Head-to-head reliability
AUDI Q5 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI Q5 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 Q5 vs Honda Accord: The Audi Q5 averages 50 complaints per year with 44 recalls, while the Honda Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Q5 has 0 deaths and 26 injuries reported; the Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI Q5 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI Q5
The Audi Q5 is a luxury SUV that averages about 50 complaints per year over the past decade, with 44 recalls. Owner reports often center on electrical glitches, such as the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, and engine problems like sudden power loss or smoke. While the overall complaint count is lower than some rivals, the nature of these issues can be disruptive and costly if they occur outside warranty.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year—and 38 recalls. Common owner-reported problems include engine stalling or rough operation, electrical failures like power steering and braking lock-up, and forward collision avoidance systems activating unexpectedly. These issues span many model years and can affect daily driving confidence.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI Q5 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 501 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 44 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 29 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 50.1 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 26 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 Q5
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM155
- 02ENGINE94
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE87
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER75
- 05SERVICE BRAKES57
Owners report the electronic parking brake not disengaging when shifting from Park, and complete electrical failures with warning lights flashing and wipers activating on their own. These glitches can leave you stranded or cause unpredictable behavior.
Complaints include smoke billowing from the engine compartment and sudden power loss with limp mode and loud knocking. Such failures can be dangerous on the highway and often require major repairs.
The Pre-Sense system has erroneously activated during unprotected turns, according to owners. This unexpected braking or intervention can startle the driver and increase crash risk.
Brake-related complaints appear in the data, though specific owner narratives are not provided. Any brake issue is safety-critical and should be inspected thoroughly.
“CORRECTION to NHTSA COMPLAINT #11745968 The Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) did not disengage when the vehicle was placed in gear from P to R to D while/after parked in an incline postion (see DTCs -Bozeman Audi invoice, 6/23/26). The EPB is designed to diseng…”
“The vehicle exhibits multiple, unresolved safety-critical defects across software and mechanical systems that create an unpredictable and dangerous driving environment. Despite multiple repair attempts, the manufacturer has failed to certify the vehicle as sa…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failures while losing speed, as well as rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These symptoms can indicate serious powertrain problems.
Reports include electronic power steering and braking systems failing simultaneously at highway speeds, and tire failures after TPMS warnings. Such failures can lead to loss of control.
The system has activated unexpectedly under clear conditions, sometimes with adaptive cruise control engaged. This can cause sudden braking or acceleration, surprising the driver.
Fuel pump issues are noted in recalls and complaints, potentially causing stalling or failure to start. This can leave you stranded or create a hazard in traffic.
“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 Q5 — 44 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles. When using the industrial 220V/240V plug at the 100% charg…
The risk: An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable or public charging stations. Dealers will supply a new 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable with an incorporated tem…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Audi Q5, and 2022 A7 E Hybrid Electric PHEV vehicles. The high-voltage battery may overheat.
The risk: A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install advanced diagnostic software , free of charge. Volkswagen will monitor available online vehicle data and contact owners as necessary, to advise them not to charge the vehicle until the battery can be replaced. For vehi…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Audi Q5, and 2022 A7 E Hybrid Electric PHEV vehicles. The high-voltage battery may overheat.
The risk: A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install advanced diagnostic software , free of charge. Volkswagen will monitor available online vehicle data and contact owners as necessary, to advise them not to charge the vehicle until the battery can be replaced. For vehi…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Audi Q5, and 2022 A7 E Hybrid Electric PHEV vehicles. The high-voltage battery may overheat.
The risk: A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install advanced diagnostic software , free of charge. Volkswagen will monitor available online vehicle data and contact owners as necessary, to advise them not to charge the vehicle until the battery can be replaced. For vehi…
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 Q5 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi Q5 has far fewer complaints per year (about 50) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), suggesting the Q5 may have fewer reported issues overall. However, the Accord's higher volume means more owners are speaking up, and its problems can be equally severe. In practice, the Q5 might be less likely to visit the shop, but when it does, repairs could be expensive.
Key differences
- The Audi Q5 averages about 50 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 452, a roughly nine-fold difference.
- Audi Q5 owners frequently report electronic parking brake and engine smoke/power loss issues, whereas Honda Accord owners report engine stalling, electrical failures, and unexpected forward collision avoidance activation.
- The Honda Accord has 3 reported deaths and 146 injuries in the data, compared to 0 deaths and 26 injuries for the Audi Q5.
- Both vehicles have recalls for electrical and propulsion systems, but the Accord also has recalls for fuel pumps, seat belts, and air bag sensors.
- Check for any history of electronic parking brake malfunctions, especially if the vehicle has been parked on inclines; test the EPB engagement and release multiple times.
- Look for signs of engine smoke or power loss; ask for service records and scan for stored fault codes related to the engine and forward collision avoidance system.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at low and high speeds; any warning lights or unusual noises should be investigated.
- Inspect for fuel pump issues by checking for recalls and listening for whining from the fuel tank; also verify that forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control function without unexpected braking.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls have been addressed, especially for electrical and fuel system components.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on the engine, electrical system, and safety features.
- Test drive the vehicle in various conditions, including highway speeds, to check for power loss, unexpected braking, or steering issues.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and specifically inquire about any repairs related to the complaints listed in NHTSA data.
- Verify that the forward collision avoidance system and other driver-assist features operate correctly and do not activate erroneously.
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 Q5 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 10 |
| 2025 | 42 | 109 |
| 2024 | 20 | 219 |
| 2023 | 36 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 74 | 234 |
| 2020 | 25 | 362 |
| 2019 | 52 | 691 |
| 2018 | 207 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 42 | 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 Q5 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI Q5 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI Q5 total complaints
- 501
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- AUDI Q5 total recalls
- 44
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI Q5 avg complaints/year
- 50.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- AUDI Q5
- AUDI Q5 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE