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 averages 29.8 complaints per year and has 36 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord also has 3 deaths and 162 crash-related complaints, versus 0 deaths and 13 crash-related for the S60. Both have serious safety issues, but the S60 has far fewer complaints. 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 is a luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume—about 30 per year over a decade—but owners report serious electrical and brake issues. Many complaints involve sudden power loss, brake failure, and warning lights, which can be frightening and expensive to fix. With 36 recalls, including seat belts and air bags, it demands diligent maintenance. Overall, it's a car that can be reliable if you stay on top of recalls and inspections, but it's not for someone who wants a trouble-free, appliance-like experience.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint rate—over 450 per year—and a wide range of reported problems. Owners frequently complain about engine stalling, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance system malfunctions. With 38 recalls and 3 deaths reported, it's clear that some defects can be severe. While many Accords run well, the sheer volume of complaints suggests that certain model years or trims may be more problematic than others.
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 | 298 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 36 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 13 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 7 Better | 146 |
| 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, leaving the car blacked out with no steering or lights. Others see SRS warning lights that require dealer repairs under recalls. These failures can happen at any speed and are a major safety concern.
Complaints describe brakes suddenly losing power, with a hissing air leak behind the pedal, or the pedal going all the way to the floor. In one case, the driver had to shift to Park to stop. This suggests potential master cylinder or brake booster failures.
Owners hear squeaks and creaks from the steering wheel when cold, often linked to the airbag spring or trim. Some have had multiple repair attempts without a permanent fix, which can be annoying and costly.
There are 32 complaints about this system, though specific symptoms aren't detailed in the sample. Buyers should test the system and check for recalls or software updates.
“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
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failures, followed by loss of speed. Others hear rattling noises like a diesel and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can lead to stalling or reduced power.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing near-collisions. Another owner had a tire fail catastrophically after a TPMS warning was supposedly fixed. These are severe safety risks.
Owners report the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions. One complaint describes adaptive cruise control suddenly braking or accelerating unexpectedly. This can cause loss of control.
With 602 complaints, issues may include fuel pump failures or hybrid system problems. A recall for fuel pump delivery confirms this is a known concern. Symptoms could include stalling or difficulty starting.
“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…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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 (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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 vs. 452 for the Accord), but both have serious safety-related issues. In practice, the S60 may be less likely to leave you stranded, but when problems occur, they can be severe. The Accord's higher volume means you're more likely to encounter a defect, but many are covered by recalls.
Key differences
- Volvo S60 has 298 complaints over 10 years; Honda Accord has 4,524—a 15-fold difference in reported issues per year.
- Volvo S60's top complaints are electrical (77) and brakes (46), with reports of sudden power loss and brake failure; Honda Accord's top complaints are engine (1,006) and electrical (895), including stalling and steering/brake lockup.
- Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths; Volvo S60 has 13 crash-related and 0 deaths, though both have injury reports.
- Both have 36-38 recalls, but the Accord's recalls include fuel pump and hybrid software, while the S60's include seat belts and air bags.
- Check for any signs of electrical gremlins: test all lights, warning indicators, and ensure the car starts reliably. Ask if the SRS warning light has ever illuminated.
- Test the brakes thoroughly: listen for air leaks behind the pedal, feel for a spongy or failing pedal, and check for any recall work on the brake system.
- Listen for engine rattles or rough transitions between EV and gas modes during a test drive, especially in hybrid models. Check for any stored engine or hybrid system codes.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems if equipped; look for any history of unexpected braking or failure to detect obstacles.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to check for open recalls on both models, and confirm they have been repaired.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to replicate conditions where electrical or brake failures are reported.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brake system, including the master cylinder and brake booster, especially on the Volvo S60.
- For the Honda Accord, scan for engine and hybrid system trouble codes and check the fuel pump recall status.
- Ask for maintenance records and look for repeated repairs in the same area, which may indicate a persistent defect.
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 | 109 |
| 2024 | 40 | 219 |
| 2023 | 3 | 226 |
| 2022 | 75 | 252 |
| 2021 | 32 | 234 |
| 2020 | 32 | 362 |
| 2019 | 69 | 691 |
| 2018 | 4 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 17 | 537 |
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
- 298
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Volvo S60 total recalls
- 36
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Volvo S60 avg complaints/year
- 29.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S60
- Volvo S60 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE