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 has 395 complaints over 10 years (39.5/yr) with engine stalling and electrical shutdowns. The Accord has 4290 complaints (429/yr) with sudden power loss and false collision warnings. Both have recalls, but the Accord's issues are more severe. 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 car, but its reliability record is concerning. Owners report frequent engine stalling, rough idling, and lurching, often without diagnostic codes, making repairs difficult. Electrical system failures can cause sudden shutdowns, and power train issues are common. With 395 complaints over 10 years (39.5/yr), it's a high-risk choice for a first-time buyer.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan, but its complaint count is very high at 4290 over 10 years (429/yr). Owners describe sudden loss of power at highway speeds, electrical system failures, and false forward collision warnings. While it has more features, the frequency of serious issues like power loss and brake system failures is a major concern.
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 | 395 Better | 4,290 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 35 Better | 154 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 39.5 Better | 429.0 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 27 Better | 141 |
| 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 Versa
- 01ENGINE127
- 02POWER TRAIN113
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM79
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER75
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL47
Owners report the engine lurching forward, rough idling, and stalling, often without a diagnostic code. This can lead to unexpected power loss while driving.
The transmission can cause lurching and rough idles, and some owners experienced brake failure with all dashboard warning lights on, making the car undrivable.
Sudden total electrical shutdowns occur, including hazard lights failing, and the ignition may not read the ECU, leading to stalling.
“This manual car puts itself into limp mode any time the engine is killed (If you drop the clutch too quickly because it is a manual transmission) while driving it. Once it is in limp mode (restricted speed and power to protect the engine) it must be pulled ov…”
“The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle started losing motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that during the failure, the vehicle was turned off, restarted, a…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE924
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM820
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE798
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER696
- 05SERVICE BRAKES577
Owners report sudden loss of power at highway speeds, accompanied by multiple warning lights (brake, ABS, hill descent). This can be dangerous in traffic.
Total loss of power, including power steering, while driving on adaptive cruise control. Also, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) failures and sunroof glass explosions.
The system triggers false warnings and even automatic braking for no reason, and some owners report loss of drive power related to the system.
“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 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 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
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 are expected to be mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is availa…
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 (39.5 vs 429), but both have serious issues. The Versa's problems are more about stalling and rough running, while the Accord's involve sudden power loss at speed. In practice, the Versa may be less likely to leave you stranded on the highway, but neither is trouble-free.
Key differences
- Nissan Versa: 39.5 complaints/yr vs Honda Accord: 429 complaints/yr – a 10x difference.
- Versa owners report stalling and rough idling; Accord owners report sudden highway power loss.
- Accord has 38 recalls vs Versa's 13, indicating more widespread issues.
- Accord's forward collision avoidance system triggers false alarms; Versa lacks such advanced systems.
- Test drive for engine lurching or rough idle, especially when cold.
- Check for any electrical shutdowns or warning lights that stay on.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for sudden power loss or warning lights.
- Inspect the forward collision avoidance system for false alerts during a test drive.
Before you buy
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles using the VIN.
- Test drive the Versa on hills to check for brake resistance and warning lights.
- Test drive the Accord on the highway to simulate adaptive cruise control and watch for power loss.
- Ask for service records, especially for engine and electrical repairs on both.
- For the Accord, verify if the forward collision avoidance system has been updated.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 4 |
| 2025 | 11 | 96 |
| 2024 | 93 | 207 |
| 2023 | 37 | 219 |
| 2022 | 19 | 214 |
| 2021 | 31 | 217 |
| 2020 | 64 | 340 |
| 2019 | 24 | 653 |
| 2018 | 54 | 1812 |
| 2017 | 62 | 528 |
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
- 395
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,290
- Nissan Versa total recalls
- 13
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Versa avg complaints/year
- 39.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 429.0
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Versa
- Nissan Versa top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE