Head-to-head reliability
AUDI S8 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI S8 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 S8 vs Honda Accord: The Audi S8 has 7 complaints and 0 crash-related reports over 10 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints, 162 crash-related, and 3 deaths. The S8 averages 0.7 complaints per year versus 452.4 for the Accord. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI S8 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI S8
The Audi S8 is a low-volume luxury sedan with only 7 complaints over 10 years, but 26 recalls. Owners report sudden electrical glitches, power train warnings, and steering misalignment. Living with it means dealing with complex electronics and potential expensive repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with 4,524 complaints over 10 years and 38 recalls. Owners report engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance issues, including crashes and injuries. It's a mainstream car with widespread reported problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI S8 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.7 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 S8
- 01POWER TRAIN2
- 02SERVICE BRAKES2
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04ENGINE1
- 05STEERING1
Owners report multiple warning lights and electrical system/battery malfunction messages on startup, sometimes requiring the car to be shut off and restarted. This can indicate underlying electrical or power train faults that may be costly to diagnose.
Complaints describe a cascade of system errors and a steering wheel suddenly off-center by about 70 degrees, suggesting brake and steering system integration issues. This could affect vehicle control and safety.
Owners report rapid sequences of warning lights indicating electrical system and battery malfunctions, with instructions not to drive. Such electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to fix.
The same complaint about multiple warning lights and electrical/battery malfunction also lists the engine, implying engine-related error messages. This may point to sensor or control module problems.
“When started up on 11/17/22, multiple warning lights came on in rapid sequence advising of an electrical system & battery malfunction. Warning was to not drive the vehicle and contact service. I shut off the vehicle and re-started it. The same warnings were d…”
“I STARTED THE CAR LAST FRIDAY, 11/15/2019 AND GOT A BUNCH OF SYSTEM ERRORS POPPING UP ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. I DROVE THE CAR TO GET TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL TOTALLY OFF CENTER ABOUT 70 DEGREES COUNTER CLOCKWISE. I AM NOT SURE…”
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 while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, indicating engine and hybrid system issues.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and tire failure after TPMS service. These electrical faults can cause sudden loss of control.
Owners report the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions, such as with adaptive cruise control set. This suggests potential malfunctions in collision avoidance technology.
Complaints include persistent rotten-egg/sulfur odor and a foot slipping behind a plastic side panel, indicating miscellaneous safety and quality issues. These may be annoying or hazardous.
“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 S8 — 26 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8 and S8, 2022 Audi A5 Sportback, A4 Sedan, E-Tron GT, Q3, Q5, RS6 Avant, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RSQ8, SQ7, SQ8, and S3 Sedan vehicles. A software error may prevent the rear-view image from initially dis…
The risk: A rear-view camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the infotainment unit parameters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 9, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91CR.
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 2019-2021 Audi A8 and 2020-2021 Audi S8 vehicles. A missing sealing pin may allow moisture to enter the engine control module connector, possibly causing a control module malfunction.
The risk: An engine control module malfunction may cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine control module connector for a missing sealing pin, and install it, if necessary. The connector will also be inspected for corrosion, and replaced as necessary. Repairs will be p…
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 S8 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi S8 has far fewer complaints per year (0.7 vs. 452.4) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths, while the Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. In practice, the S8 appears to have fewer reported issues, but both have recalls and owner-reported problems.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Audi S8 has 7 complaints over 10 years; Honda Accord has 4,524, a massive difference in reported issues.
- Safety outcomes: Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; Audi S8 has none reported.
- Common failure types: Audi S8 complaints center on electrical/power train warnings and steering misalignment; Honda Accord complaints include engine alarms, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- Recalls: Audi S8 has 26 recalls; Honda Accord has 38, both indicating ongoing manufacturer fixes.
- Check for any history of electrical system or battery malfunction warnings, especially multiple warning lights on startup.
- Inspect steering alignment and brake system for off-center steering wheel or error messages, as reported in complaints.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for electronic power steering and braking failures, and listen for engine rattling or rough hybrid transitions.
- Verify forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control functionality, as owners report failures under certain conditions.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the electrical system, brakes, and steering on the Audi S8.
- For the Honda Accord, test the hybrid system, forward collision avoidance, and check for any warning lights.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for software updates or recall repairs.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection specific to the model's reported issues.
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 S8 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 0 | 226 |
| 2022 | 0 | 252 |
| 2021 | 1 | 234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 362 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 S8 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI S8 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI S8 total complaints
- 7
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- AUDI S8 total recalls
- 26
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI S8 avg complaints/year
- 0.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- AUDI S8
- AUDI S8 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE