Head-to-head reliability
Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry
How the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The Accord has 4,438 complaints over 10 years (444/yr) and 38 recalls, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints (214/yr) and 31 recalls. The Accord's top issues are engine and electrical, while the Camry's are powertrain and brakes. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, over the past decade, has generated a high volume of owner complaints, averaging over 440 per year. The most frequent issues center on the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance features. Owners report noises, sudden power loss, and false alerts from driver-assistance systems, which can be unsettling and potentially dangerous. While the Accord is a popular and generally reliable family sedan, these patterns suggest that some examples may require frequent dealer visits for electronic and engine-related glitches.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, with roughly half the complaints per year as the Accord, shows a different reliability profile. Its top problem areas are the powertrain, engine, and brakes, with owners describing grinding noises from the transmission, sudden acceleration incidents, and brake failures. Although the Camry has fewer total complaints, the nature of some issues—like unintended acceleration and brake loss—raises serious safety concerns. Overall, the Camry appears to have fewer reported problems, but the ones that do occur can be severe.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Accord | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,438 | 2,143 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 38 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 160 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 443.8 | 214.3 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 144 Better | 163 |
| 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
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises from the engine and sudden loss of power while driving, sometimes accompanied by warning lights for brakes and stability systems. This can lead to unexpected slowdowns on highways, creating a hazard.
Problems include tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings that lead to tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause engine or sensor malfunctions. These issues may require costly repairs and leave owners stranded.
The adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic braking systems can trigger false alerts or fail to respond appropriately. Owners report intermittent dashboard warnings and instances where the system brakes unexpectedly, which can be startling and increase collision risk.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission issues are prominent, with owners describing grinding noises during acceleration and, in some cases, the need for complete transmission replacement. This is a major repair that can be very expensive and leave the car undriveable.
There are reports of sudden, unintended acceleration that have led to crashes, as well as engine warning lights related to a coolant bypass valve. These issues can pose serious safety risks and may require immediate attention.
Some owners have experienced a complete loss of brake response, especially on hills, which is extremely dangerous. Others report that the brakes grab unexpectedly at low speeds, such as when parking, which can cause loss of control.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder 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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Honda Accord or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
Based on NHTSA data, the Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (214 vs 444) and fewer recalls (31 vs 38), suggesting a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Camry's problems include more severe safety-related failures like unintended acceleration and brake loss. In practice, the Accord may require more frequent dealer visits for electronic and engine glitches, while the Camry's issues, though less common, can be more alarming and potentially dangerous.
Key differences
- The Accord has more than double the complaints per year (444 vs 214) and more recalls (38 vs 31), indicating a higher rate of reported problems.
- The Accord's top issues are engine noises, electrical glitches, and false forward-collision warnings, while the Camry's are transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake failures.
- The Camry has a higher number of crash-related complaints (181 vs 160) and injuries (163 vs 144) despite fewer total complaints, suggesting its issues may be more severe.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance system is a major source of complaints, with owners reporting false alerts and unexpected braking, which is not a top issue for the Camry.
- Check for any engine warning lights or unusual noises, especially during acceleration, as owners report power loss and engine issues.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems to ensure they don't trigger false alerts or brake unexpectedly.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration, and check for any transmission-related recalls or service bulletins.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on hills, to ensure they respond properly and don't grab unexpectedly.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's VIN and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website for both models.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic, focusing on the engine, transmission, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Test drive the car at highway speeds to check for any warning lights or unusual behavior from driver-assistance systems.
- Ask for service records to see if the transmission or engine has been replaced or repaired.
- Check the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and tire condition, as both models have reported tire-related 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 | Honda Accord | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 119 |
| 2025 | 101 | 153 |
| 2024 | 214 | 48 |
| 2023 | 224 | 62 |
| 2022 | 238 | 59 |
| 2021 | 226 | 155 |
| 2020 | 355 | 270 |
| 2019 | 677 | 393 |
| 2018 | 1864 | 736 |
| 2017 | 534 | 148 |
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN