Head-to-head reliability
AUDI Q8 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI Q8 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 Q8 vs Honda Accord: The Audi Q8 averages 24 complaints per year with 26 recalls, while the Honda Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Q8 reports sudden electrical failures, and the Accord reports forward collision avoidance issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI Q8 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI Q8
The Audi Q8 is a luxury SUV that averages about 24 complaints per year over eight years, with 26 recalls. Owners most often report electrical failures, including complete power loss while driving, and engine issues like coolant leaks. These are serious, sudden problems that can leave you stranded, so living with a Q8 means being prepared for potentially expensive repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year over ten years—and 38 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with reports of stalling, braking failures, and false automatic braking. While the Accord is common and parts are widely available, the sheer number of complaints suggests owners frequently deal with a range of issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI Q8 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 193 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 24.1 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 Q8
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM75
- 02ENGINE50
- 03POWER TRAIN50
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER19
- 05STEERING17
Owners report sudden total electrical failure while driving, often with warning lights turning red before the vehicle shuts down. One complaint describes the alternator dying at highway speed, leaving no power and an inability to restart.
Reports include cooling-system problems such as a failing water pump and low-coolant warnings, sometimes leading to significant leaks. Another complaint ties engine issues to a complete electrical failure at 65 mph.
Drivers describe the vehicle feeling like it is sliding on ice or oil when turning or changing lanes, and some experience a sudden loss of acceleration on the highway. These symptoms can make the car unpredictable in traffic.
Door locking malfunctions are reported, where doors indicate open or locked but can still be opened, raising theft and unauthorized access concerns. Another owner reported an urgent safety issue on a nearly new Q8 with very low mileage.
“I wish to report a critical safety issue with our Audi Q8, which experienced a complete electrical failure while traveling at 65 mph on the freeway on [XXX]. The warning indicators transitioned from yellow to red before the vehicle lost all functionality, inc…”
“The alternator on my Audi Q8 SUV died AS I WAS DRIVING IT, leaving my vehicle with no power. I was left to coast down the 50-60 MPH highway I was driving on into a turn lane, where the vehicle stopped and could not be restarted. My safety was put at risk beca…”
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 during acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can affect drivability and may be hard to diagnose.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing a near-collision, and a tire failure shortly after a TPMS warning was supposedly fixed. Such failures can be sudden and dangerous.
Owners describe the system braking unexpectedly on open roads with no obstructions, sometimes under adaptive cruise control, which can startle the driver and increase crash risk. One report notes the issue occurred twice under identical conditions.
Persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odors are reported, sometimes requiring multiple dealer visits, and one owner noted a foot slipping behind a plastic panel. These may seem minor but can indicate underlying problems or annoyances.
“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 Q8 — 26 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. (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 2025 Audi RS Q8, Audi Q8, Audi Q7, and Audi SQ8 vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belt buckles may be missing a rivet that secures the buckle to the seat belt stalk.
The risk: A seat belt that is missing a rivet may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace both front seat belt buckles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2025. Owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 692K. Vehicle Identification Numbers (V…
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…
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 Q8 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi Q8 has far fewer complaints per year (about 24) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Q8's issues tend to be severe electrical and engine failures. The Accord's higher volume means more owners report problems, but many are related to advanced driver aids and may be addressed by recalls. In practice, the Q8 may leave you stranded less often, but when it does, it could be costly; the Accord may require more frequent attention but has broader dealer support.
Key differences
- The Audi Q8 has about 24 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 452 per year, but the Q8's complaints often involve sudden electrical failures and engine coolant leaks.
- The Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 146 injuries reported, compared to 5 crash-related and 3 injuries for the Audi Q8, though these numbers don't account for vehicle sales volume.
- Audi Q8 owners frequently report complete power loss while driving, whereas Honda Accord owners report issues with forward collision avoidance braking unexpectedly and electronic steering/braking failures.
- The Audi Q8 has 26 recalls, including air bags and backup cameras, while the Honda Accord has 38 recalls, covering hybrid software, fuel pumps, and seat belts.
- Check for any signs of electrical system trouble, such as flickering lights, warning messages, or a history of alternator or battery replacements, since owners report sudden total power loss.
- Inspect the cooling system for leaks or low coolant, and ask about water pump replacement, as engine overheating and coolant loss are reported issues.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control if equipped, looking for any unexpected braking or warnings, as owners report false activations.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes on hybrid models, which owners have complained about.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both models, using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the electrical system and cooling system for the Audi Q8, and the engine and driver-assist systems for the Honda Accord.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or hesitation, and test all electronic features including door locks and infotainment.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for the Audi Q8's electrical and cooling repairs, and for the Honda Accord's software updates and fuel pump replacements.
- Consider an extended warranty for the Audi Q8 due to potential costly electrical repairs, and for the Honda Accord, verify that any hybrid or driver-assist issues have been addressed.
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 Q8 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 3 | 109 |
| 2024 | 23 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 30 | 234 |
| 2020 | 28 | 362 |
| 2019 | 109 | 691 |
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 Q8 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI Q8 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI Q8 total complaints
- 193
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- AUDI Q8 total recalls
- 26
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI Q8 avg complaints/year
- 24.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- AUDI Q8
- AUDI Q8 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE