Head-to-head reliability
Acura ZDX vs Honda Accord
How the Acura ZDX 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 ZDX vs Honda Accord: The ZDX has 67 complaints over 7 years (9.6/yr) while the Accord has 4438 over 10 years (443.8/yr). The ZDX's top issues are forward collision avoidance and brakes, while the Accord's are engine and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura ZDX or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura ZDX
The Acura ZDX is a relatively low-volume model with a modest complaint rate, but the issues reported are concentrated in advanced driver-assist systems and brakes. Owners describe the forward collision avoidance and automatic braking as either failing to engage or engaging unexpectedly, which can be alarming. There are also reports of the drive motor inverter cooling system failing, which could affect performance. Overall, it's a vehicle that may have intermittent electronic gremlins that could undermine confidence in its safety systems.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord has a much higher complaint volume, reflecting its popularity, but the sheer number of reports indicates widespread issues. Engine problems, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions are common themes. Owners report sudden power loss, warning lights, and phantom braking, which can be frustrating and potentially dangerous. The Accord's reliability record is mixed, with many owners experiencing issues early in ownership.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura ZDX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 67 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 36 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 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 ZDX
- 01FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE23
- 02SERVICE BRAKES20
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER13
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
- 05BACK OVER PREVENTION9
Owners report the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) either fails to engage during a collision or is hyper-sensitive, causing unexpected automatic braking. This can lead to rear-end collisions or near-misses, undermining trust in the vehicle's safety features.
Intermittent braking malfunctions cause the vehicle to jerk unexpectedly when slowing or stopping, even in stop-and-go traffic or while reversing. The cause is often unknown, making it difficult to diagnose and fix, and it can be dangerous if it occurs suddenly.
Failures in the drive motor inverter cooling system have been reported, which can lead to overheating and potential loss of power. This is a critical component for the electric drive system, and its failure could leave owners stranded.
“On [XXX] at approximately 700 miles on a 2024 Acura ZDX A-Spec AWD (VIN [XXX] ), the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) failed to engage during a collision event. The system did not provide forward collision warning and did not initiate automatic emer…”
“I am writing to report a serious safety defect in my 2024 Acura ZDX concerning the Forward Collision Alert and Automatic Emergency Braking. The system exhibits hyper-sensitivity, leading to unwarranted and dangerous automatic braking events. On 3/17/25, at ap…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises, sudden loss of power, and warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. Some vehicles experience critical failures that cause them to lose speed on highways, posing a serious safety risk.
Issues range from TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures to rodent damage on wiring harnesses. Electrical gremlins can cause intermittent warning lights and system malfunctions, which are hard to trace and fix.
The system can trigger false alerts or automatic braking with no obstructions, and adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist may malfunction intermittently. This can be annoying and potentially cause accidents if the driver is surprised by sudden braking.
“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 ZDX — 36 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississip…
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 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 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-20…
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 August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F…
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…
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 ZDX or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Acura ZDX has far fewer complaints per year (9.6) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the ZDX's problems are concentrated in safety-critical systems, which could be more concerning. In practice, the Accord's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the sheer number of complaints suggests a higher likelihood of encountering problems.
Key differences
- The ZDX has far fewer complaints per year (9.6) than the Accord (443.8), but its issues are heavily focused on forward collision avoidance and brakes.
- The Accord has a wide range of problems, including engine failures, electrical glitches, and sunroof explosions, indicating more varied reliability concerns.
- The ZDX's braking issues often involve unexpected jerking or automatic braking, while the Accord's braking problems are more tied to the forward collision system.
- The Accord has a higher number of crash-related complaints (160) and injuries (144) compared to the ZDX (5 and 4), though the ZDX has no reported deaths.
- Test the forward collision warning and automatic braking in a safe area to ensure they don't trigger unexpectedly.
- Check for any recalls related to air bags, as the ZDX has multiple recalls on frontal air bag inflator modules.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and check for warning lights, especially those related to brakes and ABS.
- Inspect the electrical system for any signs of rodent damage, especially if the vehicle is parked outdoors.
Before you buy
- Check the vehicle's recall status on the NHTSA website and ensure all recalls are addressed.
- Test drive the vehicle and specifically try the forward collision avoidance and automatic braking systems in a safe environment.
- Have a mechanic inspect the drive motor inverter cooling system on the ZDX and the engine and electrical systems on the Accord.
- Ask for service records to see if any of the common issues have been previously reported or fixed.
- Consider an extended warranty if you're concerned about potential costly repairs.
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 ZDX | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 55 | 214 |
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 ZDX or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura ZDX vs Honda Accord
- Acura ZDX total complaints
- 67
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Acura ZDX total recalls
- 36
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Acura ZDX avg complaints/year
- 9.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Acura ZDX
- Acura ZDX top complaint area
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE