Head-to-head reliability
Bentley Arnage vs Honda Accord
How the Bentley Arnage 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
Bentley Arnage vs Honda Accord: The Arnage has 5 complaints over 10 years (0.5/year) and 16 recalls, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints (452.4/year) and 38 recalls. Arnage owners report suspension ball joint wear; Accord owners report engine, electrical, and collision-avoidance failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Bentley Arnage or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Bentley Arnage
The Bentley Arnage is a low-volume luxury car, so it generates very few complaints—just 5 over 10 years, or about 0.5 per year. The pattern that does exist centers on front suspension wear, specifically the lower ball joint, which owners report causing alignment problems. With 16 recalls covering fuel, brake, and hood issues, the Arnage demands proactive maintenance and recall checks. For a buyer, this means low complaint volume but potentially expensive, safety-relevant repairs when things do go wrong.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with 4,524 complaints over 10 years—about 452 per year—and 38 recalls. Owners report a wide range of issues, from engine rattles and power loss to electrical failures that can disable steering and braking, plus forward collision avoidance malfunctions. The sheer number of complaints and recalls means many Accords have had multiple repair visits. For a buyer, this suggests a higher likelihood of encountering at least one of these problems, though not every car will be affected.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Bentley Arnage | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.5 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 99 | 3 Better |
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.
Bentley Arnage
- 01SUSPENSION3
- 02TIRES1
- 03ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
Owners of the 2005 Arnage report the front suspension lower ball joint needing replacement, which causes the vehicle to go out of alignment. This matters because a worn ball joint can affect steering and tire wear, and on a heavy luxury car the repair may be costly.
One owner complaint describes defective, shrapnel-filled tires and a useless warranty, though the text is confusing and may not be specific to the Arnage. Still, it highlights that tire quality and warranty coverage are worth verifying on any used Arnage.
A single complaint involves the ESC system, but no details are provided in the sample. Buyers should check that the ESC warning light functions and that there are no stored fault codes, as ESC issues can affect stability in poor conditions.
“The contact owns a 2005 Bentley Arnage. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle was out of alignment. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the front suspension lower ball joint needed to be re…”
“The contact owns a 2005 Bentley Arnage. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle was out of alignment. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the front suspension lower ball joint needed to be re…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure, followed by loss of speed, as well as rattling noises during acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These symptoms can indicate serious powertrain or hybrid system faults that may leave the car undrivable.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and a tire failure shortly after a TPMS repair. Such electrical faults can create immediate safety risks and are often difficult to diagnose.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions, such as adaptive cruise control suddenly braking or not reacting. This undermines a key safety feature and could lead to collisions if not addressed.
Reports include persistent rotten-egg/sulfur odors that remain after paid repairs, and a foot slipping behind a plastic side panel. These may seem minor but can indicate underlying issues like battery or exhaust problems, or poor interior fit.
“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.
Bentley Arnage — 16 recalls
The defect: BENTLEY IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 ARNAGER, ARNAGET, ARNAGE RL, BROOKLANDS, AND AZURE VEHICLES. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE "B" HOOD ORNAMENT'S RETRACTING MECHANISM TO BECOME CORRODED. THIS MAY LEAD TO THE "B" HOOD ORNAMENT NOT RETRACTING AS INTENDED WHEN A VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A…
The risk: IF THE HOOD ORNAMENT DOES NOT RETRACT, IT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO A PEDESTRIAN IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND THE PEDESTRIAN.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RETRACTABLE "B" MECHANISM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BENTLEY AT 1-617-488-8500.
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED FUEL FEED AND RETURN HOSES WERE INSTALLED IN SOME OF THESE VEHICLES. THE POSITION OF THE CRIMP SECURING THE RUBBER HOSE MATERIAL TO THE STEEL QUICK RELEASE CONNECTION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPER. IF THE CRIMP IS NOT PROPERLY POSITION, FUEL…
The risk: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, THIS FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FEED AND RETURN HOSES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME S…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIMOUSINES, THE LOW PRESSURE BRAKE FLUID FEED PIPE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND REMOTE RESERVOIR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRAP OR RETAIN AIR.
The risk: THIS AIR COULD ENTER THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE PRIMARY CIRCUIT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH HOSES AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE…
The defect: CERTAIN BENTLEY AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP NOISE REDUCTION KITS, P/NOS PF59918PA AND PF59918PB, SUITABLE FOR USE ON 2000-2002 MY BENTLEY ARNAGE RED LABEL VEHICLES AND 2001 MY BENTLEY ARNAGE LE MANS AND LWB VEHICLES. THE FUEL PUMP OUTLET HOSE CAN FRACTURE UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN A…
The risk: A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: BENTLEY WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AND WILL INSTRUCT THEM TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED BENTLEY DEALER FOR FREE REPAIR. THE RECALL BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BENTLEY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 800…
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
Bentley Arnage or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Bentley Arnage has far fewer issues per year (0.5 vs. 452.4), but that is partly because it is a rare, low-production vehicle. The Honda Accord’s much higher complaint rate means a used Accord is more likely to have had at least one reported problem, while the Arnage’s few complaints tend to be serious and potentially expensive. In practice, the Accord offers more data to research specific faults, while the Arnage requires a very thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Key differences
- The Arnage has 5 complaints over 10 years, mostly for front suspension ball joints, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints covering engine, electrical, and collision-avoidance failures.
- The Arnage has 16 recalls, including fuel pump and brake hose issues, while the Accord has 38 recalls, including hybrid power control software and fuel pump problems.
- Accord owners report sudden loss of power, steering, and braking, which are immediate safety concerns; Arnage owners report alignment and suspension wear that develop over time.
- The Accord’s forward collision avoidance complaints describe failures under adaptive cruise control, a feature not highlighted in Arnage complaints.
- Check the front suspension lower ball joints for play or wear, as owners report alignment problems traced to this part.
- Verify that all open recalls—especially fuel pump, brake hose, and hood—have been completed, since these affect safety and reliability.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, and scan for stored fault codes, as owners report simultaneous failure.
- Check for rattling noises during acceleration and rough hybrid mode transitions, which owners describe as engine-related symptoms.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all safety recalls have been performed for the specific car.
- Have a qualified mechanic inspect the suspension, brakes, fuel system, and electrical components before purchase.
- For the Accord, test drive at highway speeds and check adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning operation.
- For the Arnage, inspect front suspension ball joints and check for any alignment issues or uneven tire wear.
- Ask for maintenance records and, for the Accord, any software updates related to hybrid or electrical systems.
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 Bentley Arnage or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Bentley Arnage vs Honda Accord
- Bentley Arnage total complaints
- 5
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Bentley Arnage total recalls
- 16
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Bentley Arnage avg complaints/year
- 0.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Bentley Arnage
- Bentley Arnage top complaint area
- SUSPENSION
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE