Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen CC vs Honda Accord
How the Volkswagen CC 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
Volkswagen CC vs Honda Accord: The CC averages 61.7 complaints per year over 6 years, while the Accord averages 443.8 per year over 10 years. The CC's top issues are airbag clock springs and fuel leaks, whereas the Accord faces engine power loss and false collision warnings. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen CC or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volkswagen CC
The Volkswagen CC is a stylish, sporty sedan that, in ownership terms, tends to be a second or third car rather than a primary family hauler. Its complaint record over six years shows a car that can be rewarding to drive but demanding to own, with a clear concentration of issues in airbags, fuel system, and engine. Owners frequently report warning lights and loss of power, which can be unnerving and often require dealer visits. The pattern suggests that while the CC offers a premium feel, it may need more frequent repairs and attention than the average sedan.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize sedan known for practicality and efficiency, but its complaint history over ten years reveals a more complex picture. With a high volume of complaints, the Accord shows a broad range of issues, from engine and electrical problems to advanced safety system glitches. Owners report sudden loss of power, false collision warnings, and even a sunroof explosion, indicating that even a popular model can have significant reliability concerns. The sheer number of complaints suggests that while many Accords are trouble-free, a notable subset experiences serious problems that could affect safety and ownership satisfaction.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen CC | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 370 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 61.7 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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.
Volkswagen CC
- 01AIR BAGS158
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM87
- 03ENGINE75
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM60
- 05STEERING20
Owners report clock spring failures that trigger the airbag warning light and disable steering wheel controls. This is a safety-critical issue because the airbag may not deploy in a crash, and the repair involves replacing the clock spring.
Fuel pump flange recalls and fuel tank leaks are common. Owners smell gas inside the cabin, which is a fire hazard, and some report the fuel tank was replaced under warranty but problems recur.
Loss of motive power while driving, including from a stop, is reported. This can be dangerous in traffic and may be related to fuel system issues or other engine management problems.
Beyond clock springs, the DSG transmission's mechatronic unit can fail catastrophically, leading to loss of drive. Electrical gremlins also cause warning lights and intermittent failures.
“My 2016 VW CC (VIN: [XXX]) has a clock spring failure. I brought my car in to Riverhead Bay Motors on 2/12/2019, with the hope of diagnosing and fixing the part. They had to order the part, so only diagnosis was done. Diagnosis confirmed that the clock spring…”
“AS I WAS MAKING A U-TURN I COULD HEAR A NOICE FROM MY STEELING WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND READ "ERROR: AIRBAG". I COULDN'T HELP BUT PANIC THINKING OF ALL THE POSSIBILITIES THAT CAN HAPPEN. I NOTICED THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power accompanied by multiple warning lights (brake, ABS, hill descent). This can occur at highway speeds and is a serious safety concern.
TPMS warnings and tire failures are reported, along with rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical issues can lead to unexpected component failures and costly repairs.
The system can trigger false alerts or warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. These intermittent messages can be distracting and may indicate sensor or software problems.
Brake-related complaints are frequent, with some owners reporting critical failures that cause the vehicle to lose speed. This is a direct safety issue that requires immediate attention.
“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.
Volkswagen CC — 24 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requi…
The risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
The fix: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 CC vehicles. Incorrect front seat head restraints (rests) may have been installed, possibly resulting in the seat occupant's head being inadequately restrained in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comp…
The risk: If the seat occupant's head is inadequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall i…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-…
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
Volkswagen CC or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen CC has far fewer complaints per year (61.7) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the CC's problems are concentrated in safety-critical areas like airbags and fuel system, while the Accord's high volume includes many advanced safety system glitches. In practice, the CC may offer a more predictable ownership experience in terms of frequency, but the Accord's issues are more varied and could affect a wider range of systems.
Key differences
- The CC has a much lower complaint rate per year (61.7) than the Accord (443.8), but its issues are more likely to involve airbags and fuel leaks, which are safety-critical.
- The Accord's top problems include forward collision avoidance malfunctions and brake failures, which can cause sudden loss of speed or false alerts, while the CC's engine issues often lead to loss of power.
- The CC's electrical problems often tie into airbag and transmission failures, whereas the Accord's electrical issues range from tire pressure monitoring to rodent damage.
- The Accord has more recalls (38) than the CC (24), but the CC's recalls include airbag inflator modules, which are a known safety risk.
- Check for any airbag warning light and test all steering wheel buttons; a faulty clock spring is a common issue.
- Inspect the fuel tank area for leaks and smell for gasoline odors, as fuel pump flange and tank problems are reported.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system on a safe road to ensure it doesn't give false warnings; intermittent alerts are a common complaint.
- Check the brake system for any warning lights or unusual behavior, as brake failures have been reported.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's recall history and ensure all open recalls are completed before purchase.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the airbag system, including the clock spring, on the CC.
- For the Accord, test all driver assistance features (adaptive cruise, lane keep, etc.) during a test drive.
- Check for any signs of fuel leaks or gas smell in the CC, and inspect the fuel tank for previous repairs.
- Review the maintenance history for both vehicles, especially for transmission service on the CC and any electrical repairs on the Accord.
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 | Volkswagen CC | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 4 | 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 Volkswagen CC or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen CC vs Honda Accord
- Volkswagen CC total complaints
- 370
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Volkswagen CC total recalls
- 24
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Volkswagen CC avg complaints/year
- 61.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen CC
- Volkswagen CC top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE