Head-to-head reliability
Maserati MC20 vs Honda Accord
How the Maserati MC20 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 MC20 vs Honda Accord: The MC20 has zero owner complaints over four years, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year over ten years, including 160 crash-related incidents. The Accord's top issues are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance failures, whereas the MC20's recalls are mostly software updates. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Maserati MC20 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Maserati MC20
The Maserati MC20 is a low-volume exotic sports car, and its NHTSA record reflects that: zero owner complaints over four model years, which means there is no real-world failure pattern to point to. The nine recalls are mostly software updates for the backup camera and label corrections, not mechanical or safety-critical defects reported by owners. For a buyer, this is a clean slate—but it also means there's little data to predict long-term reliability, so you're relying on the brand's reputation and warranty rather than owner experience.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume mainstream sedan, and its NHTSA record is extensive: 4,438 complaints over ten years, averaging 443.8 per year, with 160 crash-related incidents, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths. The top problem areas are engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance, and service brakes, with owners describing real failures like engine noises, loss of power, electrical issues, and sudden braking or system warnings. This is a car with known trouble spots that can affect daily driving and safety, so buyers should be aware of the patterns and check for them.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Maserati MC20 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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.
Maserati MC20
No component data available.
There are no NHTSA owner complaints for the MC20, so there is no specific failure pattern to describe. The recalls are mostly software updates for the backup camera and label corrections, not issues owners have reported in the field.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report engine noises and loss of power, with warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS appearing at highway speeds, causing the vehicle to slow down unexpectedly. This can be alarming and potentially dangerous if it happens in traffic.
Complaints include TPMS warnings leading to tire failure and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause electrical malfunctions. These issues may leave you stranded or require costly repairs.
Owners describe the system falsely activating or showing intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. This can cause sudden braking or system unavailability, which is confusing and could lead to a rear-end collision if the driver relies on it.
Brake-related complaints are common, with some tied to the antilock brake system and electronic stability control. Owners report warning lights and loss of braking confidence, which is a critical safety concern.
“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 MC20 — 9 recalls
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2021 Quattroporte, Ghibli, 2021-2022 Levante, and 2022 MC20 vehicles. The fuel line sensor housing may crack and leak fuel.
The risk: A fuel leak may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A fuel leak also increases the risk of fire in the presence of an ignition source.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel line sensor housing, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2021. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is 442.
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2022 MC20 vehicles. The brake lights may malfunction by unintentionally flickering due to faulty rear tail lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, R…
The risk: Flickering brake lights may confuse other drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the tail lights, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this r…
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maserati MC20, and 2023-2024 MC20 Cielo vehicles. The Vehicle Capacity Weight (VCW) on the tire label may state incorrect information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
The risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install corrected labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2024. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-969-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is 730.
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…
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
Maserati MC20 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Maserati MC20 has far fewer issues per year—zero complaints versus 443.8 for the Accord—but that's partly because it's a rare car with limited data. The Accord's complaints are numerous and cover serious systems like engine and brakes, so in practice, the MC20 is likely to give you fewer headaches, but the Accord's issues are well-documented and can be checked before buying.
Key differences
- The MC20 has zero owner complaints, while the Accord has thousands, including reports of engine power loss and brake failures.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance system has 821 complaints about false activations or warnings, which can be a safety nuisance; the MC20 has no such reports.
- The Accord's electrical system issues include wiring damage and tire pressure monitoring failures, while the MC20's recalls are mostly software updates for the backup camera.
- The Accord has 160 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, whereas the MC20 has none on record.
- Since there are no owner complaints, the main red flag is the lack of long-term data—so check the service history for any recall completion and have a pre-purchase inspection by a Maserati specialist.
- Look for evidence that all nine recalls have been performed, especially the backup camera software updates, to ensure the safety systems work as intended.
- Inspect the engine for unusual noises and check for any loss of power during a test drive, as owners report these issues.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system on a safe road to see if it triggers false warnings or brakes unexpectedly, and check for any electrical warning lights, especially TPMS or ABS.
Before you buy
- For the MC20: verify all recalls are completed by checking the VIN on the NHTSA website and ask for service records.
- For the Accord: get a pre-purchase inspection that includes a diagnostic scan for engine and electrical codes, and test drive at highway speeds to check for power loss.
- For the Accord: ask about any history of brake or collision-avoidance system repairs, and check the tires for proper pressure and wear.
- For both: check the vehicle's history report for any accidents or previous complaints, and consider a warranty or extended service plan.
- For the Accord: if possible, choose a model year that has fewer complaints or known fixes for the issues 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 | Maserati MC20 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
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 MC20 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Maserati MC20 vs Honda Accord
- Maserati MC20 total complaints
- 0
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Maserati MC20 total recalls
- 9
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Maserati MC20 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Maserati MC20
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE