Honda is a Japanese carmaker founded in 1948. The cars themselves are another matter: across 46 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 5 countries — the United States 65.1%, Canada 17.3%, Japan 11.1%. 21 models are tracked here (1981–2026). Reliable? yes, on balance — 4.0 out of 5 across 21 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Honda
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. Founded by Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa in 1948, Honda became the world's largest motorcycle producer in 1959 and entered the United States automobile market in 1969 with the N600. Honda is the only Japanese automaker that designs, develops and manufactures aircraft (the HondaJet) in addition to cars, trucks, motorcycles and lawn equipment. The company's VTEC variable valve-timing system, introduced on the 1989 Integra XSi, set a benchmark for high-revving naturally aspirated efficiency. The Civic and Accord nameplates have been continuously sold in the US since 1973 and 1976 respectively, and Honda was the first Japanese automaker to build cars in the United States, opening its Marysville, Ohio plant in 1982. Honda trades on the New York Stock Exchange under HMC. Acura, Honda's luxury division, has operated as a separate brand in North America since 1986. Recall data is reported to NHTSA in real time, and EPA fuel-economy ratings, IIHS crash-test results and Consumer Reports reliability rankings provide third-party benchmarks. ForCar.org decodes any Honda VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original MSRP.
Soichiro Honda, a self-taught mechanic, founded Honda Technical Research Institute in 1946 to attach surplus military engines to bicycles. The company was incorporated as Honda Motor Co. in 1948. The 1958 Super Cub motorcycle became the highest-selling motor vehicle in history, with over 100 million units produced. Honda's 1972 Civic CVCC was the first engine to meet US Clean Air Act emissions standards without a catalytic converter, establishing the brand's reputation for engineering creativity.
| Honda | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founded by | Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
| Listed as | HMC |
| Slogan | «The Power of Dreams» |
| Models tracked here | 19 (1981–2026) |
| Assembled in | 5 countries |
Technology it is known for: VTEC variable valve timing, Honda Sensing driver assistance, i-MMD two-motor hybrid system, Earth Dreams Technology engines, Real Time AWD.
This page covers Honda Motor Co., the Japanese manufacturer — not the city of Honda in Colombia or any unrelated Honda surnames.
Where Honda cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 77,723 vehicles on record, 46 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1HG, 5FN, 5J6, 19X | 1984–2026 | |
| Canada | 2HK, 2HG, 2HJ, 28G | 1988–2026 | |
| Japan | JHM, JHL, JH2, JHN | 1981–2026 | |
| Mexico | 3CZ, 3GP, 3HG, 3H1 | 2000–2026 | |
| the United Kingdom | SHS, SHH, SFN | 2001–2021 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A Honda beginning 1HG was assembled in the United States.
All Honda models 21
Every Honda model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Honda SUVs & crossovers 8
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | 1997–2026 | 207 | 15,848 | 40 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Pilot | 2003–2026 | 196 | 9,137 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Fit | 2007–2020 | 94 | 2,185 | 118 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda HR-V | 2016–2026 | 37 | 1,798 | 31 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Honda Prologue | 2024–2026 | 7 | — | 104 mpg | 5.0/5 |
| Honda Element | 2003–2011 | 100 | 1,304 | 22 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Honda Crosstour | 2012–2017 | 13 | 138 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Accord Crosstour | 2010–2011 | 14 | 943 | 21 mpg | 3.5/5 |
Honda Cars & sedans 4
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 1981–2026 | 412 | 15,896 | 49 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Accord | 1981–2026 | 413 | 24,144 | 48 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Prelude | 1981–2026 | 63 | 406 | 44 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Honda Clarity | 2004–2021 | 12 | — | 114 mpg | 4.5/5 |
Honda Trucks 1
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Ridgeline | 2006–2026 | 151 | 2,122 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Honda Minivans & vans 1
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Odyssey | 1995–2026 | 206 | 12,571 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Honda More models 7
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Passport | 1994–2026 | 63 | 1,714 | 22 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Honda Civic Type R | 2017–2026 | 10 | 1,126 | — | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Civic Si | 1990–2026 | 28 | — | 32 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda S2000 | 2000–2009 | 12 | 162 | 21 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Honda del Sol | 1994–1997 | 21 | — | 33 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Insight | 2000–2022 | 65 | 576 | 53 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Honda CR-Z | 2011–2016 | 8 | 67 | 36 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Honda by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | Honda | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 2,132 campaigns | Most recalled: Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| Owner complaints | 86,719+ filed | Most reported: Accord |
| Fuel economy | 118 mpg best | Leader: Fit |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ top rated | 8 models tested by NHTSA |
| Insurance | $1,402/yr typical | Cheapest: Pilot |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Honda hybrids & electric models
Honda's electrified lineup — 6 hybrids and 4 electric / plug-in. Click any model for its full powertrain, MPG and range by year.
Honda hybrids 6
| Model | Years | Best figure | Recalls | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 1981–2026 | 49 | 412 | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Accord | 1981–2026 | 48 | 413 | 4.0/5 |
| Honda CR-V | 1997–2026 | 40 | 207 | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Prelude | 1981–2026 | 44 | 63 | 3.5/5 |
| Honda Insight | 2000–2022 | 53 | 65 | 4.0/5 |
| Honda CR-Z | 2011–2016 | 36 | 8 | 4.0/5 |
Honda electric & plug-in 4
| Model | Years | Best figure | Recalls | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | 1997–2026 | 40 | 207 | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Fit | 2007–2020 | 118 | 94 | 4.0/5 |
| Honda Prologue | 2024–2026 | 104 | 7 | 5.0/5 |
| Honda Clarity | 2004–2021 | 114 | 12 | 4.5/5 |
Electrified variants from EPA fueleconomy.gov powertrain data. A model may offer gas, hybrid and electric versions across years.
Get a Honda window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Honda's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Honda window stickers →How to read a Honda VIN
Every Honda built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Honda and the country it was built in (real Honda codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USA19U · 19V · 19X · 1HF · 1HG · 478
- Canada2HG · 2HH · 2HJ · 2HK · 2HN · 2HU
- Mexico3CZ · 3DH · 3H1 · 3HD · 3HG
- JapanJH2 · JH3 · JR2
- ChinaLAL · LWB
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. You can decode any VIN for free and get the year-code table, the country codes and the exact spots where the number is stamped.
Who owns Honda, and what you get
Honda is independent, Japanese-owned and publicly listed as HMC. Honda competes in mainstream passenger segments with reliability and engineering refinement as core differentiators, and ranks consistently among the top three brands for resale value in J.D. Power and Kelley Blue Book studies. The Civic anchors the compact segment, the Accord defines mid-size sedan benchmarks, and the CR-V leads compact-SUV sales. Honda's motorcycle and power-equipment divisions cross-subsidize automotive R&D, particularly in small displacement and hybrid powertrain development.
| Honda | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Ownership | Independent |
| Stock ticker | HMC |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when Honda models actually start to break →
Honda — frequently asked
Is Honda japanese?
Honda is a Japanese company, headquartered in Tokyo and founded in 1948. The cars are a separate question: 65.1% of the Honda vehicles in our records were assembled in the United States.
Where are Honda cars made?
Across 46 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: the United States (65.1%), Canada (17.3%), Japan (11.1%), Mexico (4.7%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns Honda?
Honda is independent, publicly traded as HMC.
How many Honda models are there?
We track 21 Honda models spanning 1981–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Honda warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Honda reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Honda model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.