Head-to-head reliability
Bentley Bentayga vs Honda Accord
How the Bentley Bentayga 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 Bentayga vs Honda Accord: The Bentayga has 12 complaints and 30 recalls over 10 years, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints and 38 recalls. The Accord averages 452 complaints per year, far more than the Bentayga's 1.2, but the Accord sells in much higher numbers. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Bentley Bentayga or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Bentley Bentayga
The Bentley Bentayga is a low-volume luxury SUV with only 12 complaints over 10 years, but 30 recalls in that same period. Owners report serious issues like fuel odors from fractured fuel lines, brake and airbag concerns, and even cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Living with one means dealing with rare but potentially expensive and safety-critical faults.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging 452 per year. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with reports of stalling, power steering failure, and unintended braking. It's a mainstream car with widespread, well-documented problems that can affect daily driving.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Bentley Bentayga | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 12 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.2 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Bentley Bentayga
- 01SERVICE BRAKES3
- 02AIR BAGS3
- 03FUEL SYSTEM2
- 04GASOLINE2
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
Owners describe dangerous dynamic cruise control behavior that can shorten following distance to about 100 yards and keep going, plus claims of easy cyber attacks that could shut down systems. These brake-related complaints suggest potential loss of control or hacking risks.
One owner reported that the anti-collision and anti-pedestrian feature failed while guiding a driver to park, and another complaint links air bags to cyber vulnerabilities. This means safety systems may not deploy or function as expected in a crash.
Owners of 2017 and 2019 Bentaygas reported strong fuel odors inside the cabin, with one diagnosis of a fractured fuel line. A fuel leak can lead to fire or health issues, making this a serious concern.
Electrical complaints appear in the top components, though sample texts focus on cyber attack risks that could deny system functions. Buyers should be aware that electronic glitches might disable multiple features at once.
“EASY CYBER ATTACK AGAINST NEW BENTLEY - CRITICAL ISSUE IT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TO CONNECT THIS CAR TO THE INTERNET USING A SIM CARD, AS THE CAR IS LITTERED WITH HIGH IMPACT VULNERABILITIES THAT CAN EASILY BE EXPLOITED TO SHUT DOWN SYSTEMS, THIS WOULD DENY…”
“BENTLEY DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL - DANGEROUS THE CAR HAS DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SETTINGS. IT IS POSSIBLE TO SHORTEN THE DISTANCE TO THE NEXT CAR ON A HIGHWAY TO APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS, AND THE CAR WILL CONTINUE AT THE CRUISE I…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failure, followed by loss of speed, as well as rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can cause sudden power loss or expensive repairs.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and a tire failure after a TPMS warning. Such failures can lead to near-collisions and loss of control.
Owners describe unintended braking or failure to avoid obstacles under adaptive cruise control, sometimes occurring repeatedly on the same route. This can cause rear-end collisions or sudden stops.
Fuel system complaints are common, though sample texts focus on other areas. Recalls include fuel pump issues, so buyers should check for stalling or fuel delivery problems.
“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 Bentayga — 30 recalls
The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2018 Bentley Mulsanne and 2018 Bentayga vehicles. When reverse gear has been selected, the rearview camera display may be obstructed or may not be fully visible within two seconds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fe…
The risk: If the full camera view is obstructed or delayed and the driver does not check their surroundings before backing up, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Bentley will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the software in the infotainment system, free of charge. The recall began October 19, 2018. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number for this rec…
The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Bentayga vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The third-row upper seat belt attachment may not stay connected to the vehicle in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicl…
The risk: If the seat belt is not properly secured in the event of a crash, the occupant will not be properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Bentley will notify owners, and dealers will replace the upper seat belt attachment bolt, free of charge. The recall began May 20, 2020. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number for this recall is RE2…
The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Bentayga vehicles. In the event of a crash, the side curtain air bags may not properly inflate.
The risk: An air bag that does not properly inflate in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Bentley will notify owners, and dealers will replace the curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2020. All vehicles (4) have been remedied as of October 29, 2020. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-77…
The defect: Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Bentayga vehicles. The fuel supply module wiring can overheat and melt the flange, resulting in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the flange and fuel supply module wiring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 20, 2023. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number for this recall is RE23…
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 Bentayga or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Bentley Bentayga has far fewer complaints per year (1.2 vs. 452.4), but its issues are often severe and tied to luxury systems. The Honda Accord has many more complaints, reflecting its higher sales volume, with frequent engine and electrical problems. In practice, the Bentley may have fewer but potentially more expensive faults, while the Honda has widespread, well-known issues that are easier to research.
Key differences
- The Bentley Bentayga has 12 complaints over 10 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524, but the Accord sells in far higher numbers.
- Bentayga complaints include fuel odors from fractured fuel lines and brake/airbag cyber risks; Accord complaints include engine stalling and power steering failure.
- The Bentayga has 30 recalls, the Accord 38, but the Accord's recalls cover high-volume safety items like fuel pumps and airbag sensors.
- Accord complaints often involve forward collision avoidance and electrical failures at speed, while Bentayga issues are more often tied to luxury features and connectivity.
- Check for fuel odors inside the cabin and inspect fuel lines for cracks or leaks, especially on 2017 and 2019 models.
- Test the dynamic cruise control and anti-collision systems at various speeds to ensure they don't maintain unsafe distances or fail to brake.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which may indicate engine or hybrid system problems.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems, and verify that forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control engage and disengage properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the fuel system and lines on the Bentayga for leaks or odors.
- For the Accord, scan for stored engine and electrical fault codes and test all driver-assist features.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds to check for stalling, unintended braking, or steering failure.
- Verify that any software updates or recall repairs have been completed by a dealer.
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 | Bentley Bentayga | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 1 | 234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 362 |
| 2019 | 1 | 691 |
| 2018 | 1 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 9 | 537 |
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 Bentayga or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Bentley Bentayga vs Honda Accord
- Bentley Bentayga total complaints
- 12
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Bentley Bentayga total recalls
- 30
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Bentley Bentayga avg complaints/year
- 1.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Bentley Bentayga
- Bentley Bentayga top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE