Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Versa vs Honda Accord
How the Nissan Versa 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 vs Honda Accord: The Versa averages 47.9 complaints per year, while the Accord averages 443.8. Versa owners report engine and transmission failures, while Accord owners face more electronic glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Versa or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Versa
The Nissan Versa is a budget-friendly subcompact that, in ownership terms, shows a pattern of engine and transmission troubles that can leave you stranded. Owners describe sudden loss of acceleration, grinding noises when reversing, and even complete inoperability at around 45,000 miles. Electrical shutdowns and air bag concerns add to the worry, making it a car that demands careful inspection and a solid warranty.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan that, while generally reliable, has a high volume of complaints, many centered on advanced safety systems and electrical gremlins. Owners report false activations of forward collision avoidance, intermittent warning lights for driver-assist features, and issues with brakes and electrical components. Despite the higher complaint count, the Accord's issues are often more about annoying electronics than catastrophic failures, but the sheer number of reports suggests you should check for software updates and system glitches.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Versa | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 479 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 48 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 47.9 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 43 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Versa
- 01ENGINE139
- 02POWER TRAIN134
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER92
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM88
- 05AIR BAGS62
Owners report sudden loss of acceleration, with the car unable to exceed 35 mph, as if fuel injectors are cut off. This can happen at any time, making highway merging dangerous.
Grinding noises when reversing and transmission problems from early ownership are common. Some owners describe the car becoming completely inoperable, requiring major repairs.
Complete electrical shutdowns, including engine and hazard lights failing, have been reported. This can leave you stranded in traffic with no warning.
With 62 complaints, air bag issues are a concern. While specific details are limited, any air bag warning light or deployment issue is a serious safety risk.
“I’m [XXX] with health issues and my mother is [XXX] we bought a car at ( Drive Time ) hoping we would get a good car to go to the dr , I have a [XXX] I can’t afford it though,in my opinion I felt drive time took advantage of us because I look Mexican and indi…”
“Driving down the road, the car enters a phase where you can not accelerate at all. It seems like the fuel injectors are cut off by 90% and you can only accelerate to about 35 mph. Although this has happened the whole life of the car 26,000 miles, today I was…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power accompanied by warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. This can lead to reduced speed and potential stalling.
Problems include TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, causing electrical malfunctions. These issues can be costly and unpredictable.
The system can activate unexpectedly at highway speeds, causing sudden braking, or show intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise and lane keeping. This can be startling and potentially dangerous.
Brake-related complaints are frequent, with issues like the brake system warning and loss of braking power. This is a critical safety component that needs immediate attention.
“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 — 13 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
The risk: Inoperable front turn signals cannot alert on-coming drivers and/or pedestrians that the vehicle will be turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bulbs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PM986 and P…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
The risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code, and replace the column, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
The risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's cus…
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…
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 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Nissan Versa has far fewer complaints per year (47.9 vs 443.8), but its issues are more likely to be severe, like engine and transmission failures. The Accord's higher complaint count is partly due to its popularity, but many are about driver-assist glitches rather than breakdowns. In practice, the Versa may be cheaper to buy but riskier for major repairs, while the Accord offers more reliability but with more electronic annoyances.
Key differences
- The Versa's engine and transmission failures can leave you stranded, while the Accord's issues are more often false warnings and sensor glitches.
- The Accord has a much higher complaint volume, but that's partly due to its larger sales numbers; the Versa's complaints are more concentrated on critical systems.
- Electrical shutdowns are a serious concern on the Versa, whereas the Accord's electrical problems are more about specific components like TPMS and wiring.
- Air bag complaints are notable on the Versa, while the Accord's recalls include air bag sensor issues, but fewer complaints in that area.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for sudden loss of power or hesitation, a common engine complaint.
- Listen for grinding noises when shifting into reverse, and check the transmission fluid for signs of wear.
- Check for any warning lights related to forward collision or lane keeping, and ask if the software has been updated.
- Inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage, especially if the car is parked outdoors, and verify the TPMS system works correctly.
Before you buy
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- Check the vehicle's recall status on the NHTSA website and ensure all recalls have been performed.
- Review the service history for any major repairs, especially transmission or engine work on the Versa, and software updates on the Accord.
- Take an extended test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for any hesitation or unusual behavior.
- Consider a warranty that covers major components, especially for the Versa, given its history of engine and transmission failures.
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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 101 |
| 2024 | 95 | 214 |
| 2023 | 37 | 224 |
| 2022 | 20 | 238 |
| 2021 | 31 | 226 |
| 2020 | 64 | 355 |
| 2019 | 24 | 677 |
| 2018 | 55 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 62 | 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 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Versa vs Honda Accord
- Nissan Versa total complaints
- 479
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Nissan Versa total recalls
- 13
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Versa avg complaints/year
- 47.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Versa
- Nissan Versa top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE