Head-to-head reliability
Buick Verano vs Honda Accord
How the Buick Verano 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 Verano vs Honda Accord: The Verano averaged 73 complaints per year with 15 recalls, while the Accord averaged 452 per year with 38 recalls. Verano owners report power loss and airbag sensor issues; Accord owners report engine stalling and electronic steering/braking failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Verano or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Verano
The Buick Verano is a compact sedan that averaged about 73 complaints per year over six years, with 15 recalls and 19 crash-related reports. Owners frequently describe sudden power loss, hard shifting, and airbag warnings, suggesting electrical and powertrain gremlins that can appear without much warning. It's a car that may need more frequent attention to aging sensors and transmission behavior than its low annual complaint rate implies.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mid-size sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year over ten years—and 38 recalls, including 162 crash-related reports and 3 deaths. Complaints often involve engine stalling, electronic power steering and braking failures, and forward collision avoidance systems activating unexpectedly. While many Accords are reliable, the data shows a wider range of serious safety-related issues that buyers should weigh carefully.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Verano | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 440 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 19 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 73.3 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 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 Verano
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM122
- 02ENGINE109
- 03AIR BAGS93
- 04POWER TRAIN52
- 05STEERING50
Owners report random acceleration declines, near-stalls, and loss of power steering, often with delayed or confusing warning lights. These symptoms can make the car feel unpredictable at speed, so a buyer should test drive and check for stored fault codes.
Complaints include hard shifts from first gear, major transmission failure around 112,000 miles, and stalling that sometimes accompanies power steering loss. These are expensive repairs, so a pre-purchase inspection should focus on transmission smoothness and any history of engine stalling.
Multiple owners mention passenger airbag sensor warnings and a special coverage notice for the passenger presence sensor. Because airbag faults can disable protection in a crash, verify that any open recalls or sensor repairs have been completed.
Reports describe transmission control module failures and loss of power while driving, with some owners noting their vehicle was not covered by a related recall. A buyer should ask for transmission service records and scan for transmission control module codes.
“BEGINNING IN MAY, I STARTED NOTICING ODD DECLINES IN ACCELERATIONS, RANDOMLY, EVEN WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL. THEN, I ALMOST STALLED OUT ON THE ROAD & LOST POWER STEERING. THIS IS DANGEROUS & SCARY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP & REPORTED A HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST…”
“While driving home from work, my car, lost power a few times. Though, the maintenance malfunction light did come on, it was while the issue was occurring. I mention this because, in the car’s manual, it states that the light will come on BEFORE the malfunctio…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failures followed by loss of speed, as well as rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can affect drivability and may require dealer-level diagnostics.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and tire pressure monitoring system warnings that led to a tire failure. Such failures are serious safety concerns, so a buyer should check for any open recalls on hybrid power control software.
Owners describe the system activating unexpectedly under clear conditions, sometimes with adaptive cruise control engaged. This can cause sudden braking or steering inputs, so test the system carefully and check for software updates.
Some complaints mention a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor, which can indicate fuel or emissions issues. While not always safety-critical, it may signal a needed repair, so have the fuel and EV systems inspected.
“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 Verano — 15 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to May 12, 2016, equipped with a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine. The engine fuel line assembly may be misrouted, allowing the fuel line to contact the surface of the engine.
The risk: If the fuel line contacts the engine, the fuel line may wear, resulting in a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line assembly, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 54180.
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011…
The risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011…
The risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011…
The risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-…
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 Verano or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Buick Verano has far fewer complaints per year (about 73) than the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Accord's larger sales volume means raw counts aren't directly comparable. In practice, the Verano's issues tend to cluster around electrical and transmission problems, while the Accord shows a broader mix of engine, electrical, and advanced driver-assist failures. A buyer should prioritize a thorough inspection regardless of which model they choose.
Key differences
- The Verano averages about 73 complaints per year; the Accord averages about 452 per year, though the Accord was sold in much higher numbers.
- Verano owners frequently report power loss, hard shifting, and airbag sensor warnings; Accord owners report engine stalling, electronic steering/braking failure, and forward collision avoidance false activations.
- The Accord has 3 reported deaths and 146 injuries in crash-related complaints, while the Verano has 0 deaths and 17 injuries.
- Both have recalls for electrical and fuel system issues, but the Accord also has recalls for hybrid power control software and seat belt retractors.
- Check for any history of transmission control module failure or hard shifting, especially around 100,000 miles, as owners report major transmission failure.
- Verify that the passenger airbag sensor recall or special coverage has been completed, since owners report airbag warning lights and sensor failures.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds if possible, and ask if the hybrid power control unit software recall was performed.
- Check for forward collision avoidance false activations and any stored codes, as owners report unexpected braking or alerts under clear conditions.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are repaired before purchase.
- Have a trusted mechanic scan for stored fault codes in the engine, transmission, and airbag systems.
- Test drive at highway speeds and in stop-and-go traffic to feel for hesitation, hard shifts, or unexpected braking.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control in clear conditions.
- For the Verano, check the passenger airbag sensor operation and ask about any transmission service history.
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 Verano | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Buick Verano or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Verano vs Honda Accord
- Buick Verano total complaints
- 440
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Buick Verano total recalls
- 15
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Buick Verano avg complaints/year
- 73.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Buick Verano
- Buick Verano top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE