Head-to-head reliability
Volvo EX40 vs Honda Accord
How the Volvo EX40 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
Volvo EX40 vs Honda Accord: The EX40 has 3 complaints and 4 recalls over 2 years, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints and 38 recalls over 10 years. The EX40's issues are fewer but include sudden brake failure; the Accord's are more varied and linked to 160 crashes. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo EX40 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo EX40
The Volvo EX40 is a newer electric SUV with very few complaints—just 3 over 2 years—but those complaints describe serious sudden failures: brakes that quit without warning, power steering loss, and the car shutting down entirely while driving. There are also 4 recalls, two for brake software and two for backup camera software. Living with this car means dealing with a small but alarming pattern of electronic glitches that can leave you without critical controls.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with a massive complaint history: 4,438 complaints over 10 years, including 160 crashes, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths. Owners report engine noises, electrical failures like tire pressure warnings and rodent damage, and forward collision systems that act up. With 38 recalls covering everything from hybrid software to fuel pumps, it's a car that demands vigilance and regular dealer visits.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo EX40 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.5 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.
Volvo EX40
- 01SERVICE BRAKES2
- 02POWER TRAIN2
- 03STEERING1
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 05ENGINE1
Owners report that tapping the brakes can cause complete failure, with all warning lights flashing and a 'Stop Safely Brake Failure' message. This is terrifying because it happens at low speeds in traffic and leaves you unable to stop normally.
Complaints describe the vehicle losing power while driving, with steering and control going dead and wipers turning on by themselves. This can strand you in dangerous situations, like on a busy highway.
Along with brake failure, owners report losing power steering, making the car hard to control. This often happens simultaneously with brake issues, compounding the danger.
Sudden power loss affects hazard lights, steering, and wipers, indicating a broader electrical fault. This can leave you without basic safety functions during a breakdown.
“I was driving on the freeway in traffic, thankfully going about +/- 25 mph and had to stop/slow down. When I tapped the breaks, they completely failed. All warning lights in the car immediately came on including the warning 'Stop Safely Break Failure'. I pres…”
“Applied the brake while approaching a crosswalk and suddenly multiple warning notifications appeared on dashboard (brake failure, collision avoidance system not functioning, etc) and every warning light started flashing. Lost power steering and brakes. Had to…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises and critical failures where the car loses speed and shows multiple alarms like brake and hill descent system failures. This can happen at highway speeds, creating a risk of sudden deceleration.
Complaints include tire pressure warnings leading to catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even in new cars. These issues can cause breakdowns and expensive repairs.
The adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams can intermittently fail with dashboard warnings. This undermines driver-assist features that many buyers rely on for safety.
Reports include sunroof glass exploding and tire failures after service, showing a range of quality control problems. These unpredictable defects add to ownership stress.
“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.
Volvo EX40 — 4 recalls
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023-2024 XC40 BEV, 2020-2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022-2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023-2025 S60 PHEV, 2024-2025 V60 PHEV, and 2025-2026 EX40 and 2025 S90 PHEV vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "…
The risk: A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to use "B" Mode (for plug-in hybrid vehicles) or "One Pedal Drive" (for pure electric vehicles) until the repair has been completed. The brake module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free o…
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023-2024 XC40 BEV, 2020-2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022-2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023-2025 S60 PHEV, 2024-2025 V60 PHEV, and 2025-2026 EX40 and 2025 S90 PHEV vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "…
The risk: A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to use "B" Mode (for plug-in hybrid vehicles) or "One Pedal Drive" (for pure electric vehicles) until the repair has been completed. The brake module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free o…
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply wi…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for…
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fai…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's numb…
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
Volvo EX40 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Volvo EX40 has far fewer issues per year (1.5 complaints/year) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8 complaints/year), but the EX40's problems are severe when they occur. The Accord's higher volume means more widespread problems, including crashes and injuries, while the EX40's low complaint count may reflect its newer status or lower sales. In practice, the EX40 might have fewer but more alarming failures, while the Accord has a long track record of varied issues.
Key differences
- The Volvo EX40 has only 3 complaints in 2 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,438 complaints over 10 years, indicating a much higher reported problem rate for the Accord.
- EX40 complaints center on sudden brake and power loss, while Accord complaints cover engine, electrical, and forward collision issues, with 160 crashes and 144 injuries reported.
- The EX40 has 4 recalls, all for software (brakes and backup camera), while the Accord has 38 recalls for hardware and software, including fuel pumps and air bags.
- Accord owners report a wide range of defects from sunroof explosions to rodent damage, whereas EX40 reports are fewer but consistently describe loss of critical driving functions.
- Check for any history of brake software recalls and ensure they were performed; test brakes at low speeds for any warning lights or failure.
- Inspect for signs of electrical issues, such as flickering lights or wipers activating on their own, and ask about any power loss incidents.
- Listen for engine noises and check for any history of sudden power loss or multiple dashboard alarms; test forward collision systems for intermittent failures.
- Inspect tires for uneven wear or damage, and check for rodent damage to wiring, especially if the car was parked outside.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been completed, especially brake software for the EX40 and fuel pump/air bag recalls for the Accord.
- Take a lengthy test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to check for brake, steering, and power issues.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system and wiring for signs of damage or previous repairs.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control functions.
- Ask the seller for any service records related to the reported complaint areas and verify repairs were done at a dealership.
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 | Volvo EX40 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 | 101 |
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 Volvo EX40 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo EX40 vs Honda Accord
- Volvo EX40 total complaints
- 3
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Volvo EX40 total recalls
- 4
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Volvo EX40 avg complaints/year
- 1.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Volvo EX40
- Volvo EX40 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE