Head-to-head reliability
Acura TL vs Honda Accord
How the Acura TL 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 TL vs Honda Accord: The TL averages 122 complaints per year with 39 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The TL's top issues are airbags and steering, while the Accord's are engine and electrical. Both have serious safety complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura TL or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura TL
The Acura TL is a luxury sedan with a mixed reliability record. Over 10 years, it averaged about 122 complaints per year, with air bags, structure, and steering being the most common trouble spots. Owners report serious issues like Takata airbag recalls, dashboard cracks, and sudden steering lock-ups. While some problems are cosmetic, others like steering failure can be dangerous, so a thorough inspection is essential.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular family sedan that generates far more complaints per year—about 452—but it also sells in much higher volumes. The most frequent complaints involve engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance systems. Owners describe issues like loss of power, electronic steering and braking failures, and false automatic braking. These problems can be costly and sometimes scary, so checking for open recalls and software updates is critical.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura TL | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,218 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 39 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 35 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 121.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 32 Better | 146 |
| 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 TL
- 01AIR BAGS440
- 02STRUCTURE277
- 03STEERING153
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER147
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM121
Owners report Takata airbag inflator recalls, with complaints about the recall process and temporary replacements. This matters because a defective airbag may not deploy correctly in a crash, and the fix can take months.
Many owners report large cracks in the dashboard, even on well-maintained cars. This is a cosmetic defect but can affect resale value and may indicate poor material quality.
Some drivers experience sudden electric power steering failure, where the wheel locks and becomes hard to turn. This can happen at speed and lead to a crash, so any steering warning light should be taken seriously.
Complaints include unknown electrical glitches, such as paint peeling and unexplained noises. While not always safety-related, electrical gremlins can be frustrating and expensive to diagnose.
“TAKATA INFLATORS: I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH HOW HONDA/ACURA IS HANDLING THE RECALL OF THE 2014 ACURA TL AWD THAT I AM CURRENTLY LEASING. THE TWO OPTIONS THEY OFFERED IF I ACCEPT EITHER WILL END UP COSTING ME MORE MONEY AND PUTTING MORE CASH IN THEIR POCKET.…”
“TAKATA RECALL- TOOK CAR IN FOR BATTERY REPLACEMENT. INFORMED OF RECALL. TOLD REPLACEMENT COULDN'T TAKE PLACE UNTIL SOMETIME IN SUMMER. OFFERED A CAR AS TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT. IT WAS INDICATED CAR WOULDN'T BE OF QUALITY OF MINE, WOULD BE OF ENTERPRISE RENTAL Q…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report loss of power, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and rattling noises. These issues can leave you stranded or require costly repairs, especially in hybrid models.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking, as well as TPMS warnings and tire failures. These are serious safety concerns that can occur at highway speeds.
Drivers describe false activations of automatic braking and adaptive cruise control, sometimes with no obstruction. This can cause sudden braking and increase crash risk.
Issues include fuel pump failures and hybrid power control unit problems. These can cause stalling or loss of motive power, leaving you unable to accelerate.
“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 TL — 39 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
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 specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
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 TL or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Acura TL has far fewer complaints per year (about 122 vs. 452 for the Accord), but the Accord's higher volume means more total reports. In practice, the TL's problems are often older and recall-related, while the Accord's are more frequent and involve newer electronic systems. Neither is trouble-free, but the TL may be simpler to own if you avoid models with unresolved recalls.
Key differences
- The Acura TL has about 122 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord has about 452 per year, but the Accord sells in much higher numbers.
- Acura TL complaints often involve airbags (Takata recalls) and structural cracks, while Accord complaints focus on engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance issues.
- Steering failure is reported in both, but the TL's is a sudden lock-up, while the Accord's involves simultaneous power steering and braking failure.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs. 35) and injuries (146 vs. 32), though these numbers are not adjusted for sales volume.
- Check for open Takata airbag recalls and confirm the inflator has been replaced; ask for documentation.
- Inspect the dashboard for cracks, especially on 2013-2014 models, and test the steering for any warning lights or lock-up.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control for false braking or warnings.
- Check for electrical issues by testing power steering and brakes at low speed, and look for any recall notices on fuel pump or hybrid software.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both vehicles, especially airbag and fuel pump recalls.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds to check for steering lock-up (TL) or false automatic braking (Accord).
- Inspect the dashboard (TL) and ask about any engine rattles or power loss (Accord).
- Request maintenance records to see if electrical or steering issues have been addressed.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model's common problems.
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 TL or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura TL vs Honda Accord
- Acura TL total complaints
- 1,218
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Acura TL total recalls
- 39
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Acura TL avg complaints/year
- 121.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Acura TL
- Acura TL top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE