2016 Vanquish, 2011-2016 V12 Vantage, and 2012-2013 V12 Zagato vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with interior door…
The risk: If the doors cannot be opened by an occupant from inside the vehicle, they may be trapped inside, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will disable the double locking feature by reprogramming the software, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2016. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston…
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2009-2016 DB9, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2015 Rapide, 2012 Virage, and 2014 Vanquish vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Touchtronic II Automatic Transmission. A communication error between the Engine Control Module (ECM) and the Transmission Con…
The risk: If the park pawl does not engage and the vehicle is stopped on a slope and exited without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will update the TCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 1, 2018. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this…
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2005-2009 DB9, and DBS vehicles. The battery supply cable on these vehicles may become damaged when the driver seat is positioned in the full rearward location.
The risk: If the battery cable is damaged and then grounded, the short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery supply cable for damage, and install a routing block to keep the battery supply cable from being compressed by the seat, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 201…
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 DB9, V12 Vantage, V8 Vantage, DBS, and Virage vehicles manufactured July 3, 2006, to November 5, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic control module for the driver and front passenger seat heate…
The risk: If the electronic control module fails, the seat heater could get hot enough that areas of the seat may overheat and smolder, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional module to the circuit that can interrupt the power to the seat heaters in case the electronic control module for the seat heaters fails, free of charge. The recall beg…
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 DBS or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin DBS has zero complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 429 complaints per year. In practice, the DBS shows no real-world failure reports, but its 18 recalls hint at potential issues. The Accord has a high volume of safety-critical complaints that affect reliability and safety.
Key differences
- Aston Martin DBS has zero owner complaints; Honda Accord has 4,290 complaints with 154 crashes and 3 deaths.
- Honda Accord owners report sudden loss of power and electrical failures at highway speeds; DBS has no such reports.
- Honda Accord has 38 recalls vs DBS's 18, but DBS recalls cover critical areas like accelerator pedal and transmission.
- Honda Accord's top complaint areas (engine, electrical, collision avoidance) are safety-critical; DBS's recall subjects are similar but unconfirmed by complaints.
- Check that all recalls (especially for latches, transmission control module, and accelerator pedal) have been performed, as no complaints exist to indicate failure patterns.
- Inspect seat heater operation and door lock function, as these are recall subjects without owner feedback.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for sudden power loss or warning lights, a common complaint.
- Verify that forward collision avoidance system does not activate falsely, and that brake system responds normally.
Before you buy
- For Aston Martin DBS: Confirm all 18 recalls are completed by checking VIN with NHTSA or dealer.
- For Honda Accord: Check for open recalls, especially for electrical system and fuel pump.
- For Honda Accord: Ask owner if they've experienced power loss or electrical issues; request service records.
- For both: Get a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the model.
- For both: Review NHTSA complaint database for any new issues since data was compiled.
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 DBS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 207 |
| 2023 | 0 | 219 |
| 2022 | 0 | 214 |
| 2021 | 0 | 217 |
| 2020 | 0 | 340 |
| 2019 | 0 | 653 |
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 DBS or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin DBS vs Honda Accord
- Aston Martin DBS total complaints
- 0
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,290
- Aston Martin DBS total recalls
- 18
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Aston Martin DBS avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 429.0
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin DBS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE