Head-to-head reliability
Buick Envision vs Honda Accord
How the Buick Envision 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 Envision vs Honda Accord: The Envision averages 22.5 complaints per year with 10 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord also has 162 crash-related reports versus 8 for the Envision. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Envision or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Envision
The Buick Envision is a compact luxury SUV with a relatively low complaint volume—about 23 per year over a decade—suggesting fewer reported problems than many rivals. However, the complaints that do appear cluster around electrical glitches, brake assist failures, and engine power loss, which can be alarming and expensive. With 10 recalls and 8 crash-related reports, it's not trouble-free, but the overall rate is modest. For a used buyer, it may be a manageable choice if you check the specific trouble spots.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint rate—roughly 452 per year—and a wide range of issues reported. Owners frequently cite engine stalling, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance problems, with 38 recalls and 162 crash-related reports. The volume of complaints means many owners experience problems, though not every car will. A used Accord demands careful inspection and a thorough service history.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Envision | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 225 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 22.5 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 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 Envision
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM66
- 02SERVICE BRAKES49
- 03ENGINE36
- 04POWER TRAIN30
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER28
Owners report sudden loss of all sound, including safety chimes, due to a faulty amplifier, and some experience engine stall with 'Reduced Engine Power' warnings. These glitches can distract or disable safety alerts, making them a real concern.
A 'Service Brake Assist' warning may appear intermittently, and when it does, the brake pedal can become extremely firm, making stopping difficult. This is a serious safety issue that owners say dealers struggle to diagnose.
Complaints include sudden engine stall at low speeds and excessive oil consumption—some owners found no oil on the dipstick before the first recommended change. Both can lead to costly repairs or unsafe driving conditions.
Reports describe loss of power, sluggish acceleration, and a whining noise that worsens over time, sometimes linked to a vacuum sensor. These symptoms can make merging or climbing hills risky.
“We have two problems what we would call safety issues. First, all the sound in the vehicle was lost which included safety belt warning alarm, turn signal bells, door open alarms, etc. We were told by the dealership that it was a faulty amplifier. Secondly, th…”
“Description of Safety Defect: While operating the vehicle at approximately 25-30MPH and make a right turn, the vehicle experienced a sudden and total loss of power/engine stall, accompanied by a "Check Engine" light and a "Reduced Engine Power" notification.…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises while accelerating, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden power loss with multiple dashboard alarms. These issues can strand drivers and indicate complex hybrid system faults.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures are extremely dangerous and undermine confidence in the car.
The system may falsely trigger or fail to operate, with owners reporting unexpected braking or lack of response in potential collisions. This defeats the purpose of the safety feature and could cause accidents.
Some owners note persistent sulfur-like odors and fuel delivery problems, which may indicate fuel pump or emissions issues. These can lead to performance loss and failed inspections.
“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 Envision — 10 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Buick Envision vehicles. The vehicles are missing the label that states the tire size, pressure, and the loading information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Se…
The risk: Missing tire and load rating information may result in driving with improperly inflated tires or an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install the label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2024. Owners may contact Buick Customer Service at 800-521-7300.
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
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 Envision or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Buick Envision has far fewer complaints per year (22.5 vs. 452.4) and fewer recalls, suggesting a lower overall problem rate. In practice, this means an Envision is less likely to visit the shop for unexpected repairs, while an Accord may demand more frequent attention. However, the Envision's issues can still be serious, so neither is risk-free.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Envision averages 22.5 complaints/year vs. Accord's 452.4, a 20-fold difference.
- Recalls: Envision has 10 recalls; Accord has 38, including critical electrical and fuel system items.
- Crash/injury reports: Envision has 8 crash-related and 9 injuries; Accord has 162 crash-related and 146 injuries, plus 3 deaths.
- Top issues: Envision's complaints center on electrical, brakes, and engine; Accord's on engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance.
- Check for intermittent 'Service Brake Assist' warning and test brake pedal firmness—if the pedal feels unusually hard, it could indicate a failing brake assist system.
- Listen for whining noises from the engine bay and test acceleration for sluggishness or sudden power loss, which may point to vacuum sensor or power train issues.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control for false alerts or failures to engage, as owners report dangerous malfunctions.
- Inspect for rough engine transitions between EV and gas modes, rattling noises, and any signs of electrical glitches like simultaneous warning lights.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the Accord's electrical and fuel pump recalls.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds, braking, and turning to check for power loss, brake issues, and warning lights.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brake system, electrical components, and engine for the specific issues reported for each model.
- For the Accord, verify the forward collision avoidance system operation and check for any hybrid system error codes.
- For the Envision, check oil level and look for signs of excessive consumption, and test all interior chimes and warning sounds.
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 Envision | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 10 | 109 |
| 2024 | 12 | 219 |
| 2023 | 25 | 226 |
| 2022 | 26 | 252 |
| 2021 | 23 | 234 |
| 2020 | 11 | 362 |
| 2019 | 23 | 691 |
| 2018 | 14 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 81 | 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 Envision or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Envision vs Honda Accord
- Buick Envision total complaints
- 225
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Buick Envision total recalls
- 10
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Buick Envision avg complaints/year
- 22.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Buick Envision
- Buick Envision top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE