Head-to-head reliability
AUDI A8 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI A8 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 A8 vs Honda Accord: The Audi A8 averaged 16.2 complaints per year over 10 years, while the Honda Accord averaged 443.8. The A8 had 35 recalls and 3 crash-related complaints; the Accord had 38 recalls and 160 crash-related complaints. Both have engine and electrical issues, but the A8's are often stalling and fuel pump failures, while the Accord's include forward collision avoidance malfunctions. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI A8 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI A8
The Audi A8 is a luxury sedan that can be costly to maintain, with an average of 16.2 complaints per year over the last decade. The most common complaint area is the engine, with reports of sudden stalling and loss of power while driving. Electrical and fuel system issues also appear, including navigation errors and high-pressure fuel pump failures. These problems can leave owners stranded and facing expensive repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular family sedan with a much higher average of 443.8 complaints per year, but it sells in far greater numbers. Complaints span engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance systems, with some reports of stalling, warning lights, and unintended braking. There are also reports of sunroof glass shattering and tire failures. While many issues are addressed by recalls, the volume of complaints suggests a range of potential problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI A8 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 162 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 35 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.2 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 A8
- 01ENGINE93
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER21
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM13
- 05POWER TRAIN11
Owners report sudden stalling while driving, sometimes with no warning, and the car may not restart or shift into neutral. This can leave you stranded in traffic and lead to costly repairs.
Complaints include navigation systems showing wrong locations and adaptive cruise control not working after purchase. These glitches can be frustrating and expensive to fix.
High-pressure fuel pumps and cam followers have failed prematurely, causing stalling and shuddering. Some owners had to pay for repairs even though Audi extended warranties for certain VINs.
Although fewer complaints, power train issues can involve transmission problems that affect drivability. These may be costly to diagnose and repair.
“WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED (4 LANE STREET -- 2 GOING, TO COMING). THERE WAS VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AS IT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON, NOR COULD I SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE WAY. AS A RESULT…”
“WHILE DRIVING AND GETTING OFF A HIGHWAY EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT NOTICE STARTED TO STALL AS IF MISFIRING AND RUNNING ERRATIC WITHOUT NO ENGINE TROUBLE CODES OR WARNING LIGHTS AT A RED LIGHT STOP. I MANAGED TO GET HOME ABOUT HALF MILE AND ONCE PARKED COULDN'T…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) appearing while driving. Some vehicles lose speed and cannot accelerate, which is a safety concern.
Issues include tire pressure monitoring system failures leading to tire blowouts, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. These can cause sudden tire failures or engine problems.
Complaints describe adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams malfunctioning intermittently. Some report unintended braking or failure to detect obstacles, which could increase crash risk.
Brake system complaints include ABS and traction control issues, sometimes with warning lights. These can affect stopping ability and may require costly repairs.
“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 A8 — 35 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous over time, resulting in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line, free of charge. The recall began July 20, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AV.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles. The fuel supply line for the high pressure fuel pump may become porous and leak fuel.
The risk: Leaking fuel, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of fire.
The fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will install a fuel pressure damper, free of charge. The recall began February 21, 2019. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BM.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles equipped with a standard sunroof, manufactured March 12, 2013, through July 15, 2013. These vehicles are equipped with a standard sunroof glass panel that may shatter.
The risk: Should the sunroof's glass break while the vehicle is in use, the falling glass could injure the driver or passengers. It could also distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass panel, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2013. Owners may contact Audi of America at 1-800-822-2834. Volkwagen's number for this campaign is 60B6/1L.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles. The seal around the engine compartment may come loose and contact hot engine components.
The risk: If the seal contacts hot engine components, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install a retaining plate to prevent the engine compartment seal from loosening. The recall began September 4, 2020. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number…
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 A8 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi A8 has far fewer complaints per year (16.2 vs. 443.8), but it is a low-volume luxury car, so each complaint may represent a higher proportion of owners. The Honda Accord's higher complaint count is partly due to its much larger sales volume. In practice, the A8 may have fewer reported issues overall, but when problems occur, they can be severe and expensive. The Accord has more widespread issues, but many are addressed through recalls.
Key differences
- The Audi A8 has 162 complaints over 10 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,438, but the Accord sells in much higher numbers.
- Audi A8 complaints often involve sudden stalling and fuel pump failures, which can be dangerous and costly.
- Honda Accord complaints include forward collision avoidance malfunctions and electrical issues like tire pressure monitoring failures.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (160) and injuries (144) reported, though these are not necessarily caused by defects.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or fuel pump replacement; ask for service records and test drive at highway speeds.
- Inspect the navigation system and adaptive cruise control for proper operation, as owners report failures.
- Verify that all recalls, especially for fuel pump and brake system, have been performed.
- Test the forward collision avoidance systems (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) for intermittent warnings or failures.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- Test drive the vehicle under various conditions, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to check for stalling or warning lights.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for fuel pump, timing chain, and electrical repairs.
- For the Honda Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and brake systems, and check tire condition and TPMS operation.
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 A8 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
| 2019 | 12 | 677 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 6 | 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 A8 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI A8 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI A8 total complaints
- 162
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- AUDI A8 total recalls
- 35
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI A8 avg complaints/year
- 16.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- AUDI A8
- AUDI A8 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE