Head-to-head reliability
Maserati Ghibli vs Honda Accord
How the Maserati Ghibli 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
Maserati Ghibli vs Honda Accord: The Ghibli averages 6.1 complaints per year with 26 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord has 162 crash-related reports and 146 injuries; the Ghibli has 6 crash-related reports and 2 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Maserati Ghibli or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Maserati Ghibli
The Maserati Ghibli is a luxury sedan with low complaint volume but a pattern of serious, recurring issues. Over 10 years, it averages 6.1 complaints per year, with 26 recalls and 6 crash-related reports. Owners frequently describe transmission slipping, unintended acceleration, and engine seizure, often after recall work. Living with one means expecting expensive, intermittent faults that can affect drivability and safety.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a very high complaint count—452.4 per year—but that reflects its huge sales volume. The 4,524 complaints over 10 years include 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. Common owner reports involve engine stalling, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions. It is a high-volume vehicle with a broad mix of issues, some serious.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Maserati Ghibli | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 61 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 6 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.1 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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.
Maserati Ghibli
- 01POWER TRAIN12
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
- 03ENGINE10
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10
- 05SERVICE BRAKES8
Owners report loud clunking noises from the steering and transmission, and after a recall flash, the car fails to accelerate properly with gears slipping. These symptoms can leave you unable to merge or maintain speed, and repairs may be costly and repeat.
Multiple complaints describe unintended acceleration, including one where the car accelerated to 120 mph and brakes failed to slow it. This is a severe safety concern that can happen without warning, even after purchase.
A 2020 Ghibli owner reported the engine suddenly seized while driving, causing a sudden loss of power in traffic. Engine seizure can lead to a complete breakdown and a very expensive replacement.
Owners describe the car independently accelerating, sometimes after making a turn, and the brake pedal not responding. This makes the car unpredictable and dangerous in everyday driving.
“I HAVE COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT NOISE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRANSMISSION. THE CAR SINCE PURCHASED ON 2016 HAS BEEN OUT FOR SERVICE 62 DAYS. I REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES A LOUD KLUNK NOISE ON THE STEERING AND ON THE , TOOK IT TO R…”
“AFTER 365 IGNITION FLASH RECALL, THE CAR STARTED TO FAIL TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY ON DEMAND WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. I FELT LIKE THE GEARS WERE SLIPPING, DID NOT ENGAGE THE PROPER GEAR ON ACCELERATION. CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE SPEED INSTEAD OF INCREASING S…”
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. Others hear rattling noises while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can strand you or cause expensive repairs.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and a tire failure shortly after a TPMS service. Such failures can lead to loss of control and crashes.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions, such as adaptive cruise control suddenly braking or not reacting. This undermines a key safety feature you might rely on.
Reports include persistent rotten-egg odors and a foot slipping behind a plastic side panel, which could interfere with pedal control. These odd issues can be hard to diagnose and may affect comfort or safety.
“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.
Maserati Ghibli — 26 recalls
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2018 Maserati Quattroporte, Ghibli, and Levante vehicles. The welds on the front sub frame may be incomplete, which can result in the welds breaking.
The risk: If the welds fracture, it can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the sub frame for incomplete welds, replacing the sub frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2…
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2018 Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli vehicles. These vehicles have a fuel delivery pipe in the engine compartment that may leak fuel at the connections.
The risk: A fuel leak within the engine compartment increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will install a new fuel delivery line kit, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737. Maserati's number for thi…
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2017 Quattroporte vehicles equipped with V6 engines and Maserati Ghibli vehicles. Due to an engine software problem, at slow speeds such as stop-and-go traffic, the transmission may unexpectedly shift into neutral or park, or the engine m…
The risk: If the transmission shifts into neutral or park unexpectedly, or if the engine shuts down without warning, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will re-flash the software for the engine control module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737. Maserati's number…
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain model year 2017 Quattroporte and Ghibli vehicles manufactured July 1, 2016, to October 12, 2016. The rear differential unit pinion nut may not have been properly tightened, allowing the pinion nut to loosen.
The risk: A loose pinion gear may bind, possibly resulting in the rear wheels locking up and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear differential unit pinion nut torque, and, as necessary, replace the rear differential unit, free of charge. The recall began on December 30, 2016. Owners may contact Maserati c…
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
Maserati Ghibli or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Maserati Ghibli has far fewer complaints per year (6.1 vs. 452.4), but its issues are often severe and expensive. The Honda Accord’s higher count reflects its much larger sales volume, yet it still has more crash-related reports and injuries. In practice, the Ghibli may be less frequently problematic but costlier when it fails; the Accord may have more widespread but sometimes less catastrophic issues.
Key differences
- The Ghibli averages 6.1 complaints per year; the Accord averages 452.4, but the Accord sells in far greater numbers.
- Ghibli owners report unintended acceleration and engine seizure; Accord owners report stalling, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- The Ghibli has 26 recalls and 6 crash-related reports; the Accord has 38 recalls and 162 crash-related reports.
- Accord complaints include 146 injuries and 3 deaths; Ghibli complaints include 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
- Listen for clunking noises from the steering and transmission during a test drive, and ask for service records related to recall 365 ignition flash.
- Check for any history of unintended acceleration or engine seizure by scanning for stored codes and asking the seller directly about these symptoms.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at low and highway speeds, and look for any warning lights related to ABS, hill descent, or forward collision avoidance.
- Inspect tires for uneven wear or recent TPMS repairs, and check for persistent odors that might indicate fuel or exhaust issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the Ghibli’s ignition flash and the Accord’s fuel pump and hybrid software.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on transmission, engine, and electrical systems.
- During the test drive, deliberately test acceleration, braking, and steering at various speeds to feel for slipping, clunks, or unintended acceleration.
- Ask the seller for all maintenance records and specifically inquire about any repeated repairs for the same issue.
- Check for open recalls by VIN with a dealer and ensure any outstanding safety campaigns are addressed before purchase.
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 | Maserati Ghibli | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 0 | 234 |
| 2020 | 5 | 362 |
| 2019 | 2 | 691 |
| 2018 | 1 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 21 | 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 Maserati Ghibli or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Maserati Ghibli vs Honda Accord
- Maserati Ghibli total complaints
- 61
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Maserati Ghibli total recalls
- 26
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Maserati Ghibli avg complaints/year
- 6.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Maserati Ghibli
- Maserati Ghibli top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE