Head-to-head reliability
Rolls Royce Ghost vs Honda Accord
How the Rolls Royce Ghost 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
Rolls Royce Ghost vs Honda Accord: The Ghost has 0 owner complaints and 6 recalls over 10 years, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints and 38 recalls. The Accord also has 160 crash-related reports and 3 deaths, versus none for the Ghost. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Rolls Royce Ghost or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Rolls Royce Ghost
The Rolls Royce Ghost is a low-volume luxury car with no owner complaints filed with NHTSA over the past decade, so there is no pattern of recurring failures reported by drivers. However, it has six recalls covering seat belts, air bags, and the instrument cluster, which means some safety defects were serious enough for the manufacturer to issue official fixes. For a buyer, the main takeaway is that while owners haven't reported problems, the recall history shows that certain systems can fail and should be checked.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with thousands of owner complaints each year, covering major systems like the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Many complaints describe serious issues such as sudden power loss, brake system failures, and warning lights for safety features. With 38 recalls and a much higher complaint rate, the Accord requires more diligence from a used-car buyer to ensure known problems have been addressed.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Rolls Royce Ghost | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Rolls Royce Ghost
No component data available.
Recalls for seat belts and front seat belt retractors suggest that in some vehicles the belts may not restrain properly in a crash. Buyers should have the recall repairs confirmed as completed.
Two recalls for the instrument cluster panel indicate that the dashboard display could fail or give incorrect information. This matters because a faulty cluster can hide warning lights or speed readings.
An air bag recall means that in certain conditions the air bags may not deploy as designed. This is a critical safety system, so any open recall should be fixed before purchase.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, sudden loss of power, and multiple dashboard alarms while driving, often leading to reduced speed. These symptoms can be dangerous on highways and may indicate serious engine or sensor problems.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring failures that were supposedly fixed but then led to a tire blowout, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical gremlins can cause safety systems to malfunction or leave you stranded.
Drivers report that adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams show intermittent error messages and may not work. This means the car's automatic braking and steering aids could fail when needed.
There are complaints about brake system failures, including ABS and hill descent warnings, and one recall for the ABS control unit. Brake problems are a top safety concern because they affect your ability to stop.
“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.
Rolls Royce Ghost — 6 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the s…
The risk: In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Rolls-Royce Ghost vehicles. The single-layer tempered glass protecting the instrument cluster may break in a crash.
The risk: Broken glass can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will apply a protective coating on the instrument cluster's single-layer tempered glass, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2023. Owners may contact Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877-3735.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Rolls-Royce Ghost vehicles. The single-layer tempered glass protecting the instrument cluster may break in a crash.
The risk: Broken glass can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will apply a protective coating on the instrument cluster's single-layer tempered glass, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2023. Owners may contact Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877-3735.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (…
The risk: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-8…
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
Rolls Royce Ghost or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Rolls Royce Ghost has far fewer reported issues per year (0 complaints per year vs. about 444 for the Honda Accord), but it still has six recalls. The Accord's much higher complaint and recall volume means a used buyer is more likely to encounter a vehicle with unresolved safety defects. In practice, the Ghost offers a quieter ownership experience on paper, while the Accord demands careful recall and repair checks.
Key differences
- The Ghost has zero owner complaints but six recalls, while the Accord has thousands of complaints and 38 recalls, showing a much higher rate of reported problems.
- Accord owners report serious safety issues like sudden power loss, brake failures, and forward collision system errors; the Ghost has no such complaint text, only recall subjects.
- The Accord's complaints include 160 crash-related reports, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths, while the Ghost has none of these in the data.
- Recalls on the Ghost focus on seat belts, air bags, and instrument cluster; Accord recalls cover hybrid software, spare tires, ABS, air bag sensors, and fuel pumps.
- Check for open recalls on seat belts, air bags, and instrument cluster, and confirm they were repaired with documentation.
- Inspect the instrument cluster for any missing or flickering displays, as recalls suggest potential electrical faults.
- Listen for engine noises and check for any history of sudden power loss or multiple warning lights, as owners report these symptoms.
- Test all advanced safety features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping, automatic braking) for intermittent error messages, and verify the ABS and brake system recall was performed.
Before you buy
- Use the NHTSA VIN lookup tool to check for open recalls on both vehicles and ensure all recall repairs are completed.
- For the Honda Accord, ask for service records related to engine, electrical, and brake complaints, and take a long test drive to check for warning lights or power loss.
- For the Rolls Royce Ghost, verify that the seat belt, air bag, and instrument cluster recalls have been addressed, and consider a pre-purchase inspection by a luxury car specialist.
- On the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control for error messages during the test drive.
- Request a vehicle history report to see if the Accord has been in any crashes, given the 160 crash-related complaints in the data.
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 | Rolls Royce Ghost | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 0 | 226 |
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
| 2019 | 0 | 677 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Rolls Royce Ghost or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Rolls Royce Ghost vs Honda Accord
- Rolls Royce Ghost total complaints
- 0
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Rolls Royce Ghost total recalls
- 6
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Rolls Royce Ghost avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Rolls Royce Ghost
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE