Head-to-head reliability
AUDI RS 4 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI RS 4 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 RS 4 vs Honda Accord: The Audi RS 4 has 4 complaints over 2 years (2.0/year) and 5 recalls, with 0 crash-related reports. The Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years (452.4/year), 38 recalls, 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI RS 4 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI RS 4
The Audi RS 4 is a high-performance sport sedan with a very small complaint footprint: just 4 complaints over 2 years, averaging 2.0 per year, plus 5 recalls. The complaints that do exist cluster around suspension failures, air bag inflator recalls, and ignition coil problems. For a buyer, the low volume means fewer reported headaches overall, but the suspension complaints describe a known design defect that can leave the car feeling unstable even after repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a huge complaint volume: 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging 452.4 per year, plus 38 recalls. The data includes 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths, with engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance systems drawing the most complaints. Owners describe stalling, power loss, braking and steering failures, and collision-avoidance systems that may not respond as expected.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI RS 4 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 RS 4
- 01SUSPENSION2
- 02AIR BAGS1
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
Owners report leaking shock absorbers and a bad clunking noise, with Audi sometimes calling it 'sweating' and refusing replacement until complete failure. One owner said the car felt like it was going to fall apart, and after new shocks it did not track center.
The recalls cover front passenger and driver side inflator modules. One owner was told there would never be a fix due to the vehicle's limited edition status, leaving them unable to use it as a family or work vehicle.
A reported hesitation around 8,000 miles led to a check engine light and one ignition coil replacement, then two more coils failed two weeks later with loss of power. This suggests repeated ignition coil issues that can cause drivability problems.
“SUSPENSION COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING TO LEAKING SHOCK ABSORBER. PROBLEM ACKNOWLEDGED BY AUDI AS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOCKS REPLACED UNDER THEIR CAMPAIGN, "43A9 DYNAMIC RIDE CONTROL SUSPENSION SERVICE". AFTER NEW SHOCKS THE CAR DOES NOT TRACK CENTER, PUL…”
“ALL SUSPENSION LEAKING OIL AND HAS A BAD CLUNKING NOISE. AUDI OF AMERICA CALLS IT ( SWEATING ). AND SAY ITS NORMAL. AND WOULD NOT REPLACE UNTIL COMPLETELY BROKEN.VEHICLE FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL APART. *TR”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure while at highway speeds, with the vehicle losing speed. Another reports rattling noises while accelerating, rough transitions between EV and gas mode, and a jerk when pressing the charge button.
One owner reported electronic power steering and braking systems completely failing and locking up simultaneously at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another had a TPMS warning repaired, then the passenger-side tire catastrophically failed the same day.
Owners say the system failed to resolve a threat, and in one case adaptive cruise control at 70 mph suddenly did something unexpected under the same driving and weather conditions on the same route. This matters because these systems are meant to prevent crashes.
The fuel pump recall and complaints about rough EV-to-gas transitions point to fuel delivery and hybrid management issues. Owners report jerking and power delivery problems that can affect everyday driving.
“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 RS 4 — 5 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure m…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Vol…
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 RS 4 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi RS 4 has far fewer issues per year at 2.0 complaints annually versus 452.4 for the Honda Accord. In practice, that means an RS 4 buyer sees a much smaller pool of reported problems, while an Accord buyer faces a much higher volume of complaints, including crash, injury, and death reports. However, the RS 4's suspension defect can still be costly and annoying.
Key differences
- The Audi RS 4 averages 2.0 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 452.4 per year over 10 years.
- The Audi RS 4 has 0 crash-related complaints, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths in the data, while the Honda Accord has 162 crash-related, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths.
- Audi RS 4 complaints center on suspension leaks and clunking, air bag inflator recalls, and ignition coil failures; Honda Accord complaints center on engine stalling, electrical steering/braking failure, and forward collision avoidance problems.
- The Audi RS 4 has 5 recalls, mostly air bag inflators, while the Honda Accord has 38 recalls covering electrical, tires, seat belts, air bags, and fuel pump.
- Check for leaking or clunking suspension, especially shock absorbers, and ask whether the '43A9 Dynamic Ride Control Suspension Service' campaign was performed.
- Test drive at highway speed and check if the car tracks straight; one owner reported it did not track center after new shocks.
- Scan for stored engine and electrical codes, and test the electronic power steering and braking at low and highway speeds for any lockup or warning lights.
- Verify the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control operate smoothly, and check for any history of fuel pump or hybrid management recalls.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on the Audi's suspension and ignition coils and the Honda's engine, electrical, and collision-avoidance systems.
- Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm all open recalls, especially air bag inflators on the Audi and fuel pump or electrical recalls on the Honda, have been repaired.
- Ask for service records showing whether the Audi's suspension campaign was completed and whether the Honda's TPMS, steering, or braking issues were addressed.
- Test drive both cars under varied conditions: highway speeds, braking, steering, and if possible, activate the Honda's adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning.
- Check tire condition and age on both vehicles, and on the Honda specifically inspect for uneven wear or prior tire failure after TPMS repairs.
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 RS 4 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI RS 4 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI RS 4 total complaints
- 4
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- AUDI RS 4 total recalls
- 5
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI RS 4 avg complaints/year
- 2.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- AUDI RS 4
- AUDI RS 4 top complaint area
- SUSPENSION
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE