Head-to-head reliability
AUDI SQ8 vs Honda Accord
How the AUDI SQ8 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 SQ8 vs Honda Accord: The SQ8 has 0.7 complaints per year with no crashes, while the Accord has 429 per year with 154 crashes and 3 deaths. The SQ8's issues are electrical glitches; the Accord's involve sudden power loss and false collision alerts. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI SQ8 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI SQ8
The Audi SQ8 is a luxury performance SUV with a very low complaint rate of 0.7 per year over 7 years, but its issues are concentrated in the electrical system. Owners report the MMI infotainment screen freezing or going black, electronic door handles locking occupants in or out, and the instrument cluster blacking out. These failures can be inconvenient and, in the case of being trapped inside, a safety concern. The 17 recalls cover air bags, backup cameras, and infotainment screens, indicating Audi has addressed some systemic issues.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a high complaint rate of 429 per year over 10 years, involving 154 crashes, 141 injuries, and 3 deaths. The most common complaints are engine problems (924), electrical system failures (820), and forward collision avoidance issues (798). Owners report sudden loss of power at highway speeds, brake system warnings, and false collision alerts. The 38 recalls include hybrid power control units, brake modules, and fuel pumps, reflecting widespread reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI SQ8 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5 Better | 4,290 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 154 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.7 Better | 429.0 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 141 |
| 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 SQ8
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- 02POWER TRAIN2
- 03LANE DEPARTURE1
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1
- 05SUSPENSION1
Owners report the MMI infotainment system stops working suddenly, especially during over-the-air updates, and the instrument cluster blacks out. Electronic door handles can lock occupants inside the vehicle, creating a safety hazard.
The automatic engine stop/start feature malfunctions, causing hesitation or stalling when slowing to a stop. This can be unpredictable and may affect drivability.
Safety sensors, including lane departure warnings, trigger randomly without cause, leading to false alerts and potential driver distraction.
Forward collision avoidance sensors activate erratically, causing sudden braking or warnings when no obstacle is present, which could lead to rear-end collisions.
“I am reporting a serious safety defect involving the door locking and electrical systems in my 2024 Audi SQ8. On two separate occasions the vehicle experienced a complete electrical malfunction. During the first incident, I and my child were trapped inside th…”
“MMI system stops working all of a sudden. This has happened multiple times and especially when it takes updates on its own. When called customer service they referred to the dealer stating they cannot do anything. Right after my call with them the car starts…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE924
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM820
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE798
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER696
- 05SERVICE BRAKES577
Owners report unusual noises from the engine and sudden loss of power at highway speeds, accompanied by multiple warning lights (brake, ABS, hill descent). This can leave the vehicle unable to accelerate, posing a crash risk.
The vehicle can suddenly lose all power, including power steering, while driving on cruise control. TPMS warnings are common, sometimes followed by catastrophic tire failure.
The system triggers false collision warnings and automatic braking at speeds around 35 mph on open roads with no obstructions, causing unnecessary stops and potential rear-end collisions.
Brake system warnings appear alongside other failures, and the vehicle may lose braking assist. Some owners report the brakes failing completely, leading to crashes.
“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 SQ8 — 17 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2023-2024 SQ8, RSQ8, Q8, Q7, and 2024 SQ7 vehicles. The driver's seat side air bag may have been improperly mounted to the seatback frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: An improperly mounted air bag may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69GA.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2026. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 90TV. Vehicle Identification Numbers (V…
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. (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…
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 are expected to be mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is availa…
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 SQ8 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Audi SQ8 has far fewer complaints per year (0.7 vs 429) and no reported crashes or injuries, while the Honda Accord has a high rate of serious incidents including 3 deaths. In practice, the SQ8's issues are mostly electrical annoyances, whereas the Accord's problems can lead to sudden power loss and crashes.
Key differences
- Audi SQ8 has 0.7 complaints per year vs Honda Accord's 429 per year.
- Audi SQ8 has 0 crash-related complaints; Honda Accord has 154 crashes, 141 injuries, and 3 deaths.
- Audi SQ8's main issues are electrical (MMI, door handles, instrument cluster); Honda Accord's main issues are engine power loss and false collision avoidance.
- Honda Accord has 38 recalls covering critical systems like hybrid power control and brakes; Audi SQ8 has 17 recalls mostly for cameras and air bags.
- Test the MMI infotainment system for freezing or blacking out, especially during updates.
- Check that electronic door handles operate reliably and do not lock occupants in or out.
- Test the engine for unusual noises and sudden loss of power during a test drive at highway speeds.
- Verify the forward collision avoidance system does not trigger false alerts or automatic braking on open roads.
Before you buy
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles and ensure all recalls have been performed.
- On the Audi SQ8, test all electronic systems (MMI, door handles, instrument cluster) multiple times.
- On the Honda Accord, test the engine under load and listen for abnormal sounds; check for any warning lights.
- On the Honda Accord, test the adaptive cruise control and forward collision avoidance in a safe area.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any repairs related to electrical or powertrain 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 SQ8 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 4 |
| 2025 | 0 | 96 |
| 2024 | 2 | 207 |
| 2023 | 0 | 219 |
| 2022 | 0 | 214 |
| 2021 | 3 | 217 |
| 2020 | 0 | 340 |
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 SQ8 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI SQ8 vs Honda Accord
- AUDI SQ8 total complaints
- 5
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,290
- AUDI SQ8 total recalls
- 17
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- AUDI SQ8 avg complaints/year
- 0.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 429.0
- More reliable overall
- AUDI SQ8
- AUDI SQ8 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE