Head-to-head reliability
GMC Acadia vs Honda Accord
How the GMC Acadia 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
GMC Acadia vs Honda Accord: The Acadia averages 193.4 complaints per year, while the Accord has 443.8. The Acadia's top issues are powertrain (618) and electrical (506), while the Accord's are engine (985) and forward collision avoidance (821). Both have recalls, but the Accord has more crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the GMC Acadia or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
GMC Acadia
The GMC Acadia, a midsize SUV, shows a high rate of owner complaints, averaging nearly 200 per year over the past decade. The most frequent issues are in the powertrain and electrical system, with owners reporting overheating warnings, coolant leaks, and premature brake wear. These problems often appear early, sometimes within the first few thousand miles, suggesting potential reliability concerns for buyers.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular sedan, has a higher total number of complaints but also a higher sales volume. Its top issues are engine problems, electrical glitches, and false alerts from forward collision avoidance systems. Owners report noises, sudden loss of power, and intermittent warning messages, which can be unsettling but may not always lead to breakdowns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | GMC Acadia | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,934 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 41 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 193.4 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 45 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.
GMC Acadia
- 01POWER TRAIN618
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM506
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER472
- 04ENGINE240
- 05SERVICE BRAKES164
Owners report overheating warnings and possible engine failure, often with gauges reading normal. Some experience driveline or transmission issues, leading to loss of power or shuddering.
Electrical problems include premature brake pad wear with squealing and fluid leaks, as well as various dashboard warnings. Some owners report issues with the cooling system triggering check engine lights.
Engine complaints include overheating alerts at highway speeds, forcing drivers to pull over. Some owners report coolant leaks and radiator hose failures, leading to potential engine damage if not addressed.
“I purchased this vehicle in June 2024 as a demo vehicle with approximately 7,000 miles on it. Within one month of ownership, the vehicle began experiencing serious problems that have continued to worsen. The vehicle currently has approximately 34,000 miles, a…”
“In the process of taking my daughter to the emergency room I receive a dash notification on my recently purchased 2024 GMC Acadia "car overheating, possible engine failure". My gauges were within normal range and being that I was in an emergency I kept travel…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power while driving, accompanied by multiple warning lights. Some experience critical failures that cause the vehicle to slow down unexpectedly.
Electrical issues include tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings that lead to tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause engine performance problems.
The system can trigger false alerts or warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams. These messages appear intermittently and may distract the driver.
“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.
GMC Acadia — 24 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The certification label located on the driver's side B-pillar contains tire size information that may be illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Sa…
The risk: Illegible tire size information may result in the wrong tires being installed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the vehicle certification label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2022. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's n…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia vehicles. The right-front half-shaft assemblies may be improperly connected to the transmission, causing them to separate.
The risk: Separation between the half-shaft and transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the right-front half-shaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782.…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.
The risk: A half-shaft disengaging from the transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevro…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 GMC Acadia and 2024 Cadilac XT5 and XT6 vehicles. The windshield may have been assembled without the proper urethane sealant required to bond the windshield to the vehicle body.
The risk: A windshield that is not properly bonded may detach during a crash and increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the windshield and apply primer and urethane sealant. If the windshield is damaged, the dealer will replace it. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. Owners…
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
GMC Acadia or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The GMC Acadia has fewer complaints per year (193.4) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but its issues are more concentrated in powertrain and electrical systems, which can be costly. The Accord's higher complaint count is partly due to its larger sales volume, but its problems are more varied, including safety-related driver assistance glitches.
Key differences
- The Acadia's complaints are heavily weighted toward powertrain (618) and electrical (506), while the Accord's top areas are engine (985) and electrical (863), but also a significant number of forward collision avoidance complaints (821).
- The Acadia has 41 crash-related complaints and 45 injuries, whereas the Accord has 160 crash-related and 144 injuries, indicating a higher absolute number of safety-related incidents for the Accord.
- The Accord has 3 reported deaths, while the Acadia has 0, but this may reflect different usage patterns and fleet sizes.
- The Acadia's sample complaints highlight premature brake wear and cooling system failures, while the Accord's sample complaints include sunroof glass explosion and tire failures, showing different failure modes.
- Check for any overheating warnings or coolant leaks, as owners report radiator hose failures and low coolant issues.
- Inspect brake pads and rotors for premature wear, as some owners report significant wear within 8,000 miles.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system for false alerts, as many owners report intermittent warnings.
- Check the condition of wiring harnesses, especially in the engine bay, for signs of rodent damage.
Before you buy
- Ask for the vehicle's complete service history, focusing on any repairs related to the powertrain or electrical system.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, including checking for coolant leaks and brake condition.
- Test drive the vehicle at highway speeds to see if any warning lights appear or if there are unusual noises.
- For the Accord, verify that all recalls have been performed, especially those related to the fuel pump and air bag sensors.
- For the Acadia, check the condition of the upper radiator hose and cooling system for any signs of weakness.
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 | GMC Acadia | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 5 |
| 2025 | 62 | 101 |
| 2024 | 55 | 214 |
| 2023 | 42 | 224 |
| 2022 | 48 | 238 |
| 2021 | 147 | 226 |
| 2020 | 99 | 355 |
| 2019 | 381 | 677 |
| 2018 | 392 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 702 | 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 GMC Acadia or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- GMC Acadia vs Honda Accord
- GMC Acadia total complaints
- 1,934
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- GMC Acadia total recalls
- 24
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- GMC Acadia avg complaints/year
- 193.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- GMC Acadia
- GMC Acadia top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE