Head-to-head reliability
Acura RL vs Honda Accord
How the Acura RL 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
Acura RL vs Honda Accord: The RL has 236 complaints over 10 years (23.6/yr) and 58 recalls, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints (443.8/yr) and 38 recalls. The RL's top issues are airbags and lighting, while the Accord's are engine and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura RL or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura RL
The Acura RL is a premium sedan that, in ownership terms, shows a pattern of age-related electrical and lighting gremlins, plus a serious airbag recall history. Owners report flickering headlights that can cut out on rough roads, and in one alarming case, a door handle that smoked and melted, disabling the car. The Takata airbag recalls are a major concern, with owners anxious about passenger-side inflator safety. Overall, it's a car that needs careful inspection of its electrical and safety systems, especially as it ages.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume, but that's partly due to its popularity. The complaints cluster around engine issues, electrical problems, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like forward collision avoidance. Owners report sudden power loss, warning lights, and phantom braking, which can be unnerving. There are also recalls for hybrid power control units, fuel pumps, and brake modules, indicating some systemic issues. It's a more complex vehicle with more tech, which can be a double-edged sword for reliability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura RL | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 236 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 58 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 23.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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.
Acura RL
- 01AIR BAGS81
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING60
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM36
- 04SERVICE BRAKES16
- 05HYDRAULIC12
Owners report anxiety over Takata inflator recalls, with some saying they don't feel safe driving until the passenger-side inflator is replaced. The recall process itself has been slow, leaving some waiting months for parts.
Headlights flicker or go out when driving over bumps, sometimes requiring the driver to pull over and cycle the lights to get them working again. This is a safety hazard at night and can be intermittent, making it hard to diagnose.
One owner reported a front passenger door handle that started smoking and melted, leaving the car inoperable. This suggests a potential short circuit or overheating issue in the door wiring, which could be a fire risk.
A few owners report simultaneous deployment of gas and brake pedals, which can cause unintended acceleration and lead to crashes. This is a serious safety concern, though rare, and may be related to pedal misapplication or a system fault.
“TAKATA RECALL - WE RECEIVED AN "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" NOTICE, INFORMING US OF THE DEFECTS IN PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG INFLATORS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE NATURE OF THE DEFECT IS SUCH THAT I WOULD NOT FEEL SAFE HAVING MYSELF OR A FAMILY MEMBER RIDE IN THE VEHICLE…”
“NHTSA RECALL 16V-061 HELLO,I AM CONCERNED WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED RECALL.I WAS NOTIFIED IN MARCH OF 2016 ABOUT A RECALL THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE SUMMER OF 2016. TODAY IS AUGUST 14, 2016 AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY DOCUMENTATION IN REGARDS TO THIS M…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises and loss of power, with some experiencing sudden loss of speed and warning lights on the highway. This could indicate engine or transmission issues, and in some cases, the vehicle may not be safe to drive.
There are reports of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings that lead to tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause various electrical problems. These issues can be costly to repair and may affect vehicle operation.
The system can falsely activate, causing the car to brake suddenly for no reason, which is dangerous and can lead to rear-end collisions. Owners also report intermittent warning messages for adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, indicating sensor or software glitches.
There are complaints about the braking system, including issues with the antilock brake system (ABS) and traction control, which can trigger warning lights and affect braking performance. Some owners report a 'critical failure' message and loss of speed, which could be related to brake system faults.
“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.
Acura RL — 58 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mary…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. T…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura RL, 2010 Honda Element, and 2010-2013 Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
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
Acura RL or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Acura RL has far fewer complaints per year (23.6) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the RL's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical areas like airbags and lighting. The Accord's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the nature of its problems—engine, electrical, and ADAS—can be more complex and costly to fix. In practice, the RL may be simpler to maintain but has older-tech quirks, while the Accord offers more modern features but with a higher risk of electronic gremlins.
Key differences
- The Acura RL has a much lower complaint rate (23.6/yr) than the Accord (443.8/yr), but its complaints are heavily weighted toward airbag recalls and lighting failures.
- The Accord's top complaint areas are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance, indicating more complex and varied issues.
- The RL has a higher number of recalls (58) than the Accord (38), but many are Takata airbag related, while the Accord's recalls cover a broader range of systems.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (160) and injuries (144) than the RL (14 and 12), but also has 3 deaths, which is a serious concern.
- Check for open Takata airbag recalls and ensure the passenger-side inflator has been replaced.
- Test the headlights on rough roads to see if they flicker or cut out, and inspect the door wiring for signs of overheating or melting.
- Look for any warning lights related to the forward collision avoidance system and test it in a safe area to ensure it doesn't brake unexpectedly.
- Inspect the engine for any unusual noises or loss of power, and check the wiring harnesses for rodent damage, especially if the car is parked outdoors.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on the NHTSA website to check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including the door wiring and headlight connections, on the Acura RL.
- For the Accord, test all driver assistance features (adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, automatic braking) on a test drive.
- Ask for service records to see if any engine or brake issues have been addressed.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a dealer or independent shop familiar with these models.
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 RL or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura RL vs Honda Accord
- Acura RL total complaints
- 236
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Acura RL total recalls
- 58
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Acura RL avg complaints/year
- 23.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Acura RL
- Acura RL top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE