Head-to-head reliability
Mclaren GT vs Honda Accord
How the Mclaren GT 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
Mclaren GT vs Honda Accord: the McLaren GT has 1 complaint over 7 years (0.1/yr) and 13 recalls, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years (about 452/yr) and 38 recalls. The McLaren's single report is a cracked door hinge; the Accord's include engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mclaren GT or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mclaren GT
The McLaren GT is a low-volume exotic, averaging just 0.1 complaints per year over seven years, so owner-reported failure data is extremely sparse. The single complaint on file is a cracked passenger-side door hinge that caused door misalignment, with the owner fearing the door could fall off. There are 13 recalls covering brakes, fuel tank, air bags, and ABS control modules, but no crashes, injuries, or deaths are recorded in the complaint data. Living with it means dealing with recall campaigns and a known hinge design issue rather than a high volume of recurring owner complaints.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume mainstream sedan with 4,524 complaints over ten years, averaging about 452 per year, plus 38 recalls. Owner reports cluster around engine problems (1,006 complaints), electrical system faults (895), and forward collision avoidance issues (837), with 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths in the data. Sample complaints describe loss of speed with brake and ABS alarms, rough hybrid transitions, and simultaneous power steering and braking failure at highway speed. It is a much more heavily reported vehicle, and the failure patterns span engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mclaren GT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.1 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Mclaren GT
- 01STRUCTURE1
The one owner complaint describes a crack in the passenger-side door hinge that misaligns the door, with the owner worried it could fall off. An independent service center confirmed the crack, and McLaren has acknowledged the problem and redesigned the hinge, so buyers should check whether a given car has the updated part.
“There is a crack in the passenger side door hinge that causes the door to misalign. I fear the door will fall off and cause safety risks. My independent service center confirmed the crack. McLaren has acknowledged the problem and has redesigned the hinge, but…”
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 while losing speed at highway speeds, plus rattling noises under acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas mode. These symptoms point to engine and hybrid control issues that can affect drivability and safety.
Complaints include simultaneous failure and lock-up of electronic power steering and braking at highway speed, and a tire failure shortly after a TPMS warning was serviced. Electrical faults here can disable steering and braking assist, which is a serious concern.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve a threat and unexpected behavior with adaptive cruise control set at highway speed, occurring repeatedly under similar conditions. This matters because driver-assist features are meant to prevent collisions, not introduce unpredictable behavior.
Reports include a persistent rotten-egg sulfur odor that remained after a paid filter replacement and odor treatment, and a foot slipping behind a center console side panel. These are not necessarily safety-critical but indicate build and trim issues owners find frustrating.
“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.
Mclaren GT — 13 recalls
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2020 570S, GT, 2019 600LT, and 2019-2020 720S vehicles. The brake assembly banjo bolt may be missing the holes that supply brake fluid to the caliper, which would cause the brakes to fail on one corner of the vehicle.
The risk: Brake failure in one corner can cause the vehicle to pull to one side during braking, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the banjo bolt, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 1, 2021. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916. McLaren's number for this recall is SRC 00 C 001.
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2016-2020 720S, 2019 Senna, 2020 GT, and 2017-2019 570GT vehicles. The Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) foam pad underneath the fuel tank may retain moisture and corrode the fuel tank, potentially causing a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will remove the NVH foam pad from the vehicle and inspect the fuel tank. If the fuel tank is found to have corrosion, it will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began J…
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2019-2021 McLaren GT vehicles. The driver's air bag and the occupant restraint controller may be improperly connected, which can result in a deactivated driver's air bag that will not deploy in a crash.
The risk: A driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the driver's air bag connection, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a schedule for recall notification. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McClaren) is recalling certain 2020-2025 600LT, 720S, Artura, GT, and GTS vehicles. The brake lines may be routed incorrectly and cause the brakes on the incorrect side to activate, possibly resulting in one of the rear wheels locking up.
The risk: A rear wheel locking condition may cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and correct the brake line connections as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 21, 2025. Owners may contact McClaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
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
Mclaren GT or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The McLaren GT has far fewer issues per year (0.1 complaints/year) than the Honda Accord (about 452/year), but that gap largely reflects the enormous difference in production volume and reporting. In practice, the McLaren's problems are a narrow hinge defect and recall campaigns, while the Accord's are broad engine, electrical, and driver-assist failures reported by many owners.
Key differences
- The McLaren GT's only owner complaint is a cracked passenger door hinge causing misalignment, while the Accord's complaints span engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance systems.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths in the complaint data; the McLaren GT has zero in all three categories.
- The McLaren GT has 13 recalls over seven years, including brakes, fuel tank, air bags, and ABS modules; the Accord has 38 recalls over ten years, including hybrid power control software, seat belt retractors, and fuel pumps.
- Accord owners report simultaneous loss of power steering and braking at highway speed, a failure mode not present in the McLaren GT's single complaint.
- Inspect the passenger-side door hinge for cracks or misalignment, and confirm whether the redesigned hinge has been installed.
- Check recall completion for brakes, fuel tank, air bags, and ABS control module campaigns before purchase.
- Test-drive at highway speed and watch for brake, hill descent, ABS, or critical failure alarms, and listen for rattling under acceleration or jerking between EV and gas mode.
- Check for electronic power steering and braking faults, and verify TPMS repairs were properly completed, since a tire failure was reported shortly after a TPMS service.
Before you buy
- For the McLaren GT, obtain the full recall history and confirm the door hinge has been inspected or replaced with the redesigned part.
- For the Honda Accord, scan for stored engine, ABS, and power steering codes and test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems.
- On the Accord, verify hybrid system software updates and fuel pump recall completion, and check for sulfur odors or trim panel gaps.
- On both vehicles, request service records and have a independent mechanic inspect the specific components named in the complaints 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 | Mclaren GT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 0 | 234 |
| 2020 | 1 | 362 |
| 2019 | 0 | 691 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Mclaren GT or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mclaren GT vs Honda Accord
- Mclaren GT total complaints
- 1
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mclaren GT total recalls
- 13
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mclaren GT avg complaints/year
- 0.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mclaren GT
- Mclaren GT top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE