Head-to-head reliability
Honda Accord vs Nissan Altima
How the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima 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 Nissan Altima: Over 10 years, the Accord averaged 452 complaints per year and had 38 recalls, while the Altima averaged 120 complaints per year and had 23 recalls. Both have reported stalling and electrical issues, but the Altima has fewer overall complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Accord or Nissan Altima more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a mixed reliability record. Over 10 years, it has averaged about 452 complaints per year, with the most common issues in the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Owners report serious problems like sudden power loss, electronic steering and braking failures, and unintended automatic braking. While many Accords run well, the volume of complaints suggests that some owners face frequent and potentially dangerous defects.
Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima is a midsize sedan that has fewer complaints per year than the Accord, averaging about 120. However, the complaints it does have often involve critical systems like electrical, power train, and engine, with reports of stalling, loss of steering, and camera problems. The Altima also has fewer recalls and crash-related reports, but the issues owners describe can be severe. Overall, it appears to have a lower complaint rate but still carries significant risks in key areas.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Accord | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,524 | 1,195 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 38 | 23 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 162 | 98 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 452.4 | 119.5 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 146 | 74 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 1 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
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises during acceleration, rough transitions between electric and gas modes, and sudden power loss with multiple warning lights. These issues can leave a driver stranded or unable to maintain highway speeds, posing a safety risk.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can cause loss of control and near-collisions, making electrical reliability a major concern.
Owners describe unintended automatic braking or failure to brake when needed, sometimes occurring repeatedly under similar conditions. This can lead to rear-end collisions or sudden stops that endanger occupants and other drivers.
Reports include fuel pump failures and hybrid system issues that cause stalling or loss of power. These problems can happen without warning and may require costly repairs, affecting both safety and ownership costs.
“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…”
Nissan Altima
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER238
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM208
- 03POWER TRAIN193
- 04ENGINE158
- 05SERVICE BRAKES151
Owners report stalling while driving, with all dashboard lights illuminating, and spontaneous failures of multiple systems like anti-lock brakes and windows. These electrical glitches can cause sudden loss of power and control, especially in cold weather.
Complaints include sudden loss of steering control leading to collisions, and gear shifters detaching and leaving the vehicle stuck in Drive. Such failures can result in serious injuries and make the car undrivable.
Stalling at speed, often in cold or snowy conditions, is a recurring complaint. This can leave drivers stranded in traffic or dangerous situations, and may indicate a defect that needs immediate attention.
While not detailed in the sample complaints, the high number of brake-related complaints suggests issues like premature wear or failure. Brake problems are critical for safety and should be inspected carefully.
“Recently purchased a NISSAN Altima 2024. Found the backup/camera safety component as well as front and side cameras extremely cloudy whether its in the day or night. Not to mention during inclement weather it gets worse. It is to the point I cannot see clearl…”
“Recently purchased a new 2024 Nissan Altima SL in December 2023. Found the backup camera safety component display to have a poor-quality, low resolution, distorted image. Guidelines are not sharp and objects in the backup path are obscured and practically inv…”
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 (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…
Nissan Altima — 23 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot…
The risk: A door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD185 and PMA61. Vehicle Iden…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima vehicles. The front passenger air bag and front passenger knee air bag may have been installed with incorrect mounting fasteners, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the air bag mounting fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 25, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan’s customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall i…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Altima vehicles. The bolts connecting the electronic power steering unit to the steering rack may loosen, resulting in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up.
The risk: A loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC997.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
Buyer analysis
Honda Accord or Nissan Altima: which should you buy?
The Nissan Altima has far fewer complaints per year (about 120 vs. 452 for the Honda Accord), suggesting a lower overall rate of reported problems. However, both vehicles have serious safety-related complaints, so the difference means the Altima may have fewer issues on average, but individual cars can still experience severe defects.
Key differences
- The Honda Accord has nearly four times as many complaints per year as the Nissan Altima, but both have serious safety-related reports.
- Honda Accord complaints often involve forward collision avoidance and hybrid system failures, while Altima complaints more often cite electrical and power train issues.
- The Altima has fewer recalls (23 vs. 38) and fewer crash-related reports (98 vs. 162), but its complaints include sudden loss of steering and stalling.
- Both vehicles have reports of stalling and electrical failures, but the Accord's issues are more frequently tied to advanced driver-assist systems.
- Check for any history of engine rattling, rough hybrid transitions, or sudden power loss; test drive at highway speeds and listen for unusual noises.
- Inspect the electrical system, especially power steering and braking, and verify that all recalls (like fuel pump and hybrid software) have been addressed.
- Test the backup camera for clarity and function, as many owners report cloudy or low-resolution images that impair visibility.
- Look for signs of electrical gremlins like warning lights, stalling, or gear shifter issues; a thorough test drive and diagnostic scan are recommended.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the engine, electrical system, and transmission.
- During the test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or hesitation during acceleration.
- For the Honda Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance system and ensure it engages smoothly without false braking.
- For the Nissan Altima, check the backup camera display and test the gear shifter for smooth operation.
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 | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 1 |
| 2025 | 109 | 7 |
| 2024 | 219 | 41 |
| 2023 | 226 | 29 |
| 2022 | 252 | 20 |
| 2021 | 234 | 70 |
| 2020 | 362 | 179 |
| 2019 | 691 | 232 |
| 2018 | 1884 | 225 |
| 2017 | 537 | 391 |
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 Nissan Altima in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Accord vs Nissan Altima
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Nissan Altima total complaints
- 1,195
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Altima total recalls
- 23
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- Nissan Altima avg complaints/year
- 119.5
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Altima
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Nissan Altima top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER