Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Versa NOTE vs Honda Accord
How the Nissan Versa NOTE 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 Versa NOTE vs Honda Accord: The Versa NOTE averaged 110 complaints per year over 7 years, with 89 crash-related and 78 injuries, while the Accord averaged 444 complaints per year over 10 years, with 160 crash-related and 144 injuries. The Versa NOTE's top issue is power train, while the Accord's is engine. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Versa NOTE or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Versa NOTE
The Nissan Versa NOTE is a subcompact hatchback with a concerning reliability record. Over 7 years, it averaged 110 complaints per year, with the power train being the most complained-about area. Owners frequently report transmission problems that cause sudden deceleration or loss of acceleration, which can be dangerous. Air bag non-deployment in crashes is also a recurring and serious complaint.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a much higher annual complaint rate—about 444 per year over 10 years. The most common issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance features. Many complaints describe advanced driver-assist systems malfunctioning, sometimes with warnings and loss of power. While the Accord has more recalls, the Versa NOTE has a higher rate of crashes and injuries per complaint.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Versa NOTE | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 773 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 89 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 110.4 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 78 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 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 Versa NOTE
- 01POWER TRAIN248
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER140
- 03AIR BAGS119
- 04ENGINE117
- 05SERVICE BRAKES102
Owners report the transmission downshifting unexpectedly, causing the vehicle to decelerate rapidly from highway speeds. Some also experience a complete loss of acceleration even when pressing the gas pedal to the floor. These failures can leave drivers stranded or create dangerous speed mismatches.
Multiple complaints describe air bags failing to deploy in serious crashes, including front and side impacts. This has resulted in injuries like broken bones and cuts. For a buyer, this raises concerns about occupant protection in a collision.
Some owners report hydrocarbon leaks into the cabin, which can cause health issues and require repeated dealer visits. Others see the check engine light with transmission-related fault codes. These issues can be costly to diagnose and repair.
Brake-related complaints are common, though specific symptoms vary. Owners may experience reduced braking performance or unusual noises. Given the power train issues, brake reliability is critical for safety.
“The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the transmission downshifted, and the vehicle decelerated to 5 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 NISSAN VERSA NOTE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE ENGINE REVVED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) appearing simultaneously. Some vehicles lose speed and cannot accelerate, which is hazardous on highways. These problems often require dealer diagnosis and can be intermittent.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings that lead to tire failure shortly after service, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new cars. Electrical gremlins can cause safety systems to malfunction and are often hard to trace.
Many owners report that adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams show error messages and stop working intermittently. In some cases, the system may brake unexpectedly or fail to intervene. This undermines driver confidence in the car's safety features.
This category includes serious issues like sunroof glass shattering spontaneously and tire failures after TPMS service. These unpredictable failures can cause crashes or injuries, and they add to ownership frustration.
“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 Versa NOTE — 11 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over t…
The risk: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018 Nissan Versa Note vehicles. During deployment of the side curtain air bag, a component of the air bag inflator may detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) num…
The risk: If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
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 Versa NOTE or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Nissan Versa NOTE has far fewer complaints per year (110 vs. 444 for the Honda Accord), but its complaints are more often tied to crashes and injuries relative to its total. The Accord's higher volume of complaints reflects its popularity and more complex electronics, but many are for non-crash issues. In practice, the Versa NOTE may have a higher risk of severe safety failures per incident, while the Accord may have more frequent but less immediately dangerous problems.
Key differences
- The Versa NOTE's most common complaint is power train failure (248 complaints), often involving sudden deceleration or loss of acceleration, while the Accord's top issue is engine problems (985 complaints) that can also cause power loss but are more varied.
- Air bag non-deployment is a notable complaint for the Versa NOTE (119 complaints), with owners reporting injuries; the Accord has fewer air bag complaints relative to its total, though it has recalls for occupant classification sensors.
- The Accord has a high number of forward collision avoidance complaints (821), with owners reporting intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control and lane keeping; the Versa NOTE has no comparable advanced driver-assist complaints in the top five.
- The Versa NOTE has 11 recalls over 7 years, including back-over prevention camera and ignition issues; the Accord has 38 recalls over 10 years, covering hybrid software, fuel pumps, and brake control modules.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission behavior: any hesitation, sudden downshifts, or lack of acceleration when pressing the gas could indicate the power train issue owners report.
- Ask if the air bags have ever been inspected or replaced under recall; check for any history of air bag warning lights or non-deployment in a prior crash.
- Test all advanced driver-assist features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping, automatic high beams) and watch for error messages or intermittent shutdowns, as owners frequently report these failures.
- Inspect tires and TPMS system carefully; some owners had tire failure shortly after TPMS service, so check tire condition and ask about recent TPMS work.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Versa NOTE's air bag and ignition recalls and the Accord's fuel pump and brake recalls.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on transmission operation for the Versa NOTE and engine/electrical systems for the Accord.
- During the test drive, deliberately test acceleration from a stop and at highway speeds, and note any warning lights or unusual noises.
- For the Accord, verify that all software updates for hybrid and driver-assist systems have been applied by a dealer.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission fluid changes for the Versa NOTE and electrical repairs for the Accord.
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 Versa NOTE | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
| 2019 | 1 | 677 |
| 2018 | 3 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 69 | 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 Versa NOTE or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Versa NOTE vs Honda Accord
- Nissan Versa NOTE total complaints
- 773
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Nissan Versa NOTE total recalls
- 11
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Versa NOTE avg complaints/year
- 110.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Versa NOTE
- Nissan Versa NOTE top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE