Head-to-head reliability
Honda Civic vs Honda Accord
How the Honda Civic 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
Honda Civic vs Honda Accord: The Civic averages 374 complaints per year, with steering issues dominating, while the Accord averages 444, with engine problems most common. Both have 38 recalls, but the Civic has more crash complaints (206 vs 160). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Civic or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic, over the past decade, has logged a high volume of complaints, with steering issues dominating the list. Owners describe the electric power steering motor failing, causing the wheel to feel sticky or require extra effort, sometimes leading to full steering rack replacements. Beyond steering, there are notable reports of electrical system problems, including battery and sensor failures, and forward collision avoidance systems that can brake unexpectedly. While the Civic remains a popular compact, these patterns suggest that buyers should be prepared for potential steering and electronic gremlins.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord shows a different reliability profile, with engine problems being the most common complaint. Owners report noises, loss of power, and warning lights related to the engine and braking systems. Electrical system issues are also frequent, including problems with TPMS and wiring harnesses. The forward collision avoidance system is another major source of complaints, with reports of false activations and system errors. Overall, the Accord's complaints point to more drivetrain and electronic complexities, possibly due to its larger size and available hybrid variants.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Civic | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,744 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 38 | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 206 | 160 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 374.4 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 143 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Honda Civic
- 01STEERING1,922
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER507
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM333
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE257
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM215
Owners report the electric power steering motor failing, causing the wheel to stick or require extra force, especially at highway speeds. Some have needed complete steering rack replacements, which is a costly repair.
Complaints include battery failures, repeated spark plug replacements, and issues with sensors like the MAF sensor. These electrical gremlins can lead to unexpected breakdowns and multiple trips to the shop.
The system can falsely activate, causing the car to brake suddenly without any obstacle, which is alarming and potentially dangerous, especially at highway speeds.
“The component that has failed is my electric power steering motor. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. While driving, the steering wheel should turn in a fluid motion, without requiring much force to turn the wheel. When i turn my wheel, it some…”
“Vehicle: 2021 Honda Civic Mileage: Approximately 58,000 miles Over the past couple of months, I have experienced a steering issue that appears to be worsening. While driving at highway speeds, the steering wheel intermittently feels as though it “sticks” or c…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises, loss of power, and warning lights indicating critical failures. Some have experienced sudden speed loss while driving, which is a serious safety concern.
Issues range from TPMS warnings to rodent damage on wiring harnesses, leading to electrical malfunctions. These problems can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
The system often triggers false alerts or errors, affecting adaptive cruise control and lane keeping. Owners report the system acting up without warning, which undermines trust in the 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…”
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 Civic — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, w…
The risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…
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…
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 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
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…
Buyer analysis
Honda Civic or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Civic has fewer complaints per year (374.4) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the Civic's issues are more concentrated in steering, which can be expensive to fix. The Accord has more engine-related complaints, which might indicate more serious mechanical problems. In practice, the Civic may be slightly more reliable overall, but both have significant electronic and safety system concerns.
Key differences
- The Civic's top problem is steering (1922 complaints), while the Accord's is engine (985).
- The Accord has more complaints about forward collision avoidance (821) than the Civic (257), suggesting more false activations.
- The Civic has more crash-related complaints (206) than the Accord (160), but the Accord has more injuries (144 vs 143) and deaths (3 vs 1).
- Both have the same number of recalls (38), but the Accord's recalls include hybrid power control unit software, while the Civic's include steering.
- Test the steering at various speeds for any sticking or stiffness, and listen for unusual noises when turning.
- Check the battery and charging system, as multiple owners report premature battery failures and electrical issues.
- Listen for engine noises and check for any warning lights, especially related to brakes and engine power.
- Inspect the wiring harnesses for any signs of damage, as rodent damage has been reported.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the electric power steering system on the Civic, including the motor and rack.
- For the Accord, ask for a diagnostic scan to check for any stored engine or ADAS fault codes.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any repeated repairs related to the top complaint areas.
- Take both cars for a test drive that includes highway speeds to feel for any steering or acceleration issues.
- Check for any open recalls and ensure they have been addressed.
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 Civic | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 5 |
| 2025 | 89 | 101 |
| 2024 | 266 | 214 |
| 2023 | 582 | 224 |
| 2022 | 881 | 238 |
| 2021 | 142 | 226 |
| 2020 | 222 | 355 |
| 2019 | 348 | 677 |
| 2018 | 598 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 589 | 534 |
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 Civic or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Civic vs Honda Accord
- Honda Civic total complaints
- 3,744
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Honda Civic total recalls
- 38
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Honda Civic avg complaints/year
- 374.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Honda Civic
- Honda Civic top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE