Head-to-head reliability
Honda Pilot vs Honda Accord
How the Honda Pilot 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 Pilot vs Honda Accord: The Pilot averages 376 complaints per year with 66 recalls, while the Accord averages 444 complaints with 38 recalls. The Pilot has more engine fire reports, while the Accord has more phantom braking incidents. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Pilot or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot, as a three-row SUV, shows a reliability profile dominated by engine and electrical complaints, with owners reporting serious issues like engine fires and sudden loss of power. The high number of recalls, including for steering and fuel systems, suggests ongoing problems that could affect safety and ownership experience.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular sedan, also has significant engine and electrical complaints, but its standout issue is the forward collision avoidance system, with many reports of phantom braking and system malfunctions. While it has fewer recalls than the Pilot, the higher crash and injury numbers indicate that these issues can have real-world safety consequences.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Pilot | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,760 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 66 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 76 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 376.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 73 Better | 144 |
| 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.
Honda Pilot
- 01ENGINE1,128
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,055
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER648
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE456
- 05POWER TRAIN408
Owners report engine fires, often linked to open recalls, and problems with the auto idle stop system causing warning lights and potential stalling.
Sudden warning lights for steering, brakes, and stability systems can appear, sometimes accompanied by reduced power, creating dangerous driving situations.
Phantom braking events, where the system brakes unexpectedly due to shadows or other triggers, can cause sudden stops on highways, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions.
“recall has been open since December of that year I have documentation that I took it last year to get this recall fix and your web site is stating that it is incomplete. today 11/12 at 7:30am my engine caught on fire there was a lot of witness at the elementa…”
“My vehicle has already had recalls on the fuel system and brake pin. Now I have an auto idle stop system problem. The indicator light is constantly flashing. Two days ago I was stopped at a red light on a two lane road in the city. When I pushed in the brake…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Complaints include unusual noises and sudden loss of power at highway speeds, with multiple warning lights illuminating, indicating potential engine or control module failures.
Issues range from tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) failures leading to tire blowouts to rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause various electrical malfunctions.
The system frequently triggers false alerts or engages braking without reason, and owners report persistent problems with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, which may not be resolved by dealers.
“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 Pilot — 66 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Pilot vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the gear box assembly may contain a loose ball bearing, which can result 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 electric power steering rack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FFX.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Pilot, and 2024 HR-V, Acura Integra and Acura Integra Type S vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in an unsecured se…
The risk: An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driver's seat cushion frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Passport and 2023-2025 Pilot vehicles. The fuel filler neck tube and fuel filler pipe may separate, allowing fuel to leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the fuel filler neck tube and pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this r…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.
The risk: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.
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 Pilot or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Pilot has fewer complaints per year (376) than the Honda Accord (444), but it has more recalls (66 vs 38). In practice, the Pilot's issues are more varied and include serious safety concerns like engine fires, while the Accord's problems are more concentrated in driver-assistance systems, which can be annoying but less immediately dangerous.
Key differences
- The Pilot has more recalls (66) than the Accord (38), indicating more widespread factory fixes.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (160) and injuries (144) than the Pilot (76 and 73), suggesting its issues may lead to more accidents.
- The Pilot's engine complaints often involve fires and stalling, while the Accord's engine issues are more about noise and power loss.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance complaints are more numerous (821) than the Pilot's (456), pointing to a more problematic system in the Accord.
- Check for any open recalls, especially those related to the fuel system and steering, and ensure they have been completed.
- Inspect the engine bay for signs of fuel leaks or electrical issues that could lead to fires.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe area to see if it triggers phantom braking.
- Check the wiring harnesses for rodent damage, especially if the car is parked outdoors.
Before you buy
- Verify that all recalls have been performed on the specific VIN.
- Ask for service records to see if the engine or electrical systems have had prior repairs.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds to check for any warning lights or loss of power.
- For the Accord, specifically test the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist on a clear road.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle for any signs of previous fire damage or wiring 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 Pilot | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18 | 5 |
| 2025 | 194 | 101 |
| 2024 | 109 | 214 |
| 2023 | 137 | 224 |
| 2022 | 149 | 238 |
| 2021 | 424 | 226 |
| 2020 | 483 | 355 |
| 2019 | 894 | 677 |
| 2018 | 437 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 915 | 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 Pilot or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Pilot vs Honda Accord
- Honda Pilot total complaints
- 3,760
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Honda Pilot total recalls
- 66
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Honda Pilot avg complaints/year
- 376.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Honda Pilot
- Honda Pilot top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE