Head-to-head reliability
Volvo V90cc vs Honda Accord
How the Volvo V90cc 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 V90cc vs Honda Accord: The Volvo V90cc has 13 complaints over 10 years (1.3/year) and 1 crash-related report, while the Honda Accord has 4,438 complaints (443.8/year) and 160 crash-related reports. The Accord also has 3 deaths vs. 0 for the Volvo. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo V90cc or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo V90cc
The Volvo V90cc is a low-volume wagon with only 13 complaints over 10 years, averaging 1.3 per year. Owners report electrical glitches like brake failure warnings, water leaks damaging electronics, and a tailgate that can close on its own. Recalls cover brakes and back-over prevention software. It's a niche car with fewer reported issues, but the ones that occur can be serious and costly.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume sedan with 4,438 complaints over 10 years, averaging 443.8 per year. Common reports include engine noises, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance warnings. There are 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths. Recalls address hybrid software, tires, brakes, airbags, and fuel pumps. It's a popular car with many reported problems, so buyers should be aware of frequent issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo V90cc | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 13 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.3 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 V90cc
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 03STRUCTURE3
- 04SERVICE BRAKES2
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
Owners report sudden 'Brake Failure - Stop Safely' messages that can lock the parking brake, prevent the car from coming out of Park, and stop the engine from turning off. Water leaks from the sunroof can also damage electrical panels and batteries, causing the car to die while driving.
The automatic tailgate can randomly close on its own, striking owners on the head or shoulder even when no one is near the key fob or button. This is a physical injury risk, especially for people with health conditions.
Moisture in the rear tail light can trigger a 'brake malfunction' error and deactivate the passenger rear brake light, making it intermittent. This reduces brake visibility and could lead to a crash if not addressed.
The Sensus navigation screen can freeze or be covered by a blank window, blocking navigation and other driver information. Recovery often requires stopping the car and waiting 5-20 minutes, which is distracting and inconvenient.
“Sunday, May 14, 2023 - 2:30pm Car reports "Brake Failure - Stop Safely" Driver does so, and-- -Parking Brake Sets -Car will not come out of Park -Engine can not be turned off -Rear lift gate cannot be opened by any means First attempt at a tow fails – parking…”
“Gaps in the sunroof seal caused water to drain from the sunroof to the interior, electrical panel, firewall panel of the car and batteries. All electrical components are damaged because of the water. My car died on a very busy road on Dec. 31, 2024. It is an…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises and critical failure alarms (Brake, hill descent, ABS) that cause the vehicle to lose speed and become undrivable. Some issues appear shortly after purchase, leading to dissatisfaction and safety concerns.
Electrical problems include TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new vehicles. These can lead to loss of control or unexpected breakdowns.
Dashboard warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams appear intermittently, often lasting seconds. This means safety systems may not work when needed, increasing crash risk.
Owners report sunroof glass exploding over the roof and onto the highway, and tire failures after TPMS service. These are sudden, dangerous events that can cause injury or crashes.
“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 V90cc — 19 recalls
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60, V60CC, V90CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic error in the Brake Control Module 2 (BCM2) may cause a loss of Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and traction control.
The risk: A reduction in brake support functions can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will release an over-the-air (OTA) BCM2 software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 15, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for thi…
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…
The defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, 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 fai…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view 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 February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's numb…
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 V90cc or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Volvo V90cc has far fewer complaints per year (1.3 vs. 443.8) and fewer crash-related reports (1 vs. 160). In practice, this means the Honda Accord is more likely to have a reported problem, but the Volvo's issues can be severe when they occur. Buyers should weigh frequency against severity.
Key differences
- The Volvo V90cc averages 1.3 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 443.8, showing a huge difference in reported issue frequency.
- Volvo owners report tailgate injuries and brake failure warnings, while Honda owners report engine failures, exploding sunroofs, and forward collision system glitches.
- The Honda Accord has 160 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, compared to 1 crash-related complaint and 0 deaths for the Volvo V90cc.
- Both have recalls, but the Accord's recalls cover hybrid software, tires, brakes, airbags, and fuel pumps, while the Volvo's focus on brakes and back-over prevention software.
- Check for water leaks around the sunroof and interior electrical panels, as owners report water damaging electronics and causing the car to die.
- Test the automatic tailgate multiple times to ensure it does not close unexpectedly, and inspect for any signs of brake warning messages or parking brake issues.
- Listen for engine noises and check for any dashboard warnings related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent, as owners report sudden loss of speed and critical failure alarms.
- Inspect the sunroof glass for cracks or signs of stress, and verify that forward collision avoidance systems (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) activate without intermittent warnings.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed on both models.
- For the Volvo V90cc, test the sunroof for leaks and the tailgate for unexpected closing, and check for any electrical warning messages.
- For the Honda Accord, scan for engine and transmission codes, test all driver-assist features, and inspect the sunroof and tires for damage.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and rough roads to reproduce intermittent electrical or engine issues.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the car, focusing on the specific complaint areas: electrical system for Volvo, engine and forward collision avoidance for Honda.
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 V90cc | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 2 | 238 |
| 2021 | 0 | 226 |
| 2020 | 4 | 355 |
| 2019 | 0 | 677 |
| 2018 | 7 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 V90cc or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo V90cc vs Honda Accord
- Volvo V90cc total complaints
- 13
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Volvo V90cc total recalls
- 19
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Volvo V90cc avg complaints/year
- 1.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Volvo V90cc
- Volvo V90cc top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE