Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S90 vs Honda Accord
How the Volvo S90 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 S90 vs Honda Accord: The S90 averages 6.2 complaints per year with 0 injuries, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year with 144 injuries and 3 deaths. The S90 has 26 recalls versus 38 for the Accord. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S90 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S90
The Volvo S90 is a low-volume luxury sedan with an average of 6.2 complaints per year over the past decade, suggesting relatively few reported issues. Owners frequently mention electrical gremlins like a stuck fuel door and brake vibrations that can require multiple rotor replacements. While there are no reported injuries or deaths in the data, the 26 recalls and 2 crash-related complaints indicate some safety concerns. Overall, it appears to be a vehicle with manageable but persistent minor faults.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with a much higher complaint rate—about 444 per year—and 38 recalls over the same period. The data shows 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths, which is significant given the large number of vehicles on the road. Common owner reports include engine noises, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance system glitches. This suggests that while many Accords are reliable, a notable number experience serious safety-related problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo S90 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 62 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.2 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 S90
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
- 03SERVICE BRAKES8
- 04LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES6
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
Owners report the fuel door failing to release, preventing refueling, and TPMS malfunctions that can cause sudden driving issues. These electrical faults can leave you stranded or unaware of tire problems.
Complaints describe violent steering wheel shake when braking, often requiring multiple brake rotor replacements. This can affect stopping confidence and lead to costly repairs.
Rear doors may fail to open from inside or outside due to a door lock actuator issue, which is a safety risk in an emergency. Owners report this as a recurring problem.
Some owners mention vibration issues that may relate to speed control, though details are limited. This could indicate underlying drivetrain or software concerns.
“I PERSONALLY, BACK IN AUGUST OF 2016 ORDERED A NEW 2017 VOLVO S90 T5 INSCRIPTION, AND TOOK DELIVER IN NOVEMBER 2016. I BEGAN NOTICING A LITTLE VIBRATION AROUND JULY TIME FRAME BUT AFTER THE VEHICLE FIRST MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDED SERVICE DIDN'T FEEL IT AS MUCH.…”
“TPMS system total malfunction. Wife started out of our garage for work and noticed that the vehicle wasnt driving right and fortunately stopped and back down our driveway back toward the garage. Called me out and I went around the vehicle and witnessed the ri…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) appearing at highway speeds. These symptoms can lead to sudden deceleration and dangerous driving conditions.
Complaints include TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even in new vehicles. Such issues can cause blowouts or costly electrical repairs.
Drivers experience intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, with dashboard warnings. This undermines advanced safety features that many buyers rely on.
Some owners report brake system problems, though specific details are less clear in the sample. Given the high number of complaints, brake-related issues may be a recurring concern.
“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 S90 — 26 recalls
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 S90L, 2020-2021 XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An improperly welded rotor and shaft may separate within the integrated brake system.
The risk: Separation of the rotor and shaft may cause a reduction in braking assistance and a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the hydraulic unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10120.
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.
The risk: A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All r…
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2025 S90 vehicles. The windows may be improperly secured and detach.
The risk: Windows that detach can create a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash or injury. In addition, the front windshield may not properly support a passenger air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will remove and reinstall the windows, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo's customer service at 800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10307.
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…
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 S90 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Volvo S90 has far fewer complaints per year (6.2 vs. 443.8) and no reported injuries or deaths, while the Honda Accord has 144 injuries and 3 deaths in the data. In practice, this means the S90 may have fewer serious safety incidents, but the Accord's higher volume means problems are more widely reported. Buyers should weigh the S90's lower frequency of issues against the Accord's more common but potentially severe problems.
Key differences
- The Volvo S90 averages 6.2 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 443.8, indicating a much higher reported problem rate for the Accord.
- The Accord has 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths, whereas the S90 has 2 crash-related complaints and no injuries or deaths.
- Volvo S90 owners frequently report brake vibrations and electrical issues like fuel door failure, while Honda Accord owners report engine power loss and forward collision avoidance glitches.
- The Accord has 38 recalls versus 26 for the S90, but the Accord's recalls include critical systems like fuel pumps and air bag sensors.
- Check for brake pedal vibration or steering wheel shake during test drive, as this may indicate warped rotors needing replacement.
- Test the fuel door release and all door locks, especially rear doors, to ensure they open properly from inside and outside.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and watch for multiple dashboard warnings (brake, ABS, hill descent) during test drive.
- Verify that forward collision avoidance features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) function without intermittent error messages.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on brakes, electrical, and engine systems.
- During test drive, test all electronic features including TPMS, fuel door, door locks, and advanced driver aids.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for brake and electrical repairs.
- For the Honda Accord, check if the fuel pump and air bag recalls have been addressed.
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 S90 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 2 | 214 |
| 2023 | 2 | 224 |
| 2022 | 4 | 238 |
| 2021 | 0 | 226 |
| 2020 | 2 | 355 |
| 2019 | 0 | 677 |
| 2018 | 36 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 16 | 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 S90 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S90 vs Honda Accord
- Volvo S90 total complaints
- 62
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Volvo S90 total recalls
- 26
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Volvo S90 avg complaints/year
- 6.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S90
- Volvo S90 top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE