Head-to-head reliability
Buick Rendezvous vs Honda Accord
How the Buick Rendezvous 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 Rendezvous vs Honda Accord: The Rendezvous averaged 179 complaints per year over 7 years, while the Accord averaged 452 per year over 10 years. Both have 3 deaths, but the Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs. 68). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Rendezvous or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Rendezvous
The Buick Rendezvous is a mid-size SUV that averaged about 179 complaints per year over seven years, with electrical and engine issues dominating owner reports. Many complaints describe stalling, hesitation, and dashboard lights flickering, which can be unsettling and costly to diagnose. Fuel odors and gauge problems also appear, and there are 18 recalls covering air bags, fuel tank pressure relief, and ignition. Overall, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection and a budget for potential electrical and fuel-system repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with a much higher annual complaint rate—about 452 per year over ten years—but many reports involve advanced driver-assist systems and hybrid components. Owners frequently mention engine rattles, rough hybrid transitions, and sudden warnings from forward collision avoidance or electronic power steering. There are 38 recalls, including hybrid power control software and fuel pump issues. While the Accord has more complaints overall, the types of problems vary widely and some are tied to newer technology.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Rendezvous | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,256 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 68 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 179.4 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 76 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 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 Rendezvous
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM298
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING209
- 03FUEL SYSTEM165
- 04GASOLINE143
- 05SERVICE BRAKES141
Owners report instrument panel lights flashing, doors locking by themselves, and the engine stalling while driving. These electrical glitches can leave you without control and are often hard to trace, leading to repeated shop visits.
Complaints include hesitation during acceleration and intermittent stalling, sometimes linked to ignition relay contamination. A recall addresses this, but if not fixed, the SUV can stall at any speed, which is a serious safety concern.
Drivers notice strong fuel odors and fuel lines under the driver's side that may leak. The fuel gauge also wanders by a quarter tank, making it hard to know how much gas you have left.
With 141 complaints, brake issues are a common theme, though specific symptoms aren't detailed in the sample. Any brake problem on a heavy SUV deserves immediate attention during a pre-purchase inspection.
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN ACCELERATED. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL WHE…”
“I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE LIGHTS ON PANEL WENT CRAZY, DOORS LOCKING BY THEMSELVES, AC LOCKED, RADIO LOCKED, AND THE SECURITY LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND I DIN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVERTHE CAR, IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND TR…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe rattling noises while accelerating, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden loss of speed with multiple alarms. These issues can indicate hybrid system problems that may be expensive to repair.
Reports include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can be terrifying and may require dealer-level diagnostics.
Complaints mention the system activating unexpectedly or failing to resolve threats, even after service visits. This can cause sudden braking or warnings when no obstacle is present, distracting the driver.
Some owners report a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor, which may point to fuel or emissions problems. There is also a recall for fuel pump delivery, so confirm that recall work was completed.
“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 Rendezvous — 18 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYST…
The risk: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMEN…
The fix: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEG…
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: CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYST…
The risk: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMEN…
The fix: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEG…
The defect: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION ON IGNITION RELAY CONTACTS CAN CAUSE HIGH RESISTANCE. THIS CAN AFFECT SIGNALS TO THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND, COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME.
The risk: THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, IT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION RELAY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.
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 Rendezvous or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Buick Rendezvous has far fewer complaints per year (about 179) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Rendezvous's issues often involve stalling and fuel odors that can be immediately dangerous. The Accord's higher complaint count includes many advanced driver-assist and hybrid complaints, which may be less frequent but still serious. In practice, the Rendezvous may need more frequent basic repairs, while the Accord could have complex electronic failures.
Key differences
- The Buick Rendezvous has about 179 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord has about 452 per year, but the Accord's complaints often involve advanced systems like forward collision avoidance.
- Rendezvous owners frequently report stalling and fuel odors, whereas Accord owners report engine rattles, rough hybrid transitions, and sudden electronic failures.
- The Rendezvous has 18 recalls, including air bags and fuel tank pressure relief; the Accord has 38 recalls, including hybrid power control software and fuel pumps.
- Both vehicles have 3 reported deaths, but the Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs. 68) and injuries (146 vs. 76), though these numbers don't account for exposure or miles driven.
- Check for strong fuel odors around the vehicle and inspect fuel lines under the driver's side for leaks or corrosion.
- Test drive at low speeds and watch for hesitation, stalling, or flickering dashboard lights, which could indicate electrical or ignition relay problems.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any rattling noises during acceleration or jerky transitions between EV and gas modes, which could signal hybrid system issues.
- Ask for service records to confirm that recalls for hybrid power control software and fuel pump have been performed, and check for any warning lights related to forward collision avoidance.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls have been repaired, especially for the Rendezvous (ignition, fuel tank) and Accord (hybrid software, fuel pump).
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the specific problem areas: electrical and fuel systems for the Rendezvous, and hybrid/electronic systems for the Accord.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions—highway, city, and stop-and-go—to feel for hesitation, stalling, or unexpected warnings.
- Check for any signs of fuel leaks or odors in the Rendezvous, and for the Accord, verify that driver-assist features like forward collision warning and lane keeping work properly.
- Review the NHTSA complaint database for the specific model year you're considering to see if common issues have been addressed or persist.
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 Rendezvous or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Rendezvous vs Honda Accord
- Buick Rendezvous total complaints
- 1,256
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Buick Rendezvous total recalls
- 18
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Buick Rendezvous avg complaints/year
- 179.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Buick Rendezvous
- Buick Rendezvous top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE