Head-to-head reliability
AUDI A4 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI A4 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
AUDI A4 vs Honda Accord: The Audi A4 averages 29.7 complaints per year with 14 recalls, while the Honda Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 146 injuries, compared to 10 and 4 for the A4. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI A4 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI A4
The Audi A4 is a compact luxury sedan that averages about 30 complaints per year over the past decade, with 14 recalls. The most common owner-reported issues involve electrical glitches, backup camera failures, and engine or transmission problems. While the overall complaint volume is low, the nature of these issues can be costly and frustrating for a used-car buyer.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize sedan that averages about 452 complaints per year, with 38 recalls. Owners frequently report engine problems, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions. The higher complaint count suggests that while the Accord is popular, it may require more frequent attention to certain systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI A4 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 297 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.7 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 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.
AUDI A4
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM128
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER100
- 03BACK OVER PREVENTION46
- 04ENGINE37
- 05AIR BAGS34
Owners report various electrical glitches, including infotainment screen failures and battery drain. These can be intermittent and difficult to diagnose, leading to repeated dealer visits.
The rear-view camera intermittently fails to engage or shows glitchy images when reversing. This affects visibility and parking safety, and may require software updates or hardware replacement.
Some owners report engine rattling, rough transitions between EV and gas modes (in hybrid variants), and transmission shuddering. These issues can indicate costly repairs if not addressed early.
There are complaints about air bag sensor and occupant classification system faults, which could prevent air bags from deploying correctly. This is a critical safety concern that should be inspected.
“I purchased a 2024 Audi A4 with 20 miles as a birthday present for my son on 12/20/2023 for $45,028.81 cash, plus traded my son’s 2012 BMW 328i with 22,000 miles and they applied $8,500.00 credit. This is an Atlanta, Georgia Audi dealership. My son drove the…”
“Owner of 2019 A4 recently purchased from dealership after lease expired in Feb.2023. Currently with only 36,800 miles, took vehicle to inspect on Nov.24th and nothing but a front light replacement and suggestion of new tires in inspection video. The factory w…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden power loss, alarms for brake and stability systems, and rough engine operation. Some describe rattling noises and jerking during acceleration, which may point to internal engine or hybrid system problems.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking, TPMS warnings leading to tire failure, and other electronic glitches. These failures can occur at highway speeds and pose serious safety risks.
The adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance systems may unexpectedly brake or fail to detect obstacles. Owners report repeated incidents under similar conditions, suggesting a systemic issue.
Some owners report fuel pump failures and hybrid system issues, including power control unit problems. These can cause stalling or loss of power, requiring immediate attention.
“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.
AUDI A4 — 14 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passen…
The risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number fo…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8 and S8, 2022 Audi A5 Sportback, A4 Sedan, E-Tron GT, Q3, Q5, RS6 Avant, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RSQ8, SQ7, SQ8, and S3 Sedan vehicles. A software error may prevent the rear-view image from initially dis…
The risk: A rear-view camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the infotainment unit parameters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 9, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91CR.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022 Audi A6 Sedan, A4 Sedan, Q5, and Q5 Sportback vehicles. The semiconductor inside the engine control unit may short-circuit and cause an engine stall.
The risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the engine control unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24iH.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 AUDI A8, A6 Allroad, E-TRON Quattro, 2022 S3, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 Avant, Q8, Q7, Q3, E-TRON Sportback Quattro, S5 Cabriolet, E-TRON GT, S5 Sportback, A7, A6, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet, A4, A4 Allroad, A3, S8, SQ7, SQ8, S6, and S4 v…
The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the infotainment main unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91Ei.
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
AUDI A4 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi A4 has far fewer complaints per year (about 30) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Accord's higher volume may reflect its larger sales. In practice, the A4 may have fewer overall issues, but the Accord's problems are more frequently reported and can involve critical safety systems.
Key differences
- The Audi A4 has 297 complaints over 10 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524, but the Accord sells in much higher volumes.
- Audi A4 complaints often involve electrical and backup camera issues, whereas Honda Accord complaints frequently involve engine and forward collision avoidance failures.
- The Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 146 injuries, compared to 10 crash-related and 4 injuries for the Audi A4.
- Both vehicles have recalls for air bag sensor issues, but the Accord also has recalls for fuel pumps and hybrid software.
- Check the rear-view camera operation when shifting into reverse; look for intermittent failure or glitchy images.
- Test all electrical components, including infotainment and parking aids, and scan for stored fault codes related to transmission or engine.
- Test drive at highway speeds and listen for engine rattling or jerking; also check for sudden loss of power or warning lights.
- Verify that forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control function correctly, and check for any history of fuel pump or hybrid system repairs.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including backup camera and infotainment on the Audi A4.
- For the Honda Accord, test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control during a test drive.
- Scan for diagnostic trouble codes, especially transmission and engine faults on the Audi A4 and hybrid system faults on the Honda Accord.
- Check tire condition and TPMS functionality on the Honda Accord, as tire failures have been reported.
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 | AUDI A4 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 109 |
| 2024 | 2 | 219 |
| 2023 | 1 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 11 | 234 |
| 2020 | 127 | 362 |
| 2019 | 5 | 691 |
| 2018 | 42 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 82 | 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 AUDI A4 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI A4 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI A4 total complaints
- 297
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- AUDI A4 total recalls
- 14
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI A4 avg complaints/year
- 29.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- AUDI A4
- AUDI A4 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE