Head-to-head reliability
Honda Accord vs Honda Odyssey
How the Honda Accord and Honda Odyssey compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Honda Accord vs Honda Odyssey: The Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year, while the Odyssey averages 86.6. The Accord has more engine and electrical issues, while the Odyssey has more recalls (81 vs 38). Both have forward collision avoidance problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Accord or Honda Odyssey more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, shows a high volume of owner complaints, averaging over 440 per year over the past decade. The most frequent issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with owners reporting noises, warning lights, and sudden power loss. While not all problems are severe, the sheer number of complaints suggests that buyers should be prepared for potential visits to the dealership, especially for advanced safety and engine management systems.
Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey minivan has fewer complaints per year (about 87), but its issues are still notable. Electrical system problems top the list, including false alarms and sudden power loss, followed by engine troubles like ignition coil failures. Forward collision avoidance issues also appear, sometimes causing unexpected braking. Despite lower complaint numbers, the nature of these problems—especially those affecting power and braking—can be concerning for families.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Accord | Honda Odyssey |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,438 | 866 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 38 Better | 81 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 160 | 14 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 443.8 | 86.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 144 | 52 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 0 Better |
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.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and a cascade of warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) leading to loss of speed on the highway. This suggests potential issues with engine management or related sensors that could affect drivability.
Problems range from TPMS warnings to catastrophic tire failures shortly after service, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. These issues point to potential vulnerabilities in the vehicle's electronic components and wiring.
The system may activate unexpectedly or display intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. Owners report that dealerships have struggled to resolve these issues, which could undermine trust in safety features.
“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…”
Honda Odyssey
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM340
- 02ENGINE283
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER195
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE104
- 05POWER TRAIN74
The alarm can activate on its own and fail to turn off, and in some cases, the vehicle loses power while driving, with only steering and brakes remaining. This could indicate serious battery or charging system faults.
Ignition coils and spark plugs fail prematurely, leading to acceleration issues, juddering, and check engine lights. Even after replacement, problems can recur, suggesting a deeper issue.
The system may cause the vehicle to fail to accelerate or brake independently, and can trigger a hard shift and limp mode. This can be dangerous, especially on highways.
“The contact owns a 2017 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the alarm activated, and the contact attempted to turn off the alarm; however, the alarm failed to deactivate. The alarm went off for several hours before stopping. The co…”
“While driving, the battery indicator light illuminated. Suddenly, the power turned off. The vehicle could be steered and brakes used, only. Then, as quickly as the power turned off, it restored and momentarily powered the accelerator. Then the power stopped a…”
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.
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…
Honda Odyssey — 81 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions. If a seat is placed between either of the two positions when attaching the seat to the vehicle floor, the seat will not latch properly to…
The risk: If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the second row outboard floor strikers, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2018. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-21…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Odyssey and 2024 Acura RDX vehicles. The steering gear box assembly may not have been tightened properly, allowing water to enter the assembly and cause corrosion and binding gears.
The risk: Corroded and binding steering gears can result in a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are LHU and FHT.
Buyer analysis
Honda Accord or Honda Odyssey: which should you buy?
The Honda Odyssey has fewer complaints per year (86.6 vs 443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Odyssey's problems often involve sudden power loss and braking, which can be more alarming. In practice, the Accord may require more frequent repairs, but the Odyssey's issues could be more severe when they occur.
Key differences
- The Accord has over five times more complaints per year than the Odyssey, but the Odyssey has more recalls (81 vs 38).
- Accord owners frequently report engine noises and loss of power, while Odyssey owners report sudden power loss and alarm issues.
- Both vehicles have forward collision avoidance problems, but Odyssey's issues include unintended braking and acceleration failure.
- The Accord has a higher number of crash-related complaints (160 vs 14), though the Odyssey has more injuries per complaint.
- Check for any engine warning lights or unusual noises, especially during highway driving, as these could indicate sensor or management issues.
- Inspect the wiring harness for signs of rodent damage, which has been reported even on low-mileage vehicles.
- Test the alarm system to ensure it doesn't activate randomly, and check the battery and charging system for potential power loss issues.
- Ask about the condition of ignition coils and spark plugs, and whether they have been replaced recently, as failures are common.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine and electrical systems for any stored fault codes.
- Test drive at highway speeds to see if any warning lights appear or if there is any loss of power.
- Check the forward collision avoidance system by following a vehicle at a safe distance to ensure it doesn't brake unexpectedly.
- Review the vehicle's recall history and ensure all recalls have been addressed.
- For the Odyssey, specifically ask about the tailgate seal and any water leak issues that could short out electrical components.
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 | Honda Accord | Honda Odyssey |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 29 |
| 2025 | 101 | 337 |
| 2024 | 214 | 95 |
| 2023 | 224 | 97 |
| 2022 | 238 | 130 |
| 2021 | 226 | 139 |
| 2020 | 355 | 0 |
| 2019 | 677 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1864 | 0 |
| 2017 | 534 | 39 |
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 Honda Accord or Honda Odyssey in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Accord vs Honda Odyssey
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Honda Odyssey total complaints
- 866
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Honda Odyssey total recalls
- 81
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- Honda Odyssey avg complaints/year
- 86.6
- More reliable overall
- Honda Odyssey
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Odyssey top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM