Head-to-head reliability
Ferrari 458 Italia vs Honda Accord
How the Ferrari 458 Italia 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
Ferrari 458 Italia vs Honda Accord: The Ferrari has only 6 complaints over 8 years (0.8/yr) but 14 recalls, while the Accord has 4438 complaints over 10 years (443.8/yr) and 38 recalls. The Ferrari's issues are safety-critical (airbags, fuel), while the Accord's are more varied. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Ferrari 458 Italia or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Ferrari 458 Italia
The Ferrari 458 Italia is a low-volume exotic with a very low complaint rate (0.8 per year), but its issues are concentrated in safety-critical areas like airbags and fuel system. Owners report frustrating delays in getting Takata airbag recalls fixed, and fuel filler problems that can lead to fuel spillage during spirited driving. While the car has many recalls (14), the actual number of owner complaints is tiny, suggesting that most owners do not encounter major problems. However, the ones that do occur are serious enough to warrant attention.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint rate (443.8 per year), reflecting its popularity and the breadth of reported issues. Owners report a wide range of problems, from engine and electrical system failures to advanced driver assistance system glitches. The high number of crash-related complaints (160) and injuries (144) is concerning, though it may partly reflect the larger owner population. Overall, the Accord shows a pattern of more frequent and varied reliability issues compared to the Ferrari.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Ferrari 458 Italia | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 6 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.8 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 144 |
| 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.
Ferrari 458 Italia
- 01AIR BAGS3
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
- 03FUEL SYSTEM1
- 04GASOLINE1
- 05SERVICE BRAKES1
Owners report being unable to get Takata airbag recalls completed due to parts unavailability, leaving them worried about safety in a crash. This is a critical issue because the airbag may not deploy properly or could deploy with excessive force.
Several owners report fuel filler flap not closing, leading to fuel spillage during cornering, and others report being unable to add fuel at all. This can be a fire hazard and is a practical annoyance for a car that requires frequent refueling.
While no specific owner complaints are provided, the multiple recalls for hydraulic brakes suggest potential issues with brake performance or failure, which is critical for any vehicle.
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FERRARI 458 ITALIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V341000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT…”
“FERRARI DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE URGENT SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG. I AM WORRIED FOR MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY FAMILY IN CASE OF A CRASH.”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power accompanied by warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. This suggests potential engine or drivetrain failures that could leave drivers stranded or unable to accelerate safely.
Issues include TPMS warnings leading to tire failure and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, causing electrical malfunctions. These can affect safety systems and lead to unexpected breakdowns.
Owners report the system falsely activating or showing intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. This can be distracting and may cause the vehicle to brake unexpectedly, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions.
While specific complaints are not detailed, the high number of complaints and recalls for brakes suggests potential issues with braking performance or the antilock system, which is critical for safety.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“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…”
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.
Ferrari 458 Italia — 14 recalls
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2010-2015 458 Italia, 2012-2015 458 Spider, 2014-2015 458 Speciale, 2015 458 Speciale Aperta, 2016-2019 488 GTB, and 488 Spider vehicles. The brake system may leak brake fluid, resulting in a loss of braking ability.
The risk: Loss of braking ability increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this rec…
The defect: Ferrari North America (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2014 Ferrari California, 2014-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 2014-2016 Ferrari FF, 2014-2017 Ferrari F12, 2015-2018 Ferrari California T, 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A, 2016 Ferrari F60 America, 2016-2017 Ferrari F12 tdf, 2016-2018 Ferrari 48…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-866-551-2828. Ferrari's number for this recall is…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2010-2015 458 Italia, 2012-2015 458 Spider, 2014-2015 458 Speciale, 2015 458 Speciale Aperta, 2016-2019 488 GTB, and 488 Spider vehicles. The brake system may leak brake fluid, resulting in a loss of braking ability.
The risk: Loss of braking ability increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software, at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this rec…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2009-2011 California and 2010-2011 458 Italia vehicles equipped with non-desiccated, passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Taka…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly with an alternate one, including a new non-ammonium nitrate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ferrari cust…
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 (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
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
Ferrari 458 Italia or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Ferrari 458 Italia has far fewer complaints per year (0.8) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower frequency of owner-reported issues. However, the Ferrari's issues are more safety-critical, such as airbag and fuel system problems, while the Accord's issues are more varied and numerous. In practice, the Ferrari may be more reliable in terms of complaint count, but the Accord's problems are more common and could affect daily usability.
Key differences
- The Ferrari has a very low complaint rate (0.8/yr) but its complaints are concentrated in airbags and fuel system, with owners reporting delays in recall repairs and fuel spillage.
- The Honda has a high complaint rate (443.8/yr) with a wide range of issues, including engine failures, electrical glitches, and false forward collision warnings.
- The Ferrari has 14 recalls, many for brakes and airbags, while the Honda has 38 recalls, including for fuel pumps and electrical systems.
- The Honda has 160 crash-related complaints and 144 injuries, whereas the Ferrari has none, but this may reflect the much larger owner population of the Accord.
- Check for open Takata airbag recalls and ensure they have been completed, as parts may have been unavailable.
- Inspect the fuel filler flap for proper closure and test refueling to ensure no fuel spillage occurs during cornering.
- Check for any engine warning lights or unusual noises, and have the engine and electrical systems inspected for potential failures.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system to ensure it does not activate falsely, and check for any pending recalls related to brakes or fuel pump.
Before you buy
- For the Ferrari: verify all recalls have been performed, especially airbag and brake recalls, and get a pre-purchase inspection from a Ferrari specialist.
- For the Honda: check the vehicle's recall status and ensure any outstanding recalls are addressed, particularly for fuel pump and electrical issues.
- For the Ferrari: test the fuel filler operation and look for signs of fuel leaks or spillage.
- For the Honda: test all driver assistance features (adaptive cruise, lane keep, etc.) to ensure they work correctly and do not show intermittent warnings.
- For both: obtain a vehicle history report and have a trusted mechanic perform a thorough inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
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 | Ferrari 458 Italia | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 534 |
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 Ferrari 458 Italia or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Ferrari 458 Italia vs Honda Accord
- Ferrari 458 Italia total complaints
- 6
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Ferrari 458 Italia total recalls
- 14
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Ferrari 458 Italia avg complaints/year
- 0.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Ferrari 458 Italia
- Ferrari 458 Italia top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE