Honda Reliability: Decades of Dependability

Lauren H
Feb 20, 2021

Honda Models Lineup

Are you trying to decide on what vehicle you should buy next? If you are like most people, reliability is at the top of your list…right? So let’s take a look at Honda reliability.

How reliable are Honda vehicles?

The 2020 Honda lineup received several J.D. Power awards in 2020. They were given Performance, Quality, Dependability, and Dealership awards. The Dependability Award is given to the brand with the fewest problems by 100 car owners over the last 12 months with their three-year-old vehicle.

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline and the 2020 Honda Odyssey were specifically awarded best performance midsize pickup and minivan respectively. But you probably need more information before you can make any final decisions.

So we have compiled detailed data from the NHTSA and VehicleHistory databases. We will give you expert reviews, owner reviews, crash ratings, and recalls. Having this information will help you make a more informed buying decision about which vehicle is right for you. But let’s go over a little Honda history first.

Looking Back at the Honda Brand

The Honda Motor Company was founded in Japan in 1946. It’s a Japanese public multinational conglomerate. It manufactures automobiles, power equipment, and motorcycles. In fact, since 1959 Honda has been the largest motorcycle manufacturer and internal combustion engine manufacturer in the world. Honda also manufactures marine motors, garden equipment, personal watercraft, power generators, and more.

The first automobile from Honda was the T360 mini truck which was rolled out in 1963. The T360 was powered by a 356-cc straight gas motor. In 1986, Honda rolled out the Acura brand in the U.S. This was an attempt to capture a portion of the luxury car market.

Fast forward to 2020. Honda announced that it would be entering an alliance with General Motors in 2021. This alliance includes the duo sharing a variety of vehicles that would each be sold under their respective brands. They would also work together in purchasing, research and development, and other related services.

Now let’s take a detailed look at the 11 different 2020 Honda models on the market.

2020 Honda Accord

Expert Reviews: 4.8 Stars

The 2020 Honda Accord is a popular spacious sedan with exceptional reliability, gas mileage, and resale value. But, the interior can be a bit noisy, and there is no all-wheel-drive option.

Owner Reviews: 4.61Stars

  • Greatly improved over previous models
  • Very responsive and comfortable
  • Plenty of safety features
  • Transmission had to be replaced at 2500 miles and several complaints about AC problems
  • Very reliable and gets great gas mileage

Crash Ratings and Recalls

The 2020 Honda Accord has an NHTSA overall 5-Star crash rating and no recalls to date.

2020 Honda Civic

Red 2020 Honda Civic In Motion

Expert Reviews: 4.60 Stars

The 2020 Honda Civic comes in a variety of models and trims including a hybrid version. This compact car is roomy, reliable, and has a great resale value. But, the upper trims are pricey, the styling isn’t that great, and there are no all-wheel-drive options.

Owner Reviews: 4.73 Stars

  • Several reports of new cars not starting
  • A great car
  • Great performance and very reliable
  • Super comfortable and a smooth, quiet ride
  • Great gas mileage

Crash Ratings and Recalls

The 2020 Honda Civic has an NHTSA overall 5-Star crash rating and no recalls to date.

2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid

Expert Reviews: 3.9 Stars

The 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid is very comfortable with a quiet cabin. It has Acura-grade materials and interior design and can seat up to five people. But, the Infotainment system is a bit clunky, the styling isn’t eye-catching, and it uses a LaneWatch system instead of a blindspot monitoring system.

Owner Reviews: 4.3 Stars

  • Honda got it right this is a fantastic plug-in hybrid
  • Great electric miles for a plug-in hybrid
  • Well-engineered car
  • Roomy, smooth driving, and fuel-efficient
  • Very comfortable

Crash Ratings and Recalls

This vehicle has not yet been rated by the NHTSA and there are no recalls or investigations to date.

2020 Honda Fit

Expert Reviews: 4.60 Stars

The 2020 Honda Fit has a roomy interior and plenty of cargo space. It also gets great gas mileage and is easy to park and handle. But, it’s more expensive than other economy cars and the interior is a bit loud.

Owner Reviews: 4.71 Stars

  • Small but mighty with no problems so far
  • Good gas mileage but a small gas tank
  • More spacious than it appears and has great visibility
  • Comfortable seats but has a noisy cabin
  • A very reliable car

Crash Ratings and Recalls

The 2020 Honda Fit has an NHTSA overall 5-Star crash rating and no recalls, investigations, or complaints to date.

2020 Honda Insight

Expert Reviews: 4.6 Stars

The 2020 Honda Insight is a hybrid sedan that shares the same platform as the Honda Civic. It is roomy and has a comparatively luxurious interior. It also gets great mileage and has quick acceleration especially for a hybrid. But, the cabin is noisy especially when the gas motor kicks in.

Owner Reviews: 4.59 Stars

  • Great gas mileage and great features
  • Very comfortable, reliable, and sporty
  • The tech features are amazing
  • The motor is good but gets loud when trying to accelerate
  • Lots of safety features

Crash Ratings and Recalls

The 2020 Honda Insight has an NHTSA overall 5-Star crash rating and one recall to date. The recall is for the possibility of a fuel pump fail.

2020 Honda CR-V

Gray 2020 Honda CR-V From Front-Driver Side

Expert Reviews: 4.80 Stars

The 2020 Honda CR-V has a spacious interior and large cargo area. It’s reliable, has great resale value, and plenty of Honda Sensing driver assists. But, it is limited when it comes to its off-road capabilities, it can only tow up to 1,500 pounds, and its competitors are more fun to drive.

Owner Reviews: 4.39 Stars

  • Love everything about it except for the Infotainment center
  • Too touchy, hard to manage, and don’t like that you have to switch back and forth between the radio and the climate control
  • Looks great, drives great, and has great features, but there are several battery issue complaints
  • Plenty of cargo space but the seats aren’t that comfortable
  • Very safe and reliable

Crash Ratings and Recalls

The 2020 Honda CR-V has an NHTSA overall 5-Star crash rating and one recall to date. The recall was for rear subframe separation.

2020 Honda HR-V

Expert Reviews: 4.60 Stars

The 2020 Honda HR-V beats most of its competitors when it comes to space, value, gas mileage, versatility, and reliability. It also has a great resale value. But, it’s not geared for off-roading and its competitors offer better more sporty styling.

Owner Reviews: 4.63 Stars

  • Great car at an affordable price
  • Very reliable and fun to drive
  • Spacious and good on gas
  • Comfortable and easy to drive
  • I love this car and no problems so far

Crash Ratings and Recalls

The 2020 Honda HR-V has an NHTSA overall 5-Star crash rating and no recalls to date.

2020 Honda Passport

Expert Reviews: 4.1 Stars

The 2020 Honda Passport has a roomy interior and plenty of passenger space. The front seats are comfortable and there are nicely placed storage compartments. But, the adaptive cruise control only works if you’re going more than 20 mph. And, the Infotainment system has lots of problems and malfunctions.

Owner Reviews: 4.2 Stars

  • Solid vehicle
  • Great acceleration
  • Lots of interior and cargo space
  • Handles well in all conditions and has a tight turning radius
  • Lots of problems with the Infotainment system

Crash Ratings and Recalls

The 2020 Honda Passport has an NHTSA overall 5-Star crash rating and no recalls, investigations, or complaints to date.

2020 Honda Pilot

Expert Reviews: 4.70 Stars

The 2020 Honda Pilot is the perfect size for a family. It has comfortable seats, lots of storage and cargo space, it’s fun to drive, and has plenty of standard safety features. But, it looks a bit like a minivan and the front passenger seat is not height adjustable.

Owners Reviews: 4.49 Stars

  • Many owners comment about how much they love this car
  • Lots of space for traveling
  • Not the best on gas and has electrical issues
  • Very comfortable and roomy
  • A reliable, attractive family vehicle

Crash Ratings and Recalls

The 2020 Honda Pilot has an NHTSA overall 5-Star crash rating and four recalls to date. The recalls are for the instrument panel software incorrect, delayed or inoperative rearview camera, certification label ink can be wiped away, and incomplete body welding.

2020 Honda Ridgeline

Expert Reviews: 4.30 Stars

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline is a perfect size, has a powerful V6, has hidden storage under the bed, and has class-leading payload capabilities. But, it has limited off-road capabilities, there is only one cab size, and it’s higher priced than others in its class.

Owner Reviews: 4.0 Stars

  • Great power and gas mileage
  • Some issues so far including the brakes
  • Sporty, fast, and drives smooth
  • Really comfortable
  • Love the automatic trunk opener

Crash Ratings and Recalls

The 2020 Honda Ridgeline has an NHTSA overall 5-Star crash rating and one recall to date. The recall was for the Tonneau cover panel may detach from the vehicle.

2020 Honda Odyssey

Green 2020 Honda Odyssey With White Background

Expert Reviews: 4.60 Stars

The 2020 Honda Odyssey is a family-friendly minivan that is hard to beat. It’s comfortable and has a refined feel to it. And, it has plenty of smart and safety features. But, the base model doesn’t come with any advanced safety features, there is no available hybrid or all-wheel-drive option, and the top-tier model is extremely expensive.

Owner Reviews: 4.62 Stars

  • Awful electronics and transmission
  • Plenty of room and drives great in all kinds of weather conditions
  • Extremely smooth and comfortable for all passengers
  • Very quiet cabin
  • Lots of great features

Crash Ratings and Recalls

The 2020 Honda Odyssey has an NHTSA overall 5-Star crash rating and five recalls to date. The recalls are for the power sliding doors may open while moving, a distorted or inoperative rearview camera, instrument panel software incorrect, delayed or inoperable rearview camera, and the accessory power outlet harness may short circuit.

What’s Next?

Click here now for a free Vehicle History report.

This free service gives you instant unlimited vehicle history reports. There is no obligation and no credit card is required. Simply put in the VIN or the license plate number and hit enter…that’s it!

avatar Lauren H
Lauren H. has sold new and used cars, negotiated numerous car deals, has a thorough knowledge of the best and worst vehicles produced, and has spent the last 10-years as an automotive writer.
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