Head-to-head reliability
Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Honda Accord
How the Suzuki Grand Vitara 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
Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Honda Accord: The Grand Vitara averages 32 complaints per year with 0 deaths, while the Accord averages 444 complaints per year with 3 deaths. Both have recalls, but the Accord's issues more often involve engines and brakes. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Suzuki Grand Vitara or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Suzuki Grand Vitara is a compact SUV with a relatively low complaint volume—about 32 per year over a decade—but its issues cluster around air bags, lighting, and electrical gremlins. Owners frequently report air bag recalls that are hard to get fixed because dealers are far away, plus repeated headlight bulb failures and odd electrical problems like no heat and doors locking themselves. It's a simpler vehicle than the Honda, but you'll want to verify that any open recalls, especially for air bags, have been addressed.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint rate—roughly 444 per year—and its problems often involve major systems like the engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance. Owners describe serious symptoms such as sudden power loss, brake system warnings, and even sunroof glass shattering. While many complaints are on newer models, the volume and severity suggest that a used Accord needs a thorough inspection and a check for open recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Suzuki Grand Vitara | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 324 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 29 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 23 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 32.4 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 18 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.
Suzuki Grand Vitara
- 01AIR BAGS107
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING75
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM61
- 04STEERING25
- 05POWER TRAIN22
Owners report receiving recall notices for air bag issues but struggle to get them fixed because the nearest dealer can be an hour away. This matters because an unfixed air bag may not deploy properly in a crash.
Many owners say they have to replace headlight bulbs constantly, and some are told the entire headlight assembly needs replacing at a high cost. This can lead to poor visibility and repeated repair bills.
Complaints include the heater blowing cold, temperature gauges spiking, and doors locking automatically with keys inside. These issues can leave you stranded or uncomfortable, and they may be hard to diagnose.
Owners describe a loose steering wheel and problems with the power steering pump drive-belt tensioner pulley, which can affect control. This is a safety concern because steering is critical, and repairs may be costly.
“I OWN 2 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2010 & 2007 AND I GOT A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURE FOR TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR FIXING THE AIR BAG ISSUE RECALL CALLED DV SO I CHECKED AND THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED DEALER IS A ONE OUR DRIVE SO I CALLED THE MANUFACTURE…”
“MY MOST RECENT INCONVENIENCE WITH MY SUZUKI RECALL TENSIONER WAS ON 2/5/2020, I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN WHEN MY VEHICLE'S BELT TENSIONER AND DRIVE BELT CAME OFF OF THE RECALL TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY. I COULD NOT TURN MY VEHICLE, THE ALTERNAT…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, sudden loss of power, and multiple dashboard alarms like brake and hill descent system failures. These symptoms can be dangerous if they occur at highway speeds and may indicate serious mechanical or electronic faults.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical glitches can disable safety features and lead to expensive repairs.
Owners say adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams show error messages intermittently. This means the car's advanced safety aids may not work when needed, increasing crash risk.
Some owners experience brake system warnings and potential loss of braking assistance, often tied to ABS or traction control module issues. Brake problems are among the most serious safety concerns.
“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.
Suzuki Grand Vitara — 29 recalls
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Ow…
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Ow…
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Ow…
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Ow…
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
Suzuki Grand Vitara or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Suzuki Grand Vitara has far fewer complaints per year (about 32 vs. 444 for the Honda Accord), but both have safety-related issues. The Honda's higher volume and more severe symptoms—like engine power loss and brake failures—mean it may require more frequent and costly attention. In practice, the Grand Vitara might be simpler to own, but you must still address its air bag and steering recalls.
Key differences
- The Suzuki Grand Vitara averages about 32 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 444—a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- Grand Vitara issues often involve air bags, lighting, and electrical annoyances; Accord complaints more often involve engine, brakes, and forward collision avoidance, which can be more safety-critical.
- The Accord has 3 reported deaths and 144 injuries in the data, compared to 0 deaths and 18 injuries for the Grand Vitara, though these numbers don't account for vehicle population.
- Both have recalls, but the Grand Vitara's sample recalls are for seats, while the Accord's include electrical, brakes, air bags, and fuel system—areas that can directly affect safety.
- Check for open air bag recalls and confirm they have been repaired by a dealer; owners report difficulty getting this done.
- Inspect the steering for looseness and listen for noise from the power steering pump or belt tensioner, as owners report these failing.
- Look for signs of electrical issues such as repeated tire pressure warnings or rodent damage to wiring, which owners have reported.
- Test the forward collision avoidance systems (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) for error messages, as intermittent failures are common.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall website to see if any open recalls exist for either vehicle, especially air bags and brakes.
- Take the car to a trusted mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned for each model.
- For the Grand Vitara, test the heater, air conditioning, and all lights, and check for any steering play.
- For the Accord, test all advanced safety features and listen for engine noises or warning chimes during a test drive.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and check if the car has been regularly serviced, as neglected maintenance can worsen known issues.
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 Suzuki Grand Vitara or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Honda Accord
- Suzuki Grand Vitara total complaints
- 324
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Suzuki Grand Vitara total recalls
- 29
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Suzuki Grand Vitara avg complaints/year
- 32.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Suzuki Grand Vitara
- Suzuki Grand Vitara top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE