Head-to-head reliability
Daewoo Leganza vs Honda Accord
How the Daewoo Leganza 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
Daewoo Leganza vs Honda Accord: the Leganza has 366 complaints over 3 years (about 122 per year) and 8 recalls, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years (about 452 per year) and 38 recalls. Leganza reports center on engine and brake lockup; Accord reports span electrical and driver-assist faults. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Daewoo Leganza or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Daewoo Leganza
The Daewoo Leganza is a discontinued sedan with a very high complaint rate for its short sales life: 366 complaints over 3 years, or about 122 per year. Most complaints center on the engine and engine cooling system, often tied to a camshaft position sensor recall that caused check-engine lights and burning smells. Brake and hydraulic complaints describe ABS lights and front wheels locking, including a reported crash. With only 8 recalls and limited parts support, living with a Leganza means chasing unresolved safety issues.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume vehicle with 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 452 per year, but that reflects far more cars on the road. Complaints span engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and fuel systems, with reports of power steering and braking failure, adaptive cruise control surprises, and fuel pump recalls. The Accord has 38 recalls and more crash and injury reports in total, but also a much larger owner base and better long-term parts availability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Daewoo Leganza | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 366 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 122.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Daewoo Leganza
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING303
- 02SERVICE BRAKES27
- 03HYDRAULIC26
- 04AIR BAGS15
- 05POWER TRAIN10
Owners report the check-engine light coming on along with a burning smell, linked to a camshaft position sensor recall. Some say the problem persisted after the recall repair, so a buyer should confirm the fix was done and the light stays off.
Complaints describe the ABS light illuminating and the front wheels locking when braking, including one at highway speed that ended in a front-end collision. This is a serious safety pattern, not just a warning light.
The same ABS-light and wheel-locking complaints appear under hydraulic, often with a recall letter mentioned but problems unresolved. That overlap suggests brake hydraulic faults that may not be fully covered by the recall.
Owners report the airbag light staying on, with one dealer saying the airbag control module needed replacement. A persistent airbag light means the system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs a proper diagnosis.
“IN SEPTEMBER 2004 I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL RELATING TO THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN MY 2001 DAEWOO LEGANZA. THE FAULTY DEVICE WAS SUPPOSED TO CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE (WHICH IT DID), AND A BURNING SMELL AND/OR VISIBLE…”
“RECALL 04V357000 CONCERNING CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, AND A BURNING ODOR WAS SMELLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Complaints include alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure while driving, with the vehicle losing speed. Others report rattling noises under acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas mode, pointing to engine and hybrid control issues.
Owners describe electronic power steering and braking failing and locking up at highway speed, plus a tire failure shortly after a TPMS repair. These are sudden, high-risk electrical faults rather than minor glitches.
Reports say adaptive cruise control and collision-avoidance systems behaved unexpectedly at highway speed, even with no obstruction. That means the driver-assist features can surprise you, so test them carefully.
Fuel pump delivery is a recall subject, and complaints include sulfur-like odors that persisted after paid repairs. A buyer should check whether fuel-pump recalls were completed and whether odors return.
“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.
Daewoo Leganza — 8 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MAY MELT RESULTING IN A BURNING SMELL AND VISIBLE SMOKE, WHICH MAY SUBSEQUENTLY LEAD TO THE MELTING OF THE CAMSHAFT COVER AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WIRE HARNESS.
The risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAEWOO AT 1-877-362-1234, OPTION 6, OR FIND A LOCAL DEALER THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.DAEWOOU…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MAY MELT RESULTING IN A BURNING SMELL AND VISIBLE SMOKE, WHICH MAY SUBSEQUENTLY LEAD TO THE MELTING OF THE CAMSHAFT COVER AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WIRE HARNESS.
The risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUSE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAEWOO PUERTO RICO AT 1-877-362-1234 OPTION 6.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MAY MELT RESULTING IN A BURNING SMELL AND VISIBLE SMOKE, WHICH MAY SUBSEQUENTLY LEAD TO THE MELTING OF THE CAMSHAFT COVER AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WIRE HARNESS.
The risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAEWOO AT 1-877-362-1234, OPTION 6, OR FIND A LOCAL DEALER THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.DAEWOOU…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MAY MELT RESULTING IN A BURNING SMELL AND VISIBLE SMOKE, WHICH MAY SUBSEQUENTLY LEAD TO THE MELTING OF THE CAMSHAFT COVER AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WIRE HARNESS.
The risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUSE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAEWOO PUERTO RICO AT 1-877-362-1234 OPTION 6.
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
Daewoo Leganza or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Daewoo Leganza has far fewer complaints per year (about 122 versus 452 for the Accord), but its complaints concentrate on engine and brake failures with unresolved recalls. The Accord's higher yearly rate comes from a much larger fleet, yet its reported issues include sudden steering and braking loss. In practice, the Leganza is a bigger gamble on parts and recall follow-through, while the Accord needs a careful check of its electronics and recall history.
Key differences
- The Leganza's top complaint is engine and engine cooling (303 of 366), often tied to a camshaft position sensor recall with burning smells; the Accord's top areas are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance spread across many systems.
- Leganza brake and hydraulic complaints describe front wheels locking and a reported crash; Accord electrical complaints describe power steering and braking locking up at highway speed.
- The Accord has 38 recalls including fuel pump and seat belt retractor subjects, while the Leganza has 8 recalls mostly engine-related, so recall paperwork matters more on the Accord.
- The Leganza averages about 122 complaints per year over 3 years; the Accord averages about 452 per year over 10 years, but the Accord's much larger population makes per-car risk hard to compare directly.
- Check that the camshaft position sensor recall was performed and that the check-engine light does not return with a burning smell.
- Test the brakes at low speed and watch for an ABS light or front-wheel lockup; confirm any brake-related recall work was completed.
- During a test drive, watch for sudden warnings for brake, ABS, or hill descent, and confirm power steering and braking feel normal at highway speed.
- Ask for proof that fuel pump and seat belt retractor recalls were completed, and check for persistent sulfur or fuel odors.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN through NHTSA to confirm all open recalls are closed for the specific vehicle.
- On the Leganza, scan for engine codes and verify the camshaft sensor and brake recalls were done.
- On the Accord, test adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning on a safe road, and check for electrical warning lights.
- Have a mechanic inspect brake hydraulics and ABS operation on either car, given the locking complaints.
- Ask for service records showing recall repairs and any repeat visits for the same symptom.
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 Daewoo Leganza or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Daewoo Leganza vs Honda Accord
- Daewoo Leganza total complaints
- 366
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Daewoo Leganza total recalls
- 8
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Daewoo Leganza avg complaints/year
- 122.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Daewoo Leganza
- Daewoo Leganza top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE