Head-to-head reliability
Suzuki V Strom 1050xt vs Honda Accord
How the Suzuki V Strom 1050xt 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 V Strom 1050xt vs Honda Accord: The Suzuki has 1 complaint per year and no recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints annually and has 38 recalls. The Suzuki's only issue is cruise control, but the Accord faces engine, electrical, and safety system problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Suzuki V Strom 1050xt or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Suzuki V Strom 1050xt
The Suzuki V Strom 1050xt is a niche adventure-touring motorcycle with a very low complaint rate, averaging just one per year over three years. The only reported issue is a recurring problem with the electronic cruise control system, which owners say disengages randomly without any input. This is a specific annoyance that could affect long-distance comfort but doesn't indicate widespread mechanical trouble. Overall, it appears to be a reliable machine with a single, well-defined electronic glitch.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume sedan with a much higher complaint count, averaging over 440 per year, reflecting its popularity and the breadth of reported issues. Complaints span multiple systems, including engine, electrical, forward collision avoidance, and brakes, with some incidents involving crashes and injuries. Owners report serious problems like sudden power loss, warning light cascades, and even a sunroof explosion. While many complaints may be from newer models, the sheer volume and variety suggest a more complex reliability picture than the Suzuki.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Suzuki V Strom 1050xt | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.0 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.
Suzuki V Strom 1050xt
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
Owners report that the cruise control system randomly disengages without any input from the throttle, brakes, or clutch. This can be annoying on long rides and may indicate a faulty sensor or software issue in the ride-by-wire system.
“My Suzuki has a ride by wire throttle control system and electronic speed control. The problem is the cruise control cancels all by itself without any input from any of the cancel switches. Like the throttle grip, the front brake or rear brake, or the clutch…”
“On at least 20 separate occasions between July, 2021 and September, 2021, cruise control has disengaged without myself providing the input necessary to disengage cruise control. In other words, cruise control randomly disengaged by itself, and this problem ha…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Complaints describe abnormal noises, sudden loss of power at highway speeds, and warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. These symptoms suggest potential engine or drivetrain issues that could lead to unsafe driving conditions.
Owners report issues like TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical gremlins can cause a range of problems, from dashboard warnings to more serious malfunctions.
The system may activate unexpectedly or show intermittent errors for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. This can be distracting and erode driver confidence in safety features.
Brake-related complaints include issues with the antilock braking system and electronic stability control, which could compromise stopping power in emergency situations.
“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 V Strom 1050xt
No recalls on record.
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 V Strom 1050xt or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Suzuki V Strom 1050xt has far fewer complaints per year (1.0) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. In practice, the Suzuki's problems are limited to a single electronic feature, while the Accord's complaints span multiple critical systems, suggesting a higher likelihood of encountering a serious problem.
Key differences
- The Suzuki has only one reported issue (cruise control) while the Accord has many across engine, electrical, and safety systems.
- The Accord has 38 recalls and 160 crash-related complaints, whereas the Suzuki has none.
- Accord owners report sudden power loss and warning light cascades, which are more severe than the Suzuki's cruise control glitch.
- The Accord's complaint volume is over 400 times higher per year, indicating a much larger owner base with more problems.
- Test the cruise control thoroughly on a test ride, including setting it at various speeds and simulating cancel inputs to see if it disengages unexpectedly.
- Check for any service bulletins or software updates related to the cruise control system.
- Ask for a full service history and check for any open recalls, especially those related to the electrical system, brakes, or fuel pump.
- During a test drive, monitor for any warning lights or unusual behavior from the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems.
Before you buy
- For the Suzuki: verify the cruise control works consistently over a long ride and ask if the software has been updated.
- For the Accord: check the NHTSA recall list and confirm all recalls have been addressed.
- For the Accord: inspect the wiring harness for any signs of rodent damage, especially if parked outdoors.
- For the Accord: test the forward collision warning and braking at low speeds in a safe area to ensure it doesn't activate falsely.
- For both: get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic familiar with the model.
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 | Suzuki V Strom 1050xt | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 0 | 226 |
| 2020 | 3 | 355 |
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 V Strom 1050xt or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Suzuki V Strom 1050xt vs Honda Accord
- Suzuki V Strom 1050xt total complaints
- 3
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Suzuki V Strom 1050xt total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Suzuki V Strom 1050xt avg complaints/year
- 1.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Suzuki V Strom 1050xt
- Suzuki V Strom 1050xt top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE