Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S80 vs Honda Accord
How the Volvo S80 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 S80 vs Honda Accord: The S80 averages 12.8 complaints per year with 37 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The S80 reports 8 crash-related complaints and 0 deaths; the Accord reports 162 crash-related and 3 deaths. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S80 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S80
The Volvo S80 is a low-volume luxury sedan with an average of 12.8 complaints per year over a decade, suggesting that when problems arise, they tend to be reported by a relatively small but engaged owner base. Owners frequently mention stalling, loss of power, and electrical glitches that can leave the car undrivable. Structural issues like water leaks and mold are also reported, which can affect comfort and health. With 37 recalls, including seat belts and transmission control, it's a car that demands regular recall checks.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with an average of 452.4 complaints per year, reflecting its huge popularity and the sheer number of owners reporting issues. Complaints often center on engine and electrical problems, including loss of power and electronic steering/braking failures. Advanced safety systems like forward collision avoidance also generate many reports of unexpected braking or failure to act. With 38 recalls, including fuel pumps and hybrid software, it's a car that requires vigilance for open recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo S80 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 128 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 37 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 12.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 13 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 S80
- 01STRUCTURE20
- 02ENGINE19
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER16
- 05WHEELS9
Owners report condensation inside the cabin leading to mold on seat belts, and chrome trim on the steering wheel delaminating into sharp edges. These issues can cause health problems and minor injuries, and they suggest poor water sealing or material quality.
Complaints include stalling while driving, loss of power with no gas pedal response, and stabilization warning lights. These failures can leave you stranded or cause accidents, as one owner reported a side-swipe after stalling.
Owners describe sudden inability to accelerate, start/stop function delays, and charging warnings. These electrical gremlins can make the car unpredictable and may require costly diagnostics.
Reports include sunroofs exploding and start/stop systems that must be manually disabled each time. These are unexpected failures that can be dangerous and annoying.
“The contact owns a 2010 Volvo S80. The contact stated that there was condensation inside the vehicle. Additionally, the contact's daughter informed the contact that there was mold on the front passenger's side seat belt. The contact stated that there was mold…”
“THE CHROME FOIL DECORATION ON THE STEERING WHEEL TRIM IS DELAMINATING, CAUSING A SHARP EDGE WHERE THE FOIL HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE PLASTIC SUBSTRATE. THIS IS HAPPENING AT THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHERE THE HANDS COME IN CONTACT WITH IT. IN THE…”
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, along with loss of speed and rattling noises. These issues can lead to sudden power loss and costly repairs.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. These are severe safety risks that can cause near-collisions.
Owners describe unexpected braking or failure to brake under adaptive cruise control, sometimes occurring repeatedly on the same route. This can cause rear-end collisions or loss of control.
Reports include persistent sulfur odors and footwell panels that trap the driver's foot. These defects can distract the driver and lead to accidents.
“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 S80 — 37 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 North America, LLC. (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, XC70, and S80 vehicles manufactured April 8, 2015 to August 19, 2015. In certain driving conditions when using the automatic engine stop/start function, the starter motor fuse may blow, preve…
The risk: If the vehicle is unexpectedly unable to be started in the middle of traffic, such as when stopped at an intersection, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing starter motor fuse with a higher amperage fuse, free of charge. The recall began on October 26, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552 or by visitin…
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.
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 S80 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Volvo S80 has far fewer complaints per year (12.8 vs. 452.4), but that partly reflects its lower sales volume. In practice, the S80's issues tend to be structural and electrical, while the Accord's are more frequently engine and safety-system related. Both have recalls, but the Accord's higher complaint rate means you're more likely to encounter a reported problem.
Key differences
- The Volvo S80 averages 12.8 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 452.4, a huge difference that partly reflects sales volume but also suggests more frequent owner-reported issues in the Accord.
- Volvo S80 complaints often involve structure (water leaks, mold) and engine stalling, whereas Honda Accord complaints frequently involve engine power loss and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- The Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, compared to 8 crash-related and 0 deaths for the Volvo S80, indicating a higher reported crash involvement for the Accord.
- Both have similar recall counts (37 vs. 38), but the Accord's recalls include fuel pumps and hybrid software, while the S80's include seat belts and transmission control.
- Check for water leaks and mold, especially around the seat belts and under the floor mats, as owners report condensation and mold growth.
- Test the engine for stalling or hesitation at low speeds and listen for any unusual noises, as multiple owners reported sudden loss of power.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, and watch for any warning lights, as owners reported simultaneous failure.
- Check for rattling noises during acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which owners likened to a diesel engine.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to check for open recalls on both vehicles, and confirm they have been repaired.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for stalling, hesitation, or unexpected braking.
- Inspect the Volvo S80 for water stains, mold, and delaminating trim on the steering wheel.
- For the Honda Accord, test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control in a safe area, and check for sulfur odors.
- Ask for maintenance records and a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model.
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 S80 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S80 vs Honda Accord
- Volvo S80 total complaints
- 128
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Volvo S80 total recalls
- 37
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Volvo S80 avg complaints/year
- 12.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S80
- Volvo S80 top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE