Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin Rapide vs Honda Accord
How the Aston Martin Rapide 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 Rapide vs Honda Accord: The Rapide has 1 complaint over 9 years (0.1/yr) and 16 recalls, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints over 10 years (443.8/yr) and 38 recalls. The Rapide's issues are minor, but the Accord shows serious engine and safety system problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin Rapide or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin Rapide
The Aston Martin Rapide is a low-volume luxury grand tourer, and its NHTSA record reflects that: just one complaint over nine years, but 16 recalls. The single complaint points to a check-engine light triggered by a diagnostic trouble code, touching fuel, electrical, and engine systems. For a buyer, this suggests a car that may be relatively trouble-free in terms of owner-reported issues, but recalls indicate potential manufacturing or design oversights that need attention.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan, and its NHTSA record is extensive: 4,438 complaints over ten years, with 160 crashes, 144 injuries, and three deaths. The top problem areas are engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and brakes, with owners reporting issues like warning lights, loss of power, and false activations of safety systems. This paints a picture of a car that, while popular, has notable reliability and safety concerns that buyers should investigate.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin Rapide | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.1 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.
Aston Martin Rapide
- 01FUEL SYSTEM1
- 02GASOLINE1
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04ENGINE1
The only owner complaint on the Rapide involves a check-engine light, with a diagnostic trouble code related to the fuel system. This could indicate a fuel delivery or sensor issue, which might affect performance or fuel economy.
The same complaint also implicates the electrical system, as the check-engine light is an electrical warning. Owners may see warning lights without a clear mechanical cause, suggesting potential wiring or sensor problems.
The engine is listed as a component in the complaint, but the text is cut off. It's plausible that the DTC points to an engine management issue, which could lead to reduced power or drivability concerns.
“The contact owns a 2012 Aston Martin Rapide. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact used a handheld diagnostic machine to retrieve a DTC for a…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report engine noises and sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) at highway speeds, indicating possible engine or transmission control module failures that could be dangerous.
Electrical issues include TPMS warnings and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can lead to sensor failures and, in one case, a tire failure. This suggests vulnerability to environmental factors and potential electrical gremlins.
Many complaints involve the forward collision avoidance system malfunctioning, with false activations or warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. This can be distracting and may erode driver trust in safety features.
Brake-related complaints are frequent, with owners reporting issues like the brake system warning and potential loss of braking assist, which is a critical 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 Rapide — 16 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 Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 DB9 and V8 Vantage, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2012 Rapide, 2014 Rapide S, 2011-2012 V12 Vantage, 2011-2014 V8 Vantage S and 2012 Virage vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the accelerator pedal arm may brea…
The risk: If the accelerator pedal arm breaks, the engine will return to idle and the driver will be unable to maintain or increase engine speed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assemblies. The recall began on February 11, 2014. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service by calling 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's recall number is…
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…
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
Aston Martin Rapide or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin Rapide has far fewer owner complaints per year (0.1) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported problems. However, the Accord's higher complaint volume is partly due to its much larger sales base. In practice, the Rapide may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience in terms of owner-reported issues, but the Accord's recalls and complaints highlight areas that need careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Rapide has only 1 complaint in 9 years, while the Accord has 4,438 in 10 years, a massive difference in reported issues.
- The Rapide's recalls focus on latches, transmission control, and accelerator pedal, while the Accord's recalls involve hybrid power control, spare tires, ABS, airbag sensors, and fuel pumps.
- Accord owners report safety system malfunctions (forward collision avoidance) and brake problems, which are absent in Rapide complaints.
- The Rapide's single complaint is a check-engine light, whereas Accord owners report engine power loss and electrical failures.
- Check for any open recalls related to latches, transmission control module, or accelerator pedal, as these could affect safety.
- Inspect the fuel system and electrical components for any signs of previous check-engine light issues, and ensure all diagnostic trouble codes are cleared and resolved.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems to ensure they don't activate falsely or show warning messages.
- Check the engine for unusual noises and verify that all warning lights (brake, ABS, etc.) are off during a test drive, as some owners report sudden power loss.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full NHTSA recall history for the specific VIN and confirm all recalls have been performed.
- For the Rapide, have a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist to check fuel, electrical, and engine systems for any stored codes.
- For the Accord, test drive at highway speeds to see if any warning lights appear, and check the operation of the forward collision avoidance system.
- Review the service history for both vehicles, looking for repeated repairs in the problem areas mentioned.
- Consider a mechanical warranty to cover potential expensive repairs, especially for the Rapide's parts and labor costs.
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 Rapide | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 677 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 0 | 534 |
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 Rapide or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin Rapide vs Honda Accord
- Aston Martin Rapide total complaints
- 1
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Aston Martin Rapide total recalls
- 16
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Aston Martin Rapide avg complaints/year
- 0.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin Rapide
- Aston Martin Rapide top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE