Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S60 vs Honda Accord
How the Volvo S60 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 S60 vs Honda Accord: The S60 has 296 complaints over 10 years (avg 29.6/yr) vs Accord's 4,438 (avg 443.8/yr). S60 reports sudden power loss and brake failure; Accord has engine issues and false collision alerts. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S60 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S60
The Volvo S60, with 296 complaints over 10 years (about 30 per year), shows a moderate issue rate. Owners report electrical gremlins like sudden power loss and SRS warnings, brake failures with air leaks, and steering squeaks. While not as numerous as the Accord's, these issues can be serious and disruptive.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord has a much higher complaint volume at 4,438 over 10 years (about 444 per year), indicating more frequent problems. Engine issues, electrical glitches, and false forward collision alerts dominate. The higher crash and injury numbers suggest these failures may have more safety implications.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo S60 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 296 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 36 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 12 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 7 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 S60
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM77
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER61
- 03SERVICE BRAKES46
- 04STEERING32
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE32
Owners report sudden total power loss while driving, including steering and lights, and SRS warning lights. This can be alarming and dangerous, especially at highway speeds.
Brakes can suddenly lose power, with the pedal going to the floor and a sound of air leaking. This is a critical safety failure that could lead to crashes.
Steering wheel squeaks and creaks, especially when cold, often related to the airbag spring or trim. While not a loss of control, it indicates a quality issue.
Though not detailed in the sample, 32 complaints suggest the system may have false activations or failures, which can be distracting or cause unexpected braking.
“The contact owns a 2016 Volvo S60. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V378000 (Seat Belts) and 16V…”
“PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2016 VOLVO S60 - THE CAR AT INCIDENT DATE HAD 200 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY - THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, STEERING, LIGHTS, ETC WHILE IN THE NUMBER 4 OF 7 LANE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. THE CAR WAS BLACKED OUT, NO…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) at highway speeds. This can be a serious safety concern.
Issues include TPMS warnings leading to tire failure and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, causing electrical malfunctions. These can be costly and unpredictable.
The system may falsely activate or show intermittent errors with adaptive cruise and lane keeping, which can be annoying and potentially dangerous if it brakes unexpectedly.
Though not in the sample, 592 complaints indicate brake-related issues, possibly including failures or false activations, which are critical for safety.
“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 S60 — 36 recalls
The defect: Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front…
The risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.
The defect: Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front…
The risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.
The defect: Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
The risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89978.
The defect: Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2017 S60 and S60 Cross Country, V60 and V60 Cross Country, and XC60 vehicles manufactured August 16, 2016, through October 21, 2016. The affected vehicles have driver and front passenger seat side mounted side air bags (SAB) with inflator in…
The risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front seat side air bags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.…
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 S60 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Volvo S60 has far fewer complaints per year (about 30) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the S60's problems, like sudden power loss and brake failure, are serious. The Accord's higher volume suggests more frequent annoyances and potential safety concerns.
Key differences
- The Volvo S60 has significantly fewer complaints per year (30 vs 444), suggesting a lower rate of owner-reported issues.
- The Accord has more engine-related complaints (985) and forward collision avoidance issues (821), while the S60's top issues are electrical (77) and brakes (46).
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (160 vs 12) and injuries (144 vs 7), indicating that its failures may have more safety consequences.
- The S60's sample complaints include sudden total power loss and brake failure, while the Accord's include engine power loss and false collision warnings.
- Check for any history of electrical system repairs, especially related to sudden power loss or SRS warnings.
- Inspect the brake system for signs of air leaks or pedal feel issues, and ask about any brake-related recalls.
- Look for engine performance issues, such as unusual noises or loss of power, and check if the fuel pump recall has been performed.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system for false activations or error messages, and verify the occupant classification sensor recall.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the electrical system and brakes on the Volvo S60.
- For the Honda Accord, ask about any engine or fuel system repairs and test the advanced safety features.
- Test drive both vehicles to feel for any steering or brake anomalies.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recall information before purchase.
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 S60 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 40 | 214 |
| 2023 | 3 | 224 |
| 2022 | 75 | 238 |
| 2021 | 32 | 226 |
| 2020 | 32 | 355 |
| 2019 | 69 | 677 |
| 2018 | 4 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 15 | 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 Volvo S60 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S60 vs Honda Accord
- Volvo S60 total complaints
- 296
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Volvo S60 total recalls
- 36
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Volvo S60 avg complaints/year
- 29.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S60
- Volvo S60 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE