Head-to-head reliability
AUDI S7 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI S7 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 S7 vs Honda Accord: The Audi S7 has 28 complaints over 10 years (2.8/year) and 0 crash-related, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints (452.4/year) and 162 crash-related. The S7's issues are mainly turbo and electrical; the Accord's include steering/braking failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI S7 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI S7
The Audi S7 is a high-performance luxury sedan that demands careful ownership. Over 10 years, it has 28 complaints (2.8 per year) and 30 recalls, with engine and electrical issues dominating. Owners report turbo failures, transmission jerking, and sudden electrical warnings, often leading to expensive repairs. While crash-related complaints are zero, the pattern suggests a car that can be rewarding but requires vigilance and a repair budget.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a massive complaint volume: 4,524 over 10 years (452.4 per year) and 38 recalls. The data shows 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths, with engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance systems most frequently cited. Owners describe issues like power steering and braking failures, unintended acceleration, and persistent odors. This volume reflects the Accord's huge sales, but the safety-related reports are concerning.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI S7 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 28 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 S7
- 01ENGINE15
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
- 03POWER TRAIN6
- 04STEERING4
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE2
Owners report turbocharger failures, often after highway driving, causing shuddering, hesitation, and engine death. One complaint notes blown turbos with a new oil strainer, suggesting a recurring oil starvation issue that can strand a driver.
Multiple warnings like 'electrical failure, ABS failure, start stop failure' appear suddenly, sometimes forcing drivers to continue in unsafe conditions. These glitches can disable safety aids and are hard to diagnose, leading to costly dealer visits.
The 7-speed DSG transmission is notorious for random jerking and complete failure, as one owner described the car dying on the highway. This can be a safety hazard and repairs are expensive.
Steering complaints often co-occur with electrical failures, with owners reporting loss of assist or warning messages. This can make the car difficult to control, especially at speed.
“The car drove normally at highway speed for approximately 4 hours. Upon leaving the highway and attempting to accelerate onto a secondary road into oncoming traffic, the engine shuttered. The car drove erratically for about a mile with hesitation and shutteri…”
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? blown turbos with new oil strainer from dealer. They said that they replaced it but who knows if they did. My audi had all those symptoms that pull up for this…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure, with the vehicle losing speed. Others note rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, indicating hybrid system integration issues.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing near-collisions. A TPMS repair was followed by a catastrophic tire failure, suggesting electrical or sensor-related safety risks.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents under adaptive cruise control where the car suddenly brakes or fails to react. This undermines a key safety feature and can lead to crashes.
Reports include a persistent rotten-egg sulfur odor that remains after filter replacement, and a fuel pump recall. These issues can indicate fuel delivery problems and potential fire risks.
“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 S7 — 30 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Audi S6 and S7, 2012-2018 A7 and A6 Sedan, and 2014-2018 RS7 vehicles equipped with basic seats (with or without heating). Stress or wear of the body-sensing mat within the front passenger seat may cause the Passenger Occ…
The risk: If the PODS module malfunctions, the front passenger air bag may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a PODS system repair kit, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74D5.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2013-2017 A8, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, and 2014-2017 RS7 vehicles. The turbocharger oil supply strainer can become blocked, causing wear to the bearings due to lack of lubrication.
The risk: Worn bearings can cause the turbine wheel to contact the turbocharger housing or cause the shaft to break, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the oil strainer and perform an oil change, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 21H7.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattr…
The risk: A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, RS7, 2020-2021 A6 Allroad, S6 Sedan, S7, 2019-2021 A6 Sedan, and A7 vehicles. The score line on the passenger air bag may not have been manufactured correctly.
The risk: An incorrectly manufactured air bag may not deploy properly, and could also eject plastic debris into the passenger compartment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the passenger air bag score line, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall begin March 26, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for…
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 S7 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi S7 has far fewer complaints per year (2.8 vs. 452.4) and no crash-related reports, while the Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths. In practice, the S7's issues are more about expensive mechanical failures, whereas the Accord's higher volume includes serious safety defects. However, the Accord's larger sales base means individual risk may still be low, but the data shows more frequent safety-related incidents.
Key differences
- Audi S7 has 28 complaints over 10 years vs. Honda Accord's 4,524, but the Accord's volume reflects its much higher sales.
- Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; Audi S7 has 0 crash-related, 1 injury, and 0 deaths.
- Audi S7's top issues are engine (turbo failures) and electrical warnings; Honda Accord's top issues are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance failures.
- Both have recalls for air bag sensors and seat belt retractors, but the Accord also has recalls for fuel pump and hybrid software.
- Check for turbocharger health: listen for whining or loss of power, and ask for service records showing oil strainer replacement.
- Test the transmission for jerking or hesitation, especially when accelerating from a stop or at highway speeds.
- Test electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds; any warning lights or loss of assist is a major red flag.
- Inspect for fuel odors and ensure the fuel pump recall has been performed; also check forward collision avoidance system functionality.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and verify all recalls have been completed.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Audi S7 for turbocharger play, transmission codes, and electrical system faults.
- For the Honda Accord, test drive at highway speeds to check for steering/braking failures and adaptive cruise control issues.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for oil changes and hybrid system checks on the Accord.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the specific model's common problems.
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 S7 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 3 | 234 |
| 2020 | 3 | 362 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 6 | 537 |
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 S7 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI S7 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI S7 total complaints
- 28
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- AUDI S7 total recalls
- 30
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI S7 avg complaints/year
- 2.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- AUDI S7
- AUDI S7 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE