Head-to-head reliability
AUDI A6 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI A6 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 A6 vs Honda Accord: Audi A6 has 194 complaints over 10 years (19.4/yr) with 41 recalls, while Honda Accord has 4,438 complaints (443.8/yr) with 38 recalls. Audi's top issue is electrical system failures; Honda's is engine problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI A6 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI A6
The Audi A6, over the past decade, has been reported to NHTSA with 194 complaints, averaging about 19 per year, alongside 41 recalls. The dominant issue is electrical system failures, often stemming from water ingress that leads to corrosion and mold, affecting critical functions like seat wiring and engine restart. Owners also report engine overheating and seizures, as well as intermittent forward collision avoidance system glitches that can cause sudden warnings and steering lock. These patterns suggest that while the A6 offers a premium driving experience, it may require vigilant maintenance to address recurring electrical and engine-related gremlins.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord has a much higher complaint volume, with 4,438 complaints over 10 years (averaging 444 per year) and 38 recalls. The top problem areas are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance, with owners frequently reporting sudden power loss, warning light cascades, and intermittent system failures. There are also reports of tire failures and even a sunroof explosion, indicating a range of safety concerns. Despite its reputation for reliability, the Accord's high complaint count and crash-related incidents (160) suggest that buyers should be aware of potential electronic and engine issues that could affect safety and drivability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI A6 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 194 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 41 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 19.4 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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.
AUDI A6
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM121
- 02ENGINE40
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE25
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER23
- 05POWER TRAIN21
Owners report water ingress into the passenger compartment causing corrosion in seat wiring harnesses, leading to electrical failures and mold growth. This can disable safety features and create health hazards.
Engine overheating and low coolant warnings are common, sometimes resulting in engine seizure. Additionally, electrical issues can trigger false 'engine restarter' warnings and cause the auto start-stop system to malfunction, leading to sudden shutdowns.
The Audi pre-sense system can operate intermittently, with some owners experiencing a sudden array of warning lights and steering lock while driving, which is alarming and potentially dangerous. Others report the system failing to work, requiring expensive realignment.
“* Passenger front Seat wiring harness corrosion and failure due to water ingress due to leaking web plate in the longitudinal member on passenger side. Water ingress in passenger compartment caused electrical failure and black mold to grow in the interior car…”
“Car reported an engine restarter issue (with battery symbol) and recommended to contact the dealer. Car next shut down automatic restart system, and air conditioning stopped working. Within a short period of time (same day), the car listed a red battery symbo…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Numerous complaints describe sudden loss of power and a cascade of warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) while driving, sometimes at highway speeds. This can be a serious safety concern as the vehicle may not respond to acceleration.
Electrical issues range from TPMS warnings leading to tire failures to rodent damage on wiring harnesses. Owners also report intermittent problems with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, which can be distracting and reduce driver confidence.
The forward collision avoidance system can trigger false alerts or fail to engage, with some owners reporting the system activating without reason or not working at all. This inconsistency undermines trust in the safety technology.
“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.
AUDI A6 — 41 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (V…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, R…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi custome…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7…
The risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, RS7, 2020-2021 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, S7, 2019-2021 A6 Sedan, and A7 vehicles. The score line on the passenger air bag may not have been manufactured correctly.
The risk: An incorrectly manufactured air bag may not deploy properly, and could also eject plastic debris into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the passenger air bag score line, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall begin March 26, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for…
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
AUDI A6 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
Based on NHTSA data, the Audi A6 has significantly fewer complaints per year (19.4) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Accord's higher volume may reflect its larger sales numbers, and the nature of the problems differs: Audi's issues are more electrical and engine-related, while Accord's are more varied and include more crash-related incidents. In practice, the A6 may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience in terms of complaint frequency, but both vehicles have notable reliability concerns that should be considered.
Key differences
- The Audi A6 has far fewer complaints per year (19.4) than the Honda Accord (443.8), but the A6's complaints are heavily concentrated in electrical system failures, often due to water leaks.
- The Honda Accord has a higher number of crash-related complaints (160) and injuries (144) compared to the Audi A6 (2 crashes, 2 injuries), suggesting more severe incidents reported for the Accord.
- Audi owners report engine overheating and seizures, while Accord owners report sudden power loss and warning light cascades, indicating different engine failure modes.
- Both vehicles have forward collision avoidance issues, but Audi's system can cause steering lock, while Honda's system is more about intermittent false alerts or failures.
- Inspect the passenger side floor and wiring for signs of water damage or mold, as water ingress is a common cause of electrical failures.
- Check for any history of engine overheating or coolant leaks, and have the cooling system thoroughly inspected.
- Look for any signs of rodent damage to wiring harnesses, especially in the engine bay, as this has been reported.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems to ensure they operate consistently without false alerts.
Before you buy
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on electrical systems and engine condition.
- Check for any open recalls on the specific VIN and ensure they have been addressed.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for any repairs related to water leaks, engine overheating, or electrical issues.
- Test drive at highway speeds to see if any warning lights appear or if there is any loss of power.
- Inspect the interior for mold or musty odors, which could indicate water ingress.
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 A6 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 5 |
| 2025 | 8 | 101 |
| 2024 | 1 | 214 |
| 2023 | 2 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 15 | 226 |
| 2020 | 25 | 355 |
| 2019 | 114 | 677 |
| 2018 | 2 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 20 | 534 |
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 A6 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI A6 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI A6 total complaints
- 194
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- AUDI A6 total recalls
- 41
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI A6 avg complaints/year
- 19.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- AUDI A6
- AUDI A6 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE