Head-to-head reliability
AUDI Q6 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI Q6 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 Q6 vs Honda Accord: The Audi Q6 averages 33.5 complaints per year with 3 recalls, while the Honda Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Q6's issues often involve electrical shutdowns and door failures, whereas the Accord's include engine and steering problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI Q6 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI Q6
The Audi Q6 is a newer electric SUV with only two years of complaint data, averaging about 33.5 complaints per year. Owners frequently report electrical glitches that can cause the vehicle to shut off or become inoperable while driving, plus door locks that fail to open from inside or outside. These issues, along with problems in forward collision avoidance and lane departure systems, suggest that living with a Q6 may involve repeated dealer visits for software and sensor fixes.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a long-running family sedan with a decade of complaint history, averaging about 452 complaints per year. Common trouble spots include engine and electrical system failures, with some owners reporting sudden power loss or steering and braking lock-ups at highway speeds. Forward collision avoidance and fuel system issues also appear, and the higher complaint volume reflects both a larger number of vehicles on the road and a wider range of reported problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI Q6 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 67 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 33.5 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 Q6
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM42
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE20
- 03LANE DEPARTURE12
- 04POWER TRAIN12
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
Owners report the vehicle shutting off or switching into an inoperable gear while in motion, often linked to a 'Central' electrical malfunction. This can leave a driver stranded or unable to control the car, making it a serious safety concern.
Complaints describe repeated intermittent door-lock and door-release failures affecting multiple doors, which owners worry could delay escape in an emergency. The system may also show unavailable warnings, reducing driver confidence in the car's safety features.
Owners report lane assist and front collision unavailable messages, driver profile errors, and the instrument cluster restarting while driving. These glitches can distract the driver and indicate broader software instability.
Some owners describe sudden, violent failures at low speeds, such as the vehicle losing power or jerking after accelerating from a stop. This suggests potential issues with the electric drive system that could affect drivability and safety.
“Thank you for your response and for acknowledging the difficulties I have experienced with my Audi Q6 e-tron. I appreciate your willingness to escalate my concerns and ensure they are properly reviewed. I had originally sent this to you on 9/10/2025 for escal…”
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle experienced an electrical malfunction that caused it to shut off or switch into an inoperable gear while in motion, without driver input. A “Central…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failures, followed by loss of speed, as well as rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These symptoms can lead to reduced power and costly repairs.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing a near-collision, and tire failures after TPMS warnings. Such failures can be catastrophic if they occur while driving.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions, such as adaptive cruise control suddenly braking or not reacting. This undermines trust in the car's automatic safety features.
Reports include persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odors that remain after repairs, and a case where a driver's foot slipped behind a plastic panel, indicating design or manufacturing issues. These problems can be annoying and potentially hazardous.
“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 Q6 — 3 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 SQ6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron vehicles. The rearview camera may show a blurry image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk: A blurry rearview image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace surround view cameras as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 2, 2025. Owners may contac…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 SQ6 and Q6 vehicles. The rearview camera image may be delayed or deactivated after shifting into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibi…
The risk: A rearview camera with a delayed or deactivated image reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 916C.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 SQ6 E-Tron, SQ6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 Sportback E-Tron, A6, A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 E-Tron, S5, and S6 Sportback E-Tron vehicles. The automatic locking retractor may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the seat be…
The risk: An improperly secured child seat can increase risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the right and left rear seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number f…
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 Q6 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi Q6 has far fewer complaints per year (about 33.5) than the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Q6's issues often involve sudden electrical shutdowns and door failures that could be dangerous. The Accord's higher volume reflects a larger fleet and a broader mix of problems, including engine and steering failures. In practice, the Q6 may need fewer visits but for serious electronic faults, while the Accord may require more frequent attention for a variety of systems.
Key differences
- Audi Q6 complaints center on electrical shutdowns and door-lock failures, while Honda Accord complaints more often involve engine and steering/braking failures.
- The Q6 has 3 recalls in 2 years, including back-over prevention and seat belt retractor issues; the Accord has 38 recalls over 10 years, covering hybrid software, fuel pumps, and air bag sensors.
- Q6 owners report 4 injuries and 2 crash-related complaints; Accord owners report 146 injuries and 162 crash-related complaints, though these totals reflect different time spans and fleet sizes.
- Q6 issues often appear as intermittent electronic glitches, whereas Accord issues include sudden mechanical failures like loss of power or brake lock-up.
- Check for any history of electrical system malfunctions that caused the car to shut off or become inoperable while driving, as reported by owners.
- Test all door locks and releases multiple times, including from inside and outside, because owners report intermittent failures that could trap occupants.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which owners report as early signs of engine issues.
- Verify that electronic power steering and braking systems have no warning lights or history of simultaneous failure, as some owners experienced lock-up at highway speeds.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and ask for any dealer service records related to electrical, software, or safety system repairs.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to check for sudden power loss, warning lights, or unusual noises.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the electrical system, including battery health and software updates, especially for the Audi Q6.
- For the Honda Accord, check for open recalls by VIN and confirm that all recall work has been completed, particularly for fuel pump and hybrid software.
- Test all safety features like forward collision warning, lane departure, and adaptive cruise control to ensure they function without error messages.
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 Q6 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 10 |
| 2025 | 66 | 109 |
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 Q6 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI Q6 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI Q6 total complaints
- 67
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- AUDI Q6 total recalls
- 3
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI Q6 avg complaints/year
- 33.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- AUDI Q6
- AUDI Q6 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE