Head-to-head reliability
AUDI SQ6 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI SQ6 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 SQ6 vs Honda Accord: The Audi SQ6 has 5 complaints over 2 years (2.5/year) and 2 recalls, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years (452.4/year) and 38 recalls. The Accord also reports 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, versus none for the SQ6. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI SQ6 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI SQ6
The Audi SQ6 is a newer electric SUV with only 5 complaints over 2 years, averaging 2.5 per year. Owners report electrical glitches like an inoperable instrument panel and a central locking failure, plus a case where the accelerator stopped working. There are 2 recalls, including one for the rear seat belt retractor and one for the backup camera. With no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported, the main concern is electronic reliability rather than crash safety.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume sedan with 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging 452.4 per year. The most common issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with reports of power steering and braking failure, engine rattling, and unintended automatic braking. There are 38 recalls and 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. This suggests that while many Accords are trouble-free, a notable number of owners experience serious safety-related defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI SQ6 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.5 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 SQ6
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
- 03VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
- 04POWER TRAIN1
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
Owners report the instrument panel going blank and staying inoperable even after a reboot, and one complaint notes the cluster is designed to blank out for 30-60 seconds. This means you could lose speed and warning displays while driving, which is a serious distraction and safety concern.
One owner said the accelerator completely stopped working on the highway after driver assistance alarms sounded, forcing them to cut across lanes. This kind of sudden loss of power can leave you stranded in traffic and is a major drivability risk.
A complaint describes a defective SX6 module, a central control unit for electronic, safety, and communication systems, causing widespread failures. If this module fails, multiple systems could go offline, making the vehicle unpredictable.
A central locking malfunction prevented the owner from locking the doors at all, which they noted left them vulnerable if being followed. Being unable to secure the car is both a security and peace-of-mind issue.
“The contact owns a 2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable. The contact stated that after the vehicle performed a system reboot, the instrument panel remained inoperable, and…”
“UPDATE TO EXISTING COMPLAINT #11717767: On 2/24/2026, the Audi dealer performed a diagnosis and confirmed in writing on the attached official Repair Order that the vehicle is designed to intentionally blank out the instrument cluster and speedometer for 30-60…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failure while losing speed, and others describe rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These symptoms can indicate serious powertrain problems that may lead to breakdowns or costly repairs.
One complaint states that electronic power steering and braking failed simultaneously at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another mentions a tire failure shortly after a TPMS service. Electrical faults affecting steering and brakes are extremely dangerous.
Owners report the system activating unexpectedly, such as sudden braking under adaptive cruise control on open roads. Unintended braking can cause rear-end collisions or loss of control, making this a critical safety defect.
Complaints include a persistent rotten-egg odor and a foot slipping behind a plastic panel, which could interfere with pedal use. These may seem minor but can distract the driver or affect vehicle control.
“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 SQ6 — 2 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 SQ6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron vehicles. The rearview camera may show a blurry image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk: A blurry rearview image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace surround view cameras as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 2, 2025. Owners may contac…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 SQ6 E-Tron, SQ6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 Sportback E-Tron, A6, A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 E-Tron, S5, and S6 Sportback E-Tron vehicles. The automatic locking retractor may fail to engage when a child seat is installed using the seat be…
The risk: An improperly secured child seat can increase risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the right and left rear seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number f…
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 SQ6 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi SQ6 has far fewer issues per year (2.5 vs. 452.4), but both vehicles have reported serious safety-related defects. In practice, the Accord's much higher complaint volume means you are more likely to encounter problems, while the SQ6's lower volume still includes concerning electronic failures. Neither can be called reliable without a thorough inspection.
Key differences
- The Audi SQ6 has 5 complaints over 2 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 over 10 years, a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- Audi SQ6 complaints center on electrical glitches like blank instrument panels and central locking failure, whereas Accord complaints include engine stalls, power steering/brake failure, and unintended automatic braking.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths reported, while the SQ6 has none of these, though this does not guarantee safety.
- Both have a rear seat belt retractor recall, but the Accord also has recalls for fuel pump, air bag sensors, and hybrid power control software.
- Check that the instrument cluster and speedometer illuminate and function correctly on startup and during a test drive, as owners report blanking out.
- Test the central locking system multiple times to ensure all doors lock and unlock reliably, since one owner could not lock the car at all.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which owners report as engine issues.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control in a safe area to see if it brakes unexpectedly, as unintended braking has been reported.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially the rear seat belt retractor on both models.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the electrical system, including the instrument cluster and central locking on the Audi SQ6, and the power steering and braking on the Honda Accord.
- For the Audi SQ6, ask the seller to demonstrate that the instrument panel and speedometer work consistently during a 20-minute test drive.
- For the Honda Accord, test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control on a highway to check for unexpected braking.
- Request any available service records and ask specifically about repairs related to the complaints listed for each model.
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 SQ6 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 5 | 109 |
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 SQ6 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI SQ6 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI SQ6 total complaints
- 5
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- AUDI SQ6 total recalls
- 2
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI SQ6 avg complaints/year
- 2.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- AUDI SQ6
- AUDI SQ6 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE