Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Nv200 vs Honda Accord
How the Nissan Nv200 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
Nissan Nv200 vs Honda Accord: Over 10 years, the NV200 had 87 complaints (8.7/year) and 11 recalls, while the Accord had 4,438 complaints (443.8/year) and 38 recalls. The NV200's top issue is air bags (26), the Accord's is engine (985). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Nv200 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Nv200
The Nissan NV200 is a compact commercial van often used for work or family transport. Over 10 years, it has 87 complaints (8.7 per year) and 11 recalls, with air bags being the most complained-about component (26 complaints). Owners report issues like air bag warning lights, fuel pump failures, and electrical problems, but the overall complaint rate is low. This suggests that while problems exist, they are relatively infrequent compared to the Honda Accord.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 4,438 complaints over 10 years (443.8 per year) and 38 recalls. The most common complaints involve engine issues (985), electrical system problems (863), and forward collision avoidance (821). Owners describe serious symptoms like loss of power, brake system failures, and false warnings from driver-assist features. This high complaint rate indicates that many owners experience significant reliability and safety concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Nv200 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 87 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 8.7 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 8 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.
Nissan Nv200
- 01AIR BAGS26
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER21
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM10
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
- 05ENGINE6
Owners report air bag warning lights and unexpected deployment issues, such as a passenger-side air bag deploying at low speed. This matters because air bag malfunctions can affect safety in a crash and may be costly to diagnose.
Complaints include fuel splashing out during refueling due to a narrow intake port, and electrical failures inside the fuel tank that pose a fire hazard. These issues can lead to fuel spills or dangerous electrical shorts.
Owners describe ECM communication faults and electrical failures related to the fuel tank, sometimes after recall repairs. These can cause stalling or fire risks, making diagnosis and repair challenging.
While fewer complaints (6), engine issues may include communication errors with the ECM/PCM that affect drivability. Buyers should be aware that engine-related faults can be intermittent and hard to trace.
“OUR COMPANY HAS A 2018 NV 200, A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE WITH 100,000 MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER COMMERCIAL NISSAN WARRANTY. THERE ARE ABOUT 58,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. ON JANUARY, 26, 2021 WHILE DRIVING ON A SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROAD AT 5 MILES AN HOUR, THE PASSENGER SIDE…”
“2015 NISSAN NV200 SV 78,000 MILES. DRIVER HAD MOVED VEHICLE INTO GARAGE, PARKED VEHICLE WITH A SLIGHT ANGLE TO THE STEERING. DRIVER COULD NOT REMEMBER IF VEHICLE WAS RUNNING OR KEY IN IGNITION IN 'ON' POSITION. WEATHER STRIPPING ON DRIVER'S DOOR WAS LOOSE AND…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple system alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) that can cause the vehicle to lose speed. These symptoms suggest potential engine or sensor failures that could strand a driver.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical gremlins can lead to safety-critical failures like tire blowouts or engine shutdowns.
Many owners experience intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, sometimes with no obstruction. These false alerts can distract the driver and may indicate sensor or software problems.
Brake-related complaints often involve ABS or traction control module failures, leading to warning lights and reduced braking assistance. This is a critical safety concern that should be addressed immediately.
“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.
Nissan Nv200 — 11 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2021 NV200 Van, 2014-2017, 2019 NV200 Taxi, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet City Express vehicles. The Fuel Tank Temperature (FTT) sensor harness may have been incorrectly routed, damaging wires and causing a short circuit in the fuel pump fuse.
The risk: A blown fuel pump fuse can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reroute the FTT sensor harness or replace the fuel pump assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbe…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2021 NV200 Van, 2014-2017, 2019 NV200 Taxi, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet City Express vehicles. The Fuel Tank Temperature (FTT) sensor harness may have been incorrectly routed, damaging wires and causing a short circuit in the fuel pump fuse.
The risk: A blown fuel pump fuse can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reroute the FTT sensor harness or replace the fuel pump assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbe…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2021 NV200 Van, 2014-2017, 2019 NV200 Taxi, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet City Express vehicles. The Fuel Tank Temperature (FTT) sensor harness may have been incorrectly routed, damaging wires and causing a short circuit in the fuel pump fuse.
The risk: A blown fuel pump fuse can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reroute the FTT sensor harness or replace the fuel pump assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbe…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2021 NV200 Van, 2014-2017, 2019 NV200 Taxi, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet City Express vehicles. The Fuel Tank Temperature (FTT) sensor harness may have been incorrectly routed, damaging wires and causing a short circuit in the fuel pump fuse.
The risk: A blown fuel pump fuse can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reroute the FTT sensor harness or replace the fuel pump assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbe…
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
Nissan Nv200 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Nissan NV200 has far fewer complaints per year (8.7) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), meaning owners of the NV200 report problems much less frequently. However, the Accord's higher volume may reflect its larger sales, but the sheer number of complaints still indicates a higher likelihood of encountering issues. In practice, the NV200 may be a simpler, more reliable choice for those prioritizing low complaint rates.
Key differences
- The Honda Accord has 4,438 complaints over 10 years versus 87 for the Nissan NV200, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Air bags are the top complaint for the NV200 (26), while the Accord's top issue is engine (985), indicating different failure patterns.
- The Accord has 160 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, while the NV200 has 5 crash-related and 0 deaths, though these numbers are not directly comparable due to volume differences.
- Recalls: NV200 has 11, mostly for fuel pump control module; Accord has 38, covering electrical, brakes, air bags, and fuel pump.
- Check for air bag warning lights and ask if any air bag recalls or repairs have been done, as owners report unexpected deployments.
- Inspect the fuel filler neck for signs of fuel splashing and ask about any fuel pump or electrical issues, especially if the vehicle had recall PMA56 performed.
- Listen for engine noises and check for any stored fault codes related to the engine, ABS, or forward collision avoidance systems.
- Inspect tires for uneven wear or damage, and verify that TPMS sensors are functioning, as owners report tire failures after TPMS warnings.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to see if all recalls have been addressed, especially for the NV200's fuel pump and the Accord's electrical and brake recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the air bag system on the NV200 and the engine/electrical systems on the Accord for any pending fault codes.
- Test drive the vehicle at highway speeds to check for loss of power or false warnings in the Accord, and for any unusual noises in the NV200.
- Check the fuel filler area on the NV200 for signs of fuel spillage and ensure the fuel cap seals properly.
- For the Accord, verify that driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping work consistently without intermittent errors.
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 | Nissan Nv200 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 4 | 226 |
| 2020 | 1 | 355 |
| 2019 | 9 | 677 |
| 2018 | 14 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 7 | 534 |
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 Nissan Nv200 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Nv200 vs Honda Accord
- Nissan Nv200 total complaints
- 87
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Nissan Nv200 total recalls
- 11
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Nv200 avg complaints/year
- 8.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Nv200
- Nissan Nv200 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE