How many NHTSA complaints do the Acura RDX and Honda Accord have?

Acura RDX has 1,115 NHTSA complaints (22 recalls); Honda Accord has 4,300 complaints (38 recalls). Source: NHTSA owner complaint and recall records.

Which has fewer safety recalls, the Acura RDX or Honda Accord?

Acura RDX has fewer safety recalls: 22 versus 38.

Head-to-head reliability

Acura RDX vs Honda Accord

How the Acura RDX and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Acura RDX1,115 complaints · 22 recalls Fewer issues per year

Honda Accord4,300 complaints · 38 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Acura RDX vs Honda Accord: The RDX averages 111.5 complaints/year with glass shattering and engine power loss; the Accord averages 430/year with infotainment glitches and false braking. The RDX has 22 recalls, the Accord 38. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The picture

Is the Acura RDX or Honda Accord more reliable?

A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.

Acura RDX

The Acura RDX, a compact luxury SUV, has a mixed reliability record. Owners frequently report spontaneous glass breakage (sunroof and rear hatch) and sudden engine power loss, along with electrical failures that can cause stalling. With 111.5 complaints per year and 22 recalls, it's a vehicle that demands careful pre-purchase inspection.

Honda Accord

The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, shows a high complaint volume (430 per year) but many issues are electronic or software-related rather than mechanical. Engine power loss at highway speeds, infotainment ghost touches, and false collision braking are common. Its 38 recalls include fuel pump and brake control module problems.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

Category	Acura RDX	Honda Accord
Total complaintsAll model years combined	1,115 Better	4,300
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns	22 Better	38
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints	27 Better	155
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years	111.5 Better	430.0
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints	23 Better	141
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints	1 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.

Acura RDX

01UNKNOWN OR OTHER301
02VISIBILITY/WIPER205
03ENGINE188
04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM104
05POWER TRAIN103

What these mean

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The panoramic sunroof and rear hatch window can shatter spontaneously while driving or parked, as reported by multiple owners. This is a safety and cost concern, as replacement is expensive and leaves the vehicle exposed.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Rear windshield shatters on its own, even when parked in secure areas. Owners describe driving with makeshift covers, indicating a structural or thermal stress issue.

ENGINE

Sudden loss of power at highway speeds (e.g., 60 mph) with check engine light, and failure to accelerate. One owner reported a loud noise and possible engine failure after heavy rain.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Complete loss of electrical power while driving, causing engine shutoff and dark instrument cluster. Another owner experienced stalling and engine seizure when reversing.

In owners' words — UNKNOWN OR OTHER

“As I was driving down the highway, I heard a loud noise that sounded like an explosion of some sort I was going about 65 miles an hour on the expressway [XXX] and [XXX], when I realized that my sunroof had to have shattered. I pulled off the highway and confi…”

“This week, my panoramic sunroof shattered. This is the second time this has happened to me. The first incident was last year my on 2021 RDX. I became suspicious and started doing some research and it appears this has happened to many RDX users. I filed a form…”

Honda Accord

01ENGINE928
02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM824
03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE798
04UNKNOWN OR OTHER699
05SERVICE BRAKES577

What these mean

ENGINE

Sudden complete power loss at highway speeds, with the engine unable to exceed 2,000 RPM. Owners report hard idle and stalling, often in the 1.5T turbo engine.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Infotainment touchscreen registers 'ghost touches' and random beeping, changing settings without input. Hybrid models also experience drivetrain shudder at 50-70 mph.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

Collision mitigation braking system activates falsely under bridges due to shadows, causing sudden braking. This is a nuisance and potential rear-end collision risk.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

USB port in center console is physically loose, causing intermittent CarPlay disconnection. While minor, it affects daily usability.

In owners' words — ENGINE

“I am writing to file a complaint on the service that was provided at Vann York Honda. On February 17, 2026, I was returning home from work and my car had a hard idle at start up. I was able to drive it home without issue. The next day, February 18, I got in m…”

“2021 Honda Accord EX-L, 1.5T turbocharged engine. Within 8 months of purchase at approximately 21,900 miles, I experienced three separate incidents of sudden complete engine power loss at highway speeds. During each incident the vehicle would not exceed 2,000…”

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.

Acura RDX — 22 recalls

Steering

#24V114000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Odyssey and 2024 Acura RDX vehicles. The steering gear box assembly may not have been tightened properly, allowing water to enter the assembly and cause corrosion and binding gears.

The risk: Corroded and binding steering gears can result in a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are LHU and FHT.

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger

#26V332000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger

#24V064000Jan 2024

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…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger

#26V332000

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Honda Accord — 38 recalls

Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Retractor

#21V900000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…

The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger

#24V064000Jan 2024

The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump

#23V858000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…

The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger

#26V332000

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Buyer analysis

Acura RDX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?

The Acura RDX has fewer complaints per year (111.5 vs 430) but its issues—glass shattering and engine/electrical failures—are more severe. The Honda Accord's high volume is driven by electronic glitches and false braking, which are less likely to strand you but still annoying.

Recommendation. If you prioritize fewer total complaints and can accept the risk of glass breakage or sudden power loss, the RDX may suit you. If you want a vehicle with less severe failures and can tolerate electronic quirks, the Accord is the safer bet. Always get a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the specific issues listed.

Key differences

RDX: Spontaneous glass breakage (sunroof, rear hatch) is a unique and costly problem not seen in the Accord.
Accord: False collision braking from shadows is a common annoyance; RDX has no such reports.
RDX: Engine power loss and electrical stalling can be dangerous; Accord's engine issues also cause highway power loss but are less frequent per vehicle.
Accord: Infotainment ghost touches and loose USB ports are irritating but not safety-critical; RDX's electrical failures can cause complete shutdown.

Watch on Acura RDX

Inspect the panoramic sunroof and rear hatch glass for cracks or signs of stress, and ask if they've been replaced.
Test drive at highway speeds to check for sudden power loss or hesitation, and verify all electrical systems work.

Watch on Honda Accord

Test the infotainment screen for ghost touches and check USB port stability.
Drive under bridges or overpasses to see if collision braking activates falsely.

Before you buy

Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles using the VIN.
For RDX: examine sunroof and rear glass for cracks; test engine acceleration at highway speeds.
For Accord: test infotainment for ghost touches; drive under bridges to test collision braking.
Ask for service records related to engine power loss (RDX) or fuel pump/brake module (Accord).
Consider a professional inspection focusing on electrical systems and glass integrity.

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	Acura RDX	Honda Accord
2026	0	4
2025	29	97
2024	11	207
2023	20	220
2022	30	217
2021	105	217
2020	339	341
2019	432	655
2018	76	1814
2017	73	528

Years to scrutinize: the 2019 Acura RDX drew the most complaints (432); the 2018 Honda Accord drew the most (1,814). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Acura RDX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Acura RDX — full reportAcura RDX reliability & problems 1,115 complaints · all years · NHTSA

Honda Accord — full reportHonda Accord reliability & problems 4,300 complaints · all years · NHTSA

Acura RDX vs Honda Accord — comparison facts

Comparison: Acura RDX vs Honda Accord
Acura RDX total complaints: 1,115
Honda Accord total complaints: 4,300
Acura RDX total recalls: 22
Honda Accord total recalls: 38
Acura RDX avg complaints/year: 111.5
Honda Accord avg complaints/year: 430.0
More reliable overall: Acura RDX
Acura RDX top complaint area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Honda Accord top complaint area: ENGINE

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Acura RDX vs Honda Accord

Is the Acura RDX or Honda Accord more reliable?

Side-by-side NHTSA record

The problems owners report

Acura RDX

Honda Accord

Safety recalls on record

Acura RDX — 22 recalls

Honda Accord — 38 recalls

Acura RDX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?

Key differences

Before you buy

Which model years to avoid

Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.

Full reliability reports

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