Head-to-head reliability
AUDI Q7 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI Q7 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 Q7 vs Honda Accord: The Q7 averages 63 complaints per year, while the Accord averages 444. Q7 owners report headlight and electrical failures, while Accord owners face engine and collision-avoidance glitches. Both have recalls, but the Q7's issues are less frequent. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI Q7 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI Q7
The Audi Q7, a luxury three-row SUV, shows a moderate complaint rate over the past decade, averaging about 63 complaints per year. Owners frequently report issues with exterior lighting, electrical systems, and the engine, with specific concerns about adaptive headlights, belt starter generator failures, and coolant leaks in the 3.0L V6. These problems often surface in newer models, suggesting potential reliability concerns for buyers considering a used Q7.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 440 complaints per year, but this is partly due to its larger sales base. The most common issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance features, with reports of engine noises, electrical failures, and false activations of safety systems. While the Accord has a higher raw count, the nature of the issues varies, and many are related to advanced technology rather than fundamental mechanical failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI Q7 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 634 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 40 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 19 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 63.4 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 20 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 Q7
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING160
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM134
- 03ENGINE127
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER73
- 05SUSPENSION59
Owners report that the matrix adaptive headlights malfunction, causing reduced visibility at night and glare issues, which can be a safety concern for the driver and other road users.
There are reports of complete electrical failures at highway speeds due to a faulty Belt Starter Generator (BSG), which can lead to sudden loss of power. Additionally, some owners have experienced multiple electrical issues that require repeated repairs.
A significant number of complaints mention coolant leaks in the 3.0L turbocharged V6 (EA839) engine, which can lead to overheating and potential engine damage if not addressed. Other engine-related issues include rough idling and surging, possibly linked to motor mounts.
“Matrix adaptive headlights are not working. Night driving with increased adoption of LED headlights become challenging due to high glare level and associated temporary vision sensitivity reduction, I was hoping that matrix adaptive headlights will improve thi…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report engine noises that become louder over time, and in some cases, the vehicle experiences a loss of power accompanied by warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems, indicating a possible engine or electrical fault.
There are instances of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings that lead to catastrophic tire failures shortly after service, as well as rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause various electrical malfunctions.
The adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams may display intermittent error messages, and the forward collision warning can activate without any obstruction, potentially causing unexpected braking or driver distraction.
“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 Q7 — 40 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2023-2024 SQ8, RSQ8, Q8, Q7, and 2024 SQ7 vehicles. The driver's seat side air bag may have been improperly mounted to the seatback frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: An improperly mounted air bag may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69GA.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet, A4 Allroad, Q5 Sportback, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, SQ7, TT Coupe, TT Roadster, RS5 Sportback, 2024 A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q8, RSQ8, 2023-2024 Q3, Q5, and Q7 vehicles. An electrical conn…
The risk: A deactivated front passenger air bag will not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant detection system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 8, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for th…
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. (Audi) is recalling certain 2023-2024 SQ8, RSQ8, Q8, Q7, and 2024 SQ7 vehicles. The driver's seat side air bag may have been improperly mounted to the seatback frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: An improperly mounted air bag may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69GA.
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 Q7 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
Based on the data, the Audi Q7 has fewer complaints per year (63.4) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but this difference is partly due to the Accord's higher sales volume. In practice, the Q7's issues are concentrated in specific areas like lighting and electrical, while the Accord's problems are more widespread across engine, electrical, and safety systems. Buyers should weigh the nature of the issues and the cost of repairs, as luxury vehicles like the Q7 may have higher maintenance costs.
Key differences
- The Audi Q7 has significantly fewer complaints per year (63.4) than the Honda Accord (443.8), but the Accord's higher volume is partly due to its larger market presence.
- Audi Q7 owners frequently report issues with exterior lighting (160 complaints) and electrical systems (134), including adaptive headlight failures and belt starter generator malfunctions.
- Honda Accord owners commonly report engine problems (985 complaints) and forward collision avoidance issues (821), with examples of engine noises and false activations of safety systems.
- The Audi Q7 has had 40 recalls, while the Accord has had 38, but the Q7's recalls include air bag and backup camera issues, whereas the Accord's recalls involve hybrid power control unit software and fuel pump problems.
- Inspect the adaptive headlights for proper operation, as failures are common and can affect night visibility.
- Check for any signs of coolant leaks, especially around the engine, as the 3.0L V6 is prone to this issue.
- Test the forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control to ensure they do not activate unexpectedly, as this is a frequent complaint.
- Look for any warning lights related to the electrical system, and check the tire pressure monitoring system for proper function, as there have been reports of tire failures after service.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for any open recalls and ensure they have been addressed.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
- Test drive the vehicle at highway speeds to listen for unusual engine noises and check for smooth acceleration.
- Verify that all advanced safety features (e.g., adaptive cruise control, lane keeping) are functioning correctly without false alerts.
- Ask for maintenance records to see if any major components like the BSG or engine have been replaced.
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 Q7 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 5 |
| 2025 | 15 | 101 |
| 2024 | 1 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 71 | 226 |
| 2020 | 26 | 355 |
| 2019 | 61 | 677 |
| 2018 | 141 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 318 | 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 Q7 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI Q7 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI Q7 total complaints
- 634
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- AUDI Q7 total recalls
- 40
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI Q7 avg complaints/year
- 63.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- AUDI Q7
- AUDI Q7 top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE