Head-to-head reliability
Acura RLX vs Honda Accord
How the Acura RLX 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 RLX vs Honda Accord: The RLX averages 16 complaints per year with 13 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The RLX's main issue is steering, while the Accord's is engine and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura RLX or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura RLX
The Acura RLX is a low-volume luxury sedan with an average of 16 complaints per year over seven years, suggesting a relatively small but focused set of owner issues. The most common complaints involve steering and suspension, particularly the Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) system, which can cause abrupt jerks or loss of steering control. Electrical and stability control complaints often overlap with these steering symptoms. With only 13 recalls and 2 crash-related reports, the RLX appears to have fewer reported incidents overall, but the nature of the steering complaints is concerning.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with an average of 452 complaints per year over ten years, reflecting its popularity and a wide range of reported issues. Engine and electrical system complaints dominate, with many owners reporting sudden power loss, warning lights, and failures in hybrid components. Forward collision avoidance and fuel system problems are also frequently reported. The Accord has 38 recalls and a higher number of crash-related reports (162) and injuries (146), indicating a broader set of safety-related concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura RLX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 112 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 146 |
| 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 RLX
- 01STEERING59
- 02SUSPENSION23
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM14
- 04ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)13
- 05ENGINE11
Owners report abrupt jerks to the right and failures of the Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) rear toe control actuators, which can make the car hard to steer and cause it to veer out of lane. This is a critical safety issue because it affects steering control at various speeds.
Complaints include pulling to the right and creaking sounds when turning, often linked to the same P-AWS actuator failures. These symptoms can worsen over time and lead to uneven tire wear or reduced handling stability.
Owners report LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System) warnings and instances where the wheels and steering wheel get out of sync during left turns, causing temporary loss of steering response. This can be disorienting and dangerous if it occurs at speed.
Some complaints describe the car feeling as if it will veer out of the lane when turning, often coinciding with steering and electrical issues. This suggests that stability control interventions may not always function as expected.
“I purchased a 2014 Acura RLX. It had a LKAS Problem warning when purchased. I thought that meant that feature would be disabled. No big deal. In stead I have experienced the car making abrupt jerks to the right on multiple occasions. One instance, I turned on…”
“My 2014 Acura RLX has experienced a severe failure of the Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) Rear Toe Control (RTC) Actuators. The vehicle and its components are currently located at the Hiley Acura of Fort Worth dealership and are fully available for inspecti…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of speed, multiple warning lights (Brake, hill descent, ABS, critical failure), and rattling noises during acceleration. These issues can leave the driver stranded or unable to maintain highway speeds.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds, as well as TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can lead to near-collisions and loss of vehicle control.
Owners describe incidents where adaptive cruise control or collision avoidance systems unexpectedly activate or fail to respond, sometimes under clear driving conditions. This can cause sudden braking or failure to brake when needed.
Reports include rough transitions between EV and gas modes, jerking when the engine engages, and persistent sulfur-like odors. These issues can affect drivability and may indicate underlying fuel or hybrid system problems.
“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…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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 RLX — 13 recalls
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…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX 2WD and AWD, RLX and 2014 Acura RLX Hybrid vehicles. In certain driving conditions, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) may incorrectly interpret certain roadside objects such as metal fences or metal gu…
The risk: If the CMBS unexpectedly applies emergency braking force while driving, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the CMBS software, free of charge. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Honda's numbers for this recall is JQ4, JQ5 and JQ6.
The defect: American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured November 22, 2012, to January 30, 2014, 2015 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured June 4, 2014, to November 18, 2014, and 2014 Acura RLX Hybrid vehicles manufactured November 5, 2013, to July 25, 2014.…
The risk: Delamination of the aluminum film may diminish output of the headlight, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both of the headlights, free of charge. The recall began February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JN2.
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…
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 (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.
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 RLX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Acura RLX has far fewer complaints per year (16 vs. 452) and fewer recalls (13 vs. 38), but its steering-related complaints are severe and safety-critical. The Honda Accord has a much higher volume of complaints across more systems, including engine and electrical failures that can cause sudden loss of power or braking. In practice, the RLX may have fewer overall issues, but the ones it has can be alarming; the Accord's issues are more widespread but may be easier to detect through recalls and service campaigns.
Key differences
- The Acura RLX's most common complaint is steering (59 complaints), often involving P-AWS actuator failures that cause jerking or loss of control, while the Honda Accord's top complaint is engine (1006 complaints), with reports of sudden power loss and multiple warning lights.
- The Honda Accord has a much higher rate of crash-related reports (162 vs. 2) and injuries (146 vs. 1), though this may reflect its higher sales volume.
- The Acura RLX has fewer recalls (13) compared to the Honda Accord (38), but both have fuel pump recalls.
- Honda Accord owners report forward collision avoidance issues (837 complaints), while the Acura RLX has fewer such complaints (13 for ESC), suggesting different advanced driver assistance system concerns.
- Test the steering at low and high speeds for any jerking, pulling, or unusual noises, especially during turns, as this could indicate P-AWS actuator failure.
- Check for any LKAS or steering warning lights on the dashboard, and ask for service records related to steering or suspension repairs.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which may signal engine or hybrid system problems.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, and check for any warning lights related to TPMS, ABS, or collision avoidance.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who specializes in the specific model, focusing on the known problem areas.
- During a test drive, deliberately test the steering, braking, and acceleration under various conditions to reproduce potential symptoms.
- Ask the seller for all maintenance and repair records, paying attention to any repeated fixes for the same issue.
- For the Honda Accord, verify that any hybrid or electrical software updates have been performed.
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 RLX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 362 |
| 2019 | 0 | 691 |
| 2018 | 6 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 3 | 537 |
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 RLX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura RLX vs Honda Accord
- Acura RLX total complaints
- 112
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Acura RLX total recalls
- 13
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Acura RLX avg complaints/year
- 16.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Acura RLX
- Acura RLX top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE