Head-to-head reliability
Buick Enclave vs Honda Accord
How the Buick Enclave 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 Enclave vs Honda Accord: The Enclave averages 45.2 complaints per year with 14 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints with 38 recalls. Enclave owners report air bag and brake failures; Accord owners report engine and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Enclave or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Enclave
The Buick Enclave is a large three-row SUV that averages about 45 complaints per year over a decade, with 14 recalls. Owners most often report air bag non-deployment in crashes, sudden brake failure, and engine stalling or hesitation. While the total complaint count is lower than some rivals, the nature of these issues—especially air bags and brakes—means they can be serious if they occur.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume: about 452 per year, plus 38 recalls. The most common trouble spots are engine problems, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance systems that may brake unexpectedly or fail to respond. With 3 deaths and 146 injuries reported, the data suggests a broader range of safety-related complaints than the Enclave.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Enclave | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 452 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 24 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 45.2 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 20 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.
Buick Enclave
- 01AIR BAGS153
- 02SERVICE BRAKES60
- 03ENGINE60
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM58
- 05POWER TRAIN53
Owners report air bags failing to deploy in front and side impacts, even when seatbelts also fail to lock. This is the top complaint category, with 153 reports, and could leave occupants without expected crash protection.
Drivers describe sudden brake failure at low speeds, often with 'Brake Assist Failure' and 'Service ESC' warnings. Others report grinding brakes shortly after purchase, requiring repeated dealer visits.
Complaints include loss of power at highway speeds, inability to shift out of park, and hesitation from the auto stop-start feature when accelerating from a stop. These issues can strand drivers or create dangerous gaps in traffic.
Owners report headlights and brake lights failing due to electrical faults, and tailgates randomly opening—sometimes while driving. These glitches can affect visibility and safety, and may be costly to diagnose.
“The contact owned a 2025 Buick Enclave. While the contact’s daughter was driving through an intersection on a green light at an undisclosed speed, a truck crashed into the front driver’s side of the vehicle. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. The con…”
“Motor vehicle accident 12/9/2023 in which I was struck from behind by fast moving vehicle, and forced into vehicle directly in front of my vehicle. No driver airbag deployment, nor did my seatbelt lock, as verified by responding officer.”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
With 1,006 complaints, owners report sudden power loss, multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS), and rattling noises during acceleration. Some also note rough transitions between electric and gas modes in hybrids.
Reports include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as tire pressure monitoring issues that may not be resolved by dealers. These failures can be sudden and dangerous.
Drivers describe the system braking unexpectedly or failing to intervene when needed, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. With 837 complaints, this is a major concern for those relying on driver-assist features.
Complaints include fuel pump failures and propulsion issues, especially in hybrid models. These can cause stalling or loss of power, and may be tied to recalls for fuel delivery and hybrid software.
“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.
Buick Enclave — 14 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
The risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the air bag calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 29, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
The risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. Th…
The risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increa…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267,…
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
Buick Enclave or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Buick Enclave has far fewer complaints per year (45.2 vs. 452.4) and fewer recalls (14 vs. 38), suggesting a lower overall rate of reported problems. However, the Enclave's complaints often involve critical safety systems like air bags and brakes, so the lower count doesn't automatically mean fewer serious incidents. In practice, the Accord's higher volume means a buyer is more likely to encounter a reported issue, but the Enclave's issues can be just as severe when they occur.
Key differences
- The Buick Enclave averages 45.2 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 452.4—ten times more reported issues annually.
- Enclave owners most often report air bag non-deployment and sudden brake failure; Accord owners report engine power loss, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- The Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries in its complaint data, compared to 0 deaths and 20 injuries for the Enclave.
- Recalls differ: Enclave recalls include air bag curtains and sensors, while Accord recalls cover hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, and seat belt retractors.
- Check for any history of air bag deployment or warning lights—owners report non-deployment in crashes, so have a mechanic verify the air bag system and seatbelt pretensioners.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including at low speeds, and look for 'Brake Assist Failure' or 'Service ESC' messages; also listen for grinding noises that may indicate premature wear.
- Scan for stored engine and electrical fault codes, especially related to power loss, steering, or braking; owners report simultaneous failures of these systems at highway speeds.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems on a test drive to ensure they don't brake unexpectedly or fail to alert; also check for fuel pump recall completion.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially air bag and brake recalls for the Enclave and hybrid/fuel pump recalls for the Accord.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the air bag system, seatbelts, and brakes on the Enclave, and the engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems on the Accord.
- During a test drive, deliberately test the brakes, acceleration, and any driver-assist features to reproduce reported symptoms like hesitation, warning lights, or unexpected braking.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, focusing on brake repairs, electrical fixes, and any software updates for the Accord's hybrid or safety systems.
- Check for open recalls by VIN with a dealer and ensure any outstanding safety campaigns are addressed before purchase.
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 | Buick Enclave | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 10 |
| 2025 | 38 | 109 |
| 2024 | 7 | 219 |
| 2023 | 21 | 226 |
| 2022 | 13 | 252 |
| 2021 | 26 | 234 |
| 2020 | 59 | 362 |
| 2019 | 42 | 691 |
| 2018 | 65 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 179 | 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 Buick Enclave or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Enclave vs Honda Accord
- Buick Enclave total complaints
- 452
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Buick Enclave total recalls
- 14
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Buick Enclave avg complaints/year
- 45.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Buick Enclave
- Buick Enclave top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE