Head-to-head reliability

Maserati Grecale vs Honda Accord

How the Maserati Grecale and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Maserati Grecale4 complaints · 7 recalls Fewer issues per year
Honda Accord4,438 complaints · 38 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Maserati Grecale vs Honda Accord: The Grecale has 1 complaint per year and 7 recalls, while the Accord has 443.8 complaints per year and 38 recalls. Grecale owners report self-locking and Park failures, while Accord owners face engine and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The picture

Is the Maserati Grecale or Honda Accord more reliable?

A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.

Maserati Grecale

The Maserati Grecale is a low-volume luxury SUV with a small owner base, and its complaint history is sparse but concerning. Owners report issues with the vehicle locking itself unexpectedly, sometimes with keys inside, and a recurring problem where the car refuses to shift into Park despite being stopped, with dashboard warnings. These are not just annoyances—they can leave drivers stranded or pose risks if children or pets are inside. The recall history focuses on software for backup prevention and headlights, suggesting electronic gremlins are a theme.

Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is a high-volume sedan with a decade of data, showing a much higher complaint rate per year, but that's partly due to its popularity. The dominant issues are engine problems, electrical system failures, and forward collision avoidance glitches. Owners report alarming incidents like sudden loss of speed with multiple warning lights, tire failures after TPMS service, and even a sunroof exploding. While many complaints may be from recent model years, the sheer number and variety of issues indicate potential reliability concerns that buyers should investigate.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryMaserati GrecaleHonda Accord
Total complaintsAll model years combined4 Better4,438
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns7 Better38
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints0 Better160
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years1.0 Better443.8
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better144
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better3

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 Grecale

  1. 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
  2. 02POWER TRAIN1
  3. 03VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
  4. 04SERVICE BRAKES1
  5. 05LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
What these mean
Latches/Locks/Linkages

Owners report the car locks itself automatically, sometimes with the keys inside, which can strand the driver or trap children/pets. The dealer confirmed the issue but had no fix, indicating a persistent electronic locking fault.

Power Train

A common complaint is the car refusing to go into Park, with the park button flickering and a false 'too fast' message even when stopped. This can prevent the driver from leaving the vehicle or cause safety concerns if it rolls.

Vehicle Speed Control

The same Park-related issue is reported under speed control, suggesting a software or sensor problem that misinterprets vehicle speed, potentially affecting other speed-dependent systems.

Service Brakes

Brake-related complaints also tie back to the Park issue, indicating that the braking system may not communicate properly with the transmission, leading to safety-critical failures.

In owners' words — UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR KEEPS LOCKING ITSELF, SOMETIMES WITH THE KEYS INSIDE. It is available for inspection. This issue is a major problem as the driver can be left stranded or if there are young children or pets in the car. The dealer has confirmed the problem and has no solut…

Honda Accord

  1. 01ENGINE985
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
  3. 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
  5. 05SERVICE BRAKES592
What these mean
Engine

Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights (brake, ABS, hill descent) at highway speeds, which can be terrifying and dangerous. Some complaints mention engine failure that could lead to stalling.

Electrical System

Electrical issues range from TPMS warnings that lead to catastrophic tire failure to rodent damage on wiring harnesses. These can cause unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs, especially if wiring is chewed.

Forward Collision Avoidance

The system can malfunction, showing false warnings or failing to work correctly. Owners report intermittent messages about adaptive cruise, lane keeping, and automatic high beams, which can be distracting and undermine trust in safety features.

Service Brakes

Brake-related complaints include the vehicle losing speed and critical failure warnings, which may be linked to the engine or electrical issues. This is a serious safety concern if brakes fail unexpectedly.

In owners' words — ENGINE

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.

Maserati Grecale — 7 recalls

Back Over Prevention — Software
#24V892000

The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Grecale and 2024 GranTurismo vehicles. The Central Vision Park Assist Module (CVPAM) software may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…

The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

The fix: Dealers will update the CVPAM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2024. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is 761.

Back Over Prevention — Software
#25V098000

The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Grecale, 2023-2025 MC20 Cielo, 2024 Granturismo, GranCabrio, 2021-2024 Levante, Ghibli, Quattroporte, and 2022-2025 MC 20 vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail…

The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: The radio software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 10, 2025. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is…

Exterior Lighting — Headlights
#25V722000

The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Grancabrio, 2024-2025 Granturismo, and 2023-2025 Grecale vehicles. The headlights may be missing adjustment prevention caps, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with t…

The risk: Improperly aimed headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, reducing the driver's visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Maserati North America will inspect and, if necessary, install one or two caps to cover the horizontal headlight aim adjustment mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 25, 2025. Owners may contact Maserat…

Exterior Lighting — Headlights
#25V722000

The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Grancabrio, 2024-2025 Granturismo, and 2023-2025 Grecale vehicles. The headlights may be missing adjustment prevention caps, which can allow the headlights to be improperly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with t…

The risk: Improperly aimed headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, reducing the driver's visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Maserati North America will inspect and, if necessary, install one or two caps to cover the horizontal headlight aim adjustment mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 25, 2025. Owners may contact Maserat…

Honda Accord — 38 recalls

Electrical System — Propulsion System — Hybrid Management — Power Control Unit/Module (Hpcu) — Software
#25V785000

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…

Tires — Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
#26V366000Apr 2026

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…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — Control Unit/Module
#23V430000

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.

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#24V064000Jan 2024

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 Grecale or Honda Accord: which should you buy?

The Maserati Grecale has far fewer complaints per year (1.0) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but that's partly due to its low sales volume. The Accord's issues are more numerous and varied, but many are from recent models and may not affect all years. In practice, the Grecale's problems are more electronic and can leave you stranded, while the Accord's issues range from engine to electrical, but the sheer volume suggests a higher likelihood of encountering a problem.

Recommendation. If you prioritize low complaint frequency and are willing to accept potential electronic gremlins, the Maserati Grecale might be worth considering, but be prepared for possible lockouts and Park failures. If you want a more mainstream vehicle with a vast support network and are willing to research model years with fewer issues, the Honda Accord could be a safer bet, but check for engine and electrical problems.

Key differences

  • The Grecale has a rare but serious issue of self-locking with keys inside, while the Accord has no such reports.
  • The Accord has a high number of engine and electrical complaints, including sudden power loss and tire failures, which are not seen in the Grecale.
  • The Grecale's recalls focus on software for backup prevention and headlights, while the Accord's recalls cover hybrid control units, spare tires, ABS modules, airbag sensors, and fuel pumps.
  • The Accord's forward collision avoidance system is a frequent source of complaints, whereas the Grecale has no such reports.
Watch on Maserati Grecale
  • Test the locking system thoroughly: ensure the car doesn't lock itself with the keys inside, and check if the dealer has a fix for the self-locking issue.
  • Verify the Park function works reliably: try shifting into Park multiple times, especially after stopping, and watch for any flickering or warning messages.
Watch on Honda Accord
  • Listen for unusual engine noises and check for any warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent, as these could indicate a serious engine or electrical problem.
  • Inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage, especially if the car is parked outdoors, and check the tire pressure monitoring system for proper function to avoid sudden tire failures.

Before you buy

  • For the Grecale: ask the dealer for any software updates related to the recalls and confirm they are applied.
  • For the Accord: check the vehicle's recall status and ensure all recalls are performed, especially the fuel pump and airbag sensor recalls.
  • For the Accord: test the forward collision avoidance system on a safe road to see if it gives false warnings.
  • For both: have a trusted mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on electrical systems and brakes.
  • For both: check the vehicle's service history for any recurring issues and see if they were resolved.

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.

YearMaserati GrecaleHonda Accord
202605
20250101
20240214
20234224
Years to scrutinize: the 2018 Honda Accord drew the most (1,864). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Grecale or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Maserati Grecale vs Honda Accord — comparison facts
Comparison
Maserati Grecale vs Honda Accord
Maserati Grecale total complaints
4
Honda Accord total complaints
4,438
Maserati Grecale total recalls
7
Honda Accord total recalls
38
Maserati Grecale avg complaints/year
1.0
Honda Accord avg complaints/year
443.8
More reliable overall
Maserati Grecale
Maserati Grecale top complaint area
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Honda Accord top complaint area
ENGINE