Head-to-head reliability
GMC Savana vs Honda Accord
How the GMC Savana 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 Savana vs Honda Accord: The Savana averages about 17 complaints per year and has 34 recalls, while the Accord averages about 452 complaints per year and has 38 recalls. Both have serious reported issues, but the Accord's higher volume means more owner reports. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the GMC Savana or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
GMC Savana
The GMC Savana is a full-size van often used for commercial work or heavy hauling. Over 10 years, it has averaged about 17 complaints per year, with 34 recalls. Owners report issues with the power train, steering, electrical system, and brakes, including hard shifting, power steering hose failures, and trailer brake disconnects. These problems can affect drivability and towing safety, so a thorough inspection is important.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with a much higher complaint rate: about 452 per year over 10 years, plus 38 recalls. The most common complaints involve the engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and fuel system. Owners describe stalling, power steering and brake failures, and unintended automatic braking. These issues can be serious, so checking for open recalls and having a mechanic inspect the car is essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | GMC Savana | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 168 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 34 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 13 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 8 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.
GMC Savana
- 01POWER TRAIN33
- 02STEERING30
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28
- 04SERVICE BRAKES24
- 05ENGINE21
Owners report hard shifting, jerking, and failure to accelerate above 50 MPH, often with 'Reduced Acceleration' and 'DEF Low' messages. This can leave you stranded or unable to keep up with traffic.
Complaints include abnormal shaking at highway speeds over bumps and power steering hoses coming off, causing loss of power steering and brakes. This makes the vehicle hard to control and increases crash risk.
Intermittent loss of trailer brake function is reported, with dashboard alerts that trailer brakes are disconnected. This can reduce braking ability when towing, creating a dangerous situation.
While towing, the truck may intermittently disconnect trailer brakes, leading to a sudden loss of about 75% of braking capability. This is extremely dangerous, especially at highway speeds.
“The contact owns a 2025 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting hard and was jerking while shifting gear. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 50 MPH. The messages “Reduced Acceleration” and “DEF Low” were displa…”
“The contact owns a 2025 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting hard and was jerking while shifting gear. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 50 MPH. The messages “Reduced Acceleration” and “DEF Low” were displa…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure, with the vehicle losing speed and unable to accelerate. Others note rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These can indicate major engine or hybrid system problems.
Complaints include simultaneous failure and lock-up of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing near-collisions. Also, TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure. These are severe safety risks.
Owners describe unintended automatic braking or failure to avoid collisions, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. This can cause sudden stops or fail to prevent a crash, undermining trust in the system.
Issues include persistent rotten-egg/sulfur odor and potential fuel pump problems. While not always safety-critical, these can indicate fuel delivery issues that may lead to stalling or poor performance.
“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.
GMC Savana — 34 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Express Cutaway, and 2025-2026 Savana Cutaway vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a tire with sidewall damage.
The risk: A tire with sidewall damage may experience sudden air loss or driver loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect all tire sidewalls and replace tires with sidewall damage, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 27, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. The gear shifter may provide inaccurate gear selection feedback to the driver due to an incorrectly manufactured steering column assembly.
The risk: Inaccurate gear selection may result in unexpected vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Until the remedy is performed, owners are advised to visually verify the shift position indicator each time a gear is selected and always use the parking brake when the vehicle is parked. Dealers will replace the transmission control on th…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Express, and 2025-2026 Savana vehicles. The steering gear assembly may have a nut that was not properly tightened.
The risk: A loose nut that separates from the steering gear assembly while driving can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering gear assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. Incorrect software in the transmission control module (TCM) may result in harsh shifting, reduced power, unintended deceleration, rear wheel lockup, or cause the vehicle to move in an unintended direc…
The risk: Rear wheel lock-up or moving in an unintended direction can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the transmission control module software calibration, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-80…
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
GMC Savana or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The GMC Savana has far fewer complaints per year (about 17 vs. 452 for the Honda Accord), but both have serious reported issues. The Accord's higher volume means more owners report problems, but the Savana's issues often involve towing and steering. In practice, the Savana may be simpler but still needs careful checks, while the Accord demands attention to recalls and electronic systems.
Key differences
- The GMC Savana averages about 17 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 452 per year, a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- Savana owners report power train shifting problems and trailer brake disconnects, which can affect towing; Accord owners report engine stalling and unintended braking, which can affect everyday driving.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, while the Savana has 13 crash-related complaints and 0 deaths, though these numbers don't prove cause.
- Both have recalls: Savana has 34, including steering and power train software; Accord has 38, including hybrid power control and fuel pump.
- Check for power steering hose recalls or leaks, and test drive over bumps at highway speeds to feel for abnormal shaking.
- Test trailer brake function if equipped, and look for dashboard alerts about trailer brake disconnection; also listen for hard shifting or jerking during acceleration.
- Ask for proof that all recalls are done, especially for hybrid power control software and fuel pump; test the forward collision avoidance system for unexpected braking.
- Listen for rattling noises from the engine and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes; check for rotten-egg odor that could indicate fuel system issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all safety recalls have been repaired by a dealer.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the steering, brakes, and power train, focusing on the specific complaints noted for each model.
- For the GMC Savana, test drive with a trailer if you plan to tow, and check trailer brake wiring and function.
- For the Honda Accord, test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control in a safe area, and check for any warning lights.
- Review NHTSA complaints for the specific model year you are considering to see if issues persist.
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 Savana | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 32 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 36 | 252 |
| 2021 | 10 | 234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 362 |
| 2019 | 26 | 691 |
| 2018 | 15 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 49 | 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 GMC Savana or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- GMC Savana vs Honda Accord
- GMC Savana total complaints
- 168
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- GMC Savana total recalls
- 34
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- GMC Savana avg complaints/year
- 16.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- GMC Savana
- GMC Savana top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE