CarTold

2020 vs. 2021 Honda Accord: What Changed

Our records for the 2020 and 2021 Honda Accord show one difference in the specifications and ratings tracked below.

The 6-speed manual listed for 2020 is not in the 2021 listing.

Three campaigns cover both years. Two campaigns (electrical system and fuel system) cover the 2020 and not the 2021, while one campaign (seat belts) covers the 2021 and not the 2020.

Fewer campaigns do not establish better reliability. Confirm each car's coverage and repair status by VIN.

The campaigns that separate them

Imported NHTSA recall campaigns that name one of these two model years but not the other, with their component labels. Campaigns covering both years are left out of this list.

Only the 2020

  • 20V771000 electrical system
  • 21V215000 fuel system

Only the 2021

  • 21V900000 seat belts
A campaign may cover only part of a model year's production. Use the campaign number to ask an authorized dealer whether the car's VIN is included and what work remains. Our recall tool finds model-year campaigns; this guide explains the vehicle-specific check.

Side by side

2020 2021
Engines listed 1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl 1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl
Drive types Front-Wheel Drive Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel types Regular Gasoline Regular Gasoline
Combined MPG 26–48 26–48
Recall campaigns 5 4
Complaints on file 395 276
Investigations 1 1
Complaint totals reflect different time on the road, sales and reporting. They cannot rank these years for reliability. The categories below identify symptoms to read about, not failure odds. How reporting time affects the comparison.

What owners reported, by system

2020

Other 145 (37%)
Electrical 59 (15%)
Engine 56 (14%)

2021

Other 111 (40%)
Electrical 62 (22%)
Engine 35 (13%)

Full reports

Open each year's report to read the recall, investigation, manufacturer communication and EPA variant records on file:

2020 Accord full report 2021 Accord full report Every Accord year compared

Sources and methodology