Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S70 vs Honda Accord
How the Volvo S70 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 S70 vs Honda Accord: The S70 has 188 complaints per year, mostly about electronic throttle surging, while the Accord has 443.8 per year, with engine and electrical issues. The S70 has 4 recalls, the Accord 38. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S70 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S70
The Volvo S70, particularly the 2000 model year, shows a concentrated pattern of electronic throttle and engine control issues. Owners report sudden RPM surges, stalling, and difficulty starting, often linked to the electronic throttle module. These problems can make the car feel unpredictable and potentially unsafe, especially at speed. While the total complaint count is lower than the Accord's, the nature of the failures is serious and recurring.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, spanning a decade of models, has a much higher volume of complaints, but they are spread across many systems. Engine issues, electrical glitches, and problems with forward collision avoidance systems are common. Owners describe warning lights, sudden loss of power, and false activations of safety features. The sheer number of complaints suggests a wide range of potential issues, but many may be intermittent or less severe.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo S70 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 188 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 188.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 11 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 S70
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL74
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING24
- 04FUEL SYSTEM19
- 05GASOLINE17
Owners report sudden RPM surges and unintended acceleration, often traced to a faulty electronic throttle module. This can cause the car to lunge forward without pressing the gas, a serious safety concern.
Many owners experience intermittent starting problems where the engine cranks but won't start, and warning lights like ETS and check engine illuminate. These electrical gremlins can leave you stranded.
The engine may stall or surge at various speeds, with the ETS light coming on. Dealers often diagnose the same electronic throttle system issue, indicating a systemic problem.
Some owners report the fuel pump failing, causing the engine not to start at all. This can happen repeatedly over several months, making the car unreliable.
“I OWN A 2000 VOLVO S70 AND AM WAS EXPERIENCING RPM SURGING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT VOLVO REPAIR SPECIALIST, SOUTHWEST AUTOMOTIVE, WHO IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE SURGING AS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE PROBLEM, AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO A V…”
“**APPROX. INCIDENT DATE IS ACTUALLY ONGOING FOR PAST FOUR YEARS.*** I HAVE A 2000 VOLVO S70 WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2000 FROM VOLVO ATHENS, GA. DEALER. I CURRENTLY HAVE 190,000+ MILES. OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD CONSIST…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises, sudden loss of power, and warning lights for brakes, hill descent, and ABS. Some describe the vehicle losing speed on the highway, which is alarming.
Issues range from TPMS warnings to rodent damage on wiring harnesses. One owner had a tire fail catastrophically after a TPMS repair, and another reported a sunroof glass explosion, indicating potential quality control problems.
Many complaints involve the system activating unexpectedly or displaying errors for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. These false alerts can be distracting and undermine trust in safety features.
Brake-related complaints are frequent, with some owners reporting critical failures and warning messages. This is a critical safety area that needs careful inspection.
“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 S70 — 4 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
The risk: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
The defect: CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAI…
The risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THERE COULD BE INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET WHICH COULD CAUSE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.
The risk: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
The risk: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS…
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 S70 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Volvo S70 has far fewer complaints per year (188 vs 443.8) and fewer recalls (4 vs 38), but its issues are more concentrated and potentially dangerous. The Accord's higher volume reflects a broader range of problems, but many are electronic niggles rather than immediate safety threats. In practice, the S70 may be more predictable in its failures, while the Accord offers a wider but less severe set of concerns.
Key differences
- The Volvo S70's main issue is a single electronic throttle module causing surging and stalling, while the Accord has a broader range of engine and electrical problems.
- The Accord has a much higher rate of complaints about forward collision avoidance systems, which the S70 lacks entirely.
- The S70 has fewer recalls (4) compared to the Accord (38), but its recalls include speed control and brake master cylinder issues.
- The Accord's complaints include modern features like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, which are absent on the older S70.
- Inspect the electronic throttle module for signs of failure, such as intermittent surging or ETS warning lights.
- Check the fuel pump operation, as failures are reported and can leave you stranded.
- Test all forward collision avoidance and lane keeping systems for false activations or error messages.
- Look for any electrical issues, such as warning lights or intermittent failures, and check the wiring harness for rodent damage.
Before you buy
- For the Volvo S70, ask for service records related to the electronic throttle module and fuel pump replacements.
- For the Honda Accord, verify that all recalls have been performed, especially those for fuel pump and brake control module.
- Take both vehicles for a test drive and monitor for any surging, stalling, or warning lights.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the braking system on the Accord, given the high number of brake complaints.
- Check the sunroof on the Accord for any signs of stress or previous replacement.
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 S70 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S70 vs Honda Accord
- Volvo S70 total complaints
- 188
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Volvo S70 total recalls
- 4
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Volvo S70 avg complaints/year
- 188.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S70
- Volvo S70 top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE