Head-to-head reliability
Suzuki RENO vs Honda Accord
How the Suzuki RENO 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 RENO vs Honda Accord: The RENO averaged 43.3 complaints per year over 4 years, with 10 recalls and 10 injuries, while the Accord averaged 443.8 complaints per year over 10 years, with 38 recalls and 144 injuries. The RENO's issues often involve air bags and headlights, while the Accord's involve engine and electrical systems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Suzuki RENO or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Suzuki RENO
The Suzuki RENO is a compact car that, based on owner complaints, can be a headache to live with. Over four years, it averaged 43.3 complaints per year, with the most common issues in the power train, air bags, and electrical system. Owners report problems like jerking during gear shifts, engine lights that stay on, and headlights that suddenly fail. These are not just minor annoyances; some complaints describe safety-critical failures like air bags not deploying or headlights going out at night.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car, but the data shows a much higher volume of complaints—averaging 443.8 per year over ten years. The most frequent problem areas are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Owners describe issues such as engine noises, sudden loss of power, and warning lights for driver-assist features. While many complaints may be for newer models, the sheer number suggests that some Accords can have persistent electronic and engine-related problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Suzuki RENO | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 173 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 43.3 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.
Suzuki RENO
- 01POWER TRAIN66
- 02AIR BAGS48
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING25
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL20
Owners report the car jerking when shifting gears, even with an automatic transmission, and the check engine light coming on repeatedly. These issues can lead to costly repairs and make the car feel unreliable.
Complaints describe air bags failing to deploy in crashes, such as after a tire blowout. This is a serious safety concern because it means the air bag may not protect you when you need it most.
Drivers report the check engine light staying on and headlights suddenly going out while driving. Losing headlights at night is dangerous and can lead to accidents.
Multiple complaints mention headlights not working, sometimes only high beams functioning. This is a critical safety issue because you may not be able to see the road or be seen by others.
“FROM DAY ONE, MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES IE, IT'S THE GAS CAP, THE MAN WHO SOLD ME THE CAR, (THE DEALER) TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED,SO MUCH, THEN HE TOOK OFF, AND LEFT MASSACHUSETTS AFTER SELLI…”
“I GOT MY CAR IN MAY, 2006. IT WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT, BUT IT WAS IN THE SHOP ONLY SIX DAYS AFTER. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MY CAR WOULD JERK WHEN IT WAS SHIFTING GEARS (ALTHOUGH IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC). OVER ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME, IT GOT MUCH WORSE AND I HAD…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) appearing while driving. These symptoms can indicate serious engine or transmission problems that may be expensive to fix.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings followed by tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical glitches can cause safety systems to malfunction or fail unexpectedly.
Drivers report intermittent problems with adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, with warning messages appearing and disappearing. These failures mean the car's safety features may not work when needed.
Some complaints describe sunroof glass exploding and tire failures after TPMS service. These are sudden, unexpected failures that can cause crashes or injuries.
“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 RENO — 10 recalls
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module whi…
The risk: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The fix: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners ma…
The defect: Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connec…
The risk: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.
The risk: INAPPROPRIATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL SPLICE THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN THREE PHASES, STARTING AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2007 AND CONCLUDING BY THE END OF JANUARY 2008;. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SU…
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module whi…
The risk: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The fix: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners ma…
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 RENO or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Suzuki RENO has far fewer complaints per year (43.3) than the Honda Accord (443.8), but the RENO's issues often involve safety-critical systems like air bags and headlights. The Accord's higher volume may reflect its popularity and newer models, but it still has many reports of engine and electrical problems. In practice, the RENO may have fewer overall problems, but the ones it has can be severe.
Key differences
- The Suzuki RENO averages 43.3 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 443.8 per year over a longer period.
- RENO owners frequently report air bag and headlight failures, which are immediate safety risks; Accord owners report engine and forward collision avoidance issues, which can also be dangerous but may be less immediate.
- The RENO has 10 recalls, including headlight and electrical wiring recalls; the Accord has 38 recalls, covering hybrid software, brakes, air bags, and fuel pumps.
- RENO complaints often mention jerking transmissions and check engine lights; Accord complaints include loss of power and multiple warning lights.
- Check for transmission jerking or hesitation during a test drive, especially when shifting gears, as owners report this as a common power train issue.
- Test all exterior lights, including headlights and high beams, and look for any signs of electrical gremlins like a persistent check engine light.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and watch for multiple warning lights (brake, ABS, hill descent) on the dashboard during a test drive.
- Test the forward collision avoidance features, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, to ensure they work consistently without intermittent warnings.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to see if recalls (especially for headlights on the RENO or electrical/engine issues on the Accord) have been addressed.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the specific problem areas: power train and air bags for the RENO; engine and electrical systems for the Accord.
- During a test drive, pay attention to how the transmission shifts (RENO) and whether any warning lights appear (both vehicles).
- Check the operation of all safety features, including air bag indicators (RENO) and forward collision avoidance systems (Accord).
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any open recalls have been repaired by a dealer.
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 RENO or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Suzuki RENO vs Honda Accord
- Suzuki RENO total complaints
- 173
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Suzuki RENO total recalls
- 10
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Suzuki RENO avg complaints/year
- 43.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Suzuki RENO
- Suzuki RENO top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE