Head-to-head reliability
Oldsmobile Intrigue vs Honda Accord
How the Oldsmobile Intrigue 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
Oldsmobile Intrigue vs Honda Accord: The Intrigue has 391 complaints over 3 years (130.3/yr) and 14 recalls, while the Accord has 4438 complaints over 10 years (443.8/yr) and 38 recalls. The Intrigue's top issues are electrical and lighting, while the Accord's are engine and forward collision avoidance. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Oldsmobile Intrigue or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Oldsmobile Intrigue
The Oldsmobile Intrigue, a discontinued model, shows a high complaint rate concentrated in electrical and lighting systems. Owners report flickering headlights and complete electrical failures, which can be distracting and potentially dangerous. Steering issues, including loss of power assist and clicking noises, also appear frequently, suggesting reliability concerns that could affect daily driving.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular and long-running model, has a lower complaint rate per year but still shows significant issues, especially in engine, electrical, and advanced safety systems. Owners report engine noises, loss of power, and failures in forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control, which can be alarming and costly to repair. Despite its reputation, these reports indicate that modern Accords are not immune to serious problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Oldsmobile Intrigue | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 391 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 21 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 130.3 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 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.
Oldsmobile Intrigue
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM145
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING100
- 03STEERING52
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING49
- 05POWER TRAIN29
Owners report flickering headlights and complete electrical failures, including loss of power and instrument cluster issues. These can be distracting and may lead to unexpected stalling or lighting failures.
Headlight flickering is a common complaint, causing visibility issues for the driver and potentially blinding oncoming traffic. Tail lamp failures are also reported, reducing visibility to other drivers.
Power steering can fail, especially when turning left, making the car hard to steer. Clicking noises in the steering column are also reported, indicating potential wear or looseness in the system.
Some owners report engine-related issues, including clicking noises that may be misdiagnosed as steering problems. There are also reports of mechanical issues that require repeated dealer visits, suggesting persistent engine problems.
“I HAVE A 02 OLDS INTRIGUE AND IT HAS A FLICKERING IN INTENSITY ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A DRIVING DISTRACTION NOT JUST FOR ME BUT ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME ...AS THEY MAY FEEL BRIGHTED OR IT MAY DISTRACT THEM AND THEY MAY VERE AWAY FROM ME. I HAVE HAD P…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT KICK INTO FIRST GEAR UNTIL AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SECURITY SYSTEM LOCK. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKES JERKE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises from the engine, and in some cases, a sudden loss of power accompanied by warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. This can be dangerous if it occurs at highway speeds.
Electrical issues include TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause various malfunctions. These problems may be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
The system can trigger false alerts or warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams. These intermittent messages can be distracting and may indicate a malfunction in the safety systems.
Brake-related complaints include issues with the antilock braking system and traction control, which may activate unexpectedly or fail, affecting stopping ability and vehicle stability.
“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.
Oldsmobile Intrigue — 14 recalls
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
The defect: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN…
The risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-24…
The defect: DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED D…
The risk: IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
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
Oldsmobile Intrigue or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has a lower complaint rate per year (443.8 vs 130.3 for the Intrigue, but over more years) and fewer recalls per year, but its issues are more complex and involve modern safety tech. The Oldsmobile Intrigue has fewer total complaints but a higher rate per year, indicating more frequent problems. In practice, the Accord may offer better long-term reliability, but both have significant issues to consider.
Key differences
- The Intrigue has a higher complaint rate per year (130.3) compared to the Accord (443.8 over 10 years, but that's 443.8 per year? Actually, the data says 4438 over 10 years, so 443.8 per year, which is higher than the Intrigue's 130.3. So the Accord has more complaints per year, but the Intrigue's are concentrated in fewer years.
- The Intrigue's top issues are electrical and lighting, while the Accord's are engine and forward collision avoidance.
- The Accord has more recalls (38 vs 14) but over a longer period, and its recalls involve advanced systems like air bags and fuel pumps.
- The Intrigue has no reported deaths, while the Accord has 3, but the Accord has more crash-related complaints (160 vs 21).
- Check the headlights for flickering and ensure all exterior lights work properly.
- Test the power steering, especially when turning left, and listen for any clicking noises in the steering column.
- Check for any warning lights related to the forward collision avoidance system and have the system inspected if it activates unexpectedly.
- Inspect the engine for unusual noises and ensure there are no signs of rodent damage to wiring harnesses.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including battery and alternator, on the Intrigue.
- Test drive the Accord at highway speeds to see if any warning lights appear.
- Check the service history for both vehicles, especially for recalls and repeated repairs.
- Look for signs of previous repairs to steering components on the Intrigue.
- Ask about any outstanding recalls and ensure they have been addressed.
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 Oldsmobile Intrigue or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Oldsmobile Intrigue vs Honda Accord
- Oldsmobile Intrigue total complaints
- 391
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Oldsmobile Intrigue total recalls
- 14
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Oldsmobile Intrigue avg complaints/year
- 130.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Oldsmobile Intrigue
- Oldsmobile Intrigue top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE