Head-to-head reliability
AUDI RS Q8 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI RS 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 RS Q8 vs Honda Accord: The RS Q8 has only 0.3 complaints per year versus 443.8 for the Accord, but its rare failures involve sudden electrical shutdowns and steering loss. The Accord's issues are more frequent and varied, including engine and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI RS Q8 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI RS Q8
The Audi RS Q8 is a high-performance luxury SUV that, in ownership terms, shows a very low complaint rate but a high recall count. The few complaints that exist are serious, involving sudden electrical shutdowns and loss of steering, which can leave you stranded. Recalls cover seat belts, tires, rear axle, air bags, and more, indicating a need for vigilance on safety-related fixes. Overall, it's a vehicle that may be reliable in terms of owner-reported issues, but the severity of those issues and the recall burden are worth noting.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 400 per year. Complaints span engine problems, electrical glitches, forward collision avoidance system malfunctions, and brake issues, with some leading to crashes and injuries. Recalls address hybrid power control units, spare tires, ABS modules, air bag sensors, and fuel pumps. This suggests a vehicle with more frequent and varied issues, but also a larger owner base reporting them.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI RS Q8 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.3 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 RS Q8
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 02STEERING1
Owners report sudden 'Electrical System Malfunction' warnings that cause the car to shut down completely, often while driving, leading to loss of power and steering. This can be extremely dangerous and requires towing, with parts like alternators on backorder.
In at least one complaint, the electrical failure resulted in a complete loss of steering capabilities, making the vehicle difficult to control and unsafe to operate.
“The car gave an electrical error & said to stop vehicle immediately. I lost steering capabilities. I pulled over & had to wait hours for a tow. I am now being told the part is on back order with over 5000 cars waiting on an alternator. I’ve not even had the c…”
“The car displayed a Electrical System Malfunction and completely shutdown. The car will haft to be towed to AUDI service center for diagnosis. This is extremely unsafe for general operation. Their was not sufficient time to react.”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and critical failures that trigger warnings for brakes, hill descent, ABS, and cause loss of speed, potentially leading to stalling on highways.
Issues include TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause electrical malfunctions and safety concerns.
The system can malfunction, causing false alerts or unintended braking, and dashboard warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and other driver-assist features appear intermittently.
Brake-related complaints are common, with reports of critical failures and loss of braking power, which are serious safety concerns.
“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 RS Q8 — 20 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, R…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi custome…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7…
The risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe,…
The risk: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 4…
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…
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 RS Q8 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi RS Q8 has far fewer complaints per year (0.3) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower frequency of owner-reported issues. However, the Accord's higher volume may reflect a larger owner base, and its issues are more varied and include crash-related incidents. In practice, the RS Q8 may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience, but the severity of its rare failures is a concern.
Key differences
- The Audi RS Q8 has a very low complaint rate (0.3/yr) but its complaints involve sudden electrical shutdowns and loss of steering, which are critical safety issues.
- The Honda Accord has a high complaint rate (443.8/yr) with a wide range of issues, including engine, electrical, and driver-assist system problems, some leading to crashes.
- The RS Q8 has 20 recalls over 7 years, while the Accord has 38 recalls over 10 years, indicating a higher recall density for the Audi.
- The Accord's complaints include forward collision avoidance malfunctions and brake failures, which are not reported in the RS Q8's sample.
- Check for any pending recalls, especially those related to electrical system and steering, and ensure they are completed.
- Be alert for any electrical warnings or loss of power steering during a test drive, as these are the most critical reported failures.
- Inspect the engine for unusual noises and check for any warning lights related to brakes or electrical systems.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems to ensure they function correctly without false alerts.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for open recalls and prior complaints.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on electrical and steering components for the Audi, and engine and brakes for the Honda.
- Test drive at highway speeds to see if any warning lights appear or if there are any unusual behaviors.
- Verify that all recalls have been addressed by the dealer or previous owner.
- Check the availability of parts for common issues, such as alternators for the Audi and wiring harnesses for the Honda.
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 RS Q8 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 0 | 224 |
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 2 | 226 |
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
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 Q8 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI RS Q8 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI RS Q8 total complaints
- 2
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- AUDI RS Q8 total recalls
- 20
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI RS Q8 avg complaints/year
- 0.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- AUDI RS Q8
- AUDI RS Q8 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE