Head-to-head reliability
Buick Century vs Honda Accord
How the Buick Century 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
Buick Century vs Honda Accord: The Century averages 121 complaints per year, with top issues in lighting and brakes, while the Accord averages 444 complaints per year, led by engine and forward collision problems. The Century has 20 recalls, the Accord 38. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Century or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Century
The Buick Century is an older, mainstream sedan that, based on NHTSA data, shows a pattern of age-related failures rather than a single catastrophic defect. Owners report headlights that cut out or dim due to heat damage to the lens, brake lines that rust through and fail, and electrical gremlins that affect visibility and windows. Engine and powertrain complaints also appear, with reports of sudden loss of acceleration. While the total complaint count is lower than the Accord's, the nature of these failures—especially lighting and brakes—can be immediate safety concerns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a newer and more popular model, has a much higher raw complaint count, but this is partly due to its larger sales volume and longer reporting period. The data reveals two dominant themes: engine issues, including loss of power and warning lights, and a very high number of complaints about forward collision avoidance systems that activate unnecessarily or malfunction. Electrical problems, such as TPMS failures and rodent damage to wiring, also appear. Brake complaints are common, but many are tied to the same systems that trigger false warnings.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Century | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 726 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 38 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 121.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 36 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.
Buick Century
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING109
- 02SERVICE BRAKES103
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM100
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING92
- 05POWER TRAIN86
Owners report headlights turning off while driving or the plastic lens fogging because the bulbs are too close, reducing visibility. This is a common and recurring issue that can happen without warning.
Brake lines are prone to rust and corrosion, leading to sudden loss of braking power. One owner described the pedal going to the floor twice due to burst lines.
Electrical failures often manifest as inoperative window switches or headlights that only work when the switch is held. These issues can be intermittent and frustrating.
Some owners report a sudden decrease in acceleration while driving, which can be alarming. Other engine-related complaints are less specific but point to general reliability concerns.
“WE HAVE HAD OUR 2005 BUICK LACROSSE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS NOW AND WANT TO REPORT THIS LIGHTING SAFETY CONCERN. THIS HEADLIGHT INCIDENT WITH OUR BUICK HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO US, THREE TIMES SINCE MID APRIL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, WE WERE DRIVING ONE EVEN…”
“A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. ONCE WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR WITH A FRIEND WHO ALSO OWNS A BUICK THE ISSUE OCCURRED AND HE TOLD ME HIS CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED BUICK, WHO…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report a range of engine problems, including unusual noises, loss of power, and warning lights for brake and hill descent systems. Some issues occur at low mileage, suggesting potential manufacturing defects.
Electrical complaints include TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause various malfunctions. These issues can be costly to repair.
A large number of complaints involve the forward collision warning and automatic braking systems activating without reason, or failing to work when needed. This can be both annoying and dangerous.
Brake-related complaints often tie into the forward collision system, with warnings about ABS and hill descent appearing. Some owners report a loss of braking capability, though this is less common than false activations.
“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.
Buick Century — 20 recalls
The defect: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN…
The risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-24…
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
The defect: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN…
The risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-24…
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
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
Buick Century or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Buick Century has fewer complaints per year (121 vs 444), but its issues are more likely to be age-related safety failures like brake line rust and headlight failure. The Honda Accord's higher complaint rate is driven by advanced safety system glitches and engine issues, which may be more frustrating than dangerous. In practice, the Century may require more immediate mechanical attention, while the Accord may need software updates or sensor replacements.
Key differences
- The Buick Century's most common issues are exterior lighting (109) and brakes (103), with headlights failing and brake lines rusting.
- The Honda Accord's top issues are engine (985) and forward collision avoidance (821), with many complaints about false activations and power loss.
- The Buick Century has fewer complaints per year (121) than the Honda Accord (444), but the Century's problems are more likely to be safety-critical.
- The Honda Accord has a much higher number of crash-related complaints (160) and injuries (144) compared to the Century (38 and 36), though this may reflect higher sales and newer models.
- Inspect the brake lines for rust and corrosion, as they can fail suddenly.
- Check the headlight lenses for fogging or discoloration, and test the headlights for intermittent operation.
- Test the forward collision warning and automatic braking systems in a safe area to ensure they don't activate without reason.
- Look for any signs of rodent damage under the hood, especially to wiring harnesses, and check the TPMS for proper function.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the Buick Century's brake lines and headlight assembly for signs of wear or failure.
- For the Honda Accord, ask for a diagnostic scan to check for any stored trouble codes related to the engine or safety systems.
- Test drive both vehicles at highway speeds to see if any warning lights or system malfunctions occur.
- Check the recall status for both vehicles using the VIN and ensure any open recalls are addressed.
- Review the service history for both vehicles, paying attention to any repeated repairs for the issues mentioned.
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 Buick Century or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Century vs Honda Accord
- Buick Century total complaints
- 726
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Buick Century total recalls
- 20
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Buick Century avg complaints/year
- 121.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Buick Century
- Buick Century top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE