Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Equus vs Honda Accord
How the Hyundai Equus 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
Hyundai Equus vs Honda Accord: The Equus averages 16.2 complaints per year with 6 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Equus has fewer reported issues but may have costlier repairs; the Accord has more complaints but widespread service availability. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Equus or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Equus
The Hyundai Equus is a low-volume luxury sedan, so complaints are relatively few—97 over six years, about 16 per year. The pattern shows a car that can develop costly suspension and brake issues as it ages, with owners reporting dragging sensations and fluid leaks. Electrical gremlins like dead batteries and flickering lights also appear. Overall, it's a complex, older luxury car where repairs may be expensive and parts availability can be a concern.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan with many more complaints—4,524 over ten years, about 452 per year—but that's partly because so many are on the road. Owners report serious engine and electrical problems, including loss of power and simultaneous steering/braking failures. Forward collision avoidance and fuel system issues also show up. While recalls are numerous, the sheer volume of complaints suggests a wide range of potential problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Equus | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 97 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.2 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 5 Better | 146 |
| 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.
Hyundai Equus
- 01SUSPENSION24
- 02SERVICE BRAKES16
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING9
- 05ENGINE9
Owners describe the car feeling like it's dragging or riding poorly, often after 100,000 miles. This can mean worn air suspension components that are expensive to replace, so a pre-purchase inspection is critical.
Complaints include brake fluid leaks and issues with the hydraulic control unit, tied to a recall for ABS/traction control. If the recall repair isn't done, braking performance could be affected, so verify recall completion.
Reports of sudden dead batteries and dashboard/leather bubbling in heat. These are annoying and can leave you stranded, so check battery health and interior condition carefully.
Headlights may flicker or turn off unexpectedly in auto mode, along with cabin lights. This is a safety concern at night, so test the lighting system thoroughly.
“FROM THE DESK OF LMI'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: [XXX] I PURCHASED 2012 EQUUS ON MARCH 7, 2012 WITH 108,216 MILES. THE CARS SUSPENSION STARTED GOING BAD AS OF LAST WEEK. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK ON MARCH 20, 2020 TO HAVE A MIRROR REPLACED AND TO DISCUSS THE SUSPENSIO…”
“I WAS DRIVING ON I-85 S FROM NORTH CAROLINA WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTS TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS DRAGGING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE FOR A FEW MORE EXITS TO SEE IF IT WOULD STOP. I GOT OFF AFTER FOUR EXITS, TURNED OFF THE CAR, AND CHECKED THE TIRES. NOTHING APPEARED WR…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden power loss, alarms for brake/hill descent/ABS, and rattling noises during acceleration. These can indicate serious engine or hybrid system faults, so a thorough mechanical inspection is essential.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking at highway speeds, and tire failures after TPMS service. These are severe safety risks, so check for any related recalls or service bulletins.
Owners describe unexpected braking or failure to intervene under consistent conditions, even with adaptive cruise control. This could lead to a crash if the system malfunctions, so test all driver-assist features.
Issues include rough transitions between EV and gas modes, jerking when charging, and fuel pump recalls. These can affect drivability and safety, so confirm any fuel system recalls are addressed.
“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…”
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.
Hyundai Equus — 6 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock B…
The risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2012 Genesis vehicles manufactured August 1, 2011, to April 30, 2012, and 2011-2013 Equus vehicles manufactured July 10, 2011, to June 12, 2012. The windshield wiper motor cover seal on the affected vehicles may degrade allowing corros…
The risk: Inoperative wipers during inclement weather can decrease driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor cover and seal, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 140.
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2012 Genesis vehicles manufactured August 1, 2011, to April 30, 2012, and 2011-2013 Equus vehicles manufactured July 10, 2011, to June 12, 2012. The windshield wiper motor cover seal on the affected vehicles may degrade allowing corros…
The risk: Inoperative wipers during inclement weather can decrease driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor cover and seal, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 140.
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock B…
The risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may…
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…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Equus or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Hyundai Equus has far fewer complaints per year (about 16 vs. 452 for the Accord), but it's a niche luxury car with potentially costly repairs. The Accord's higher volume means more reported problems, but also more widespread parts and service availability. In practice, the Equus may be cheaper to buy but riskier to maintain, while the Accord offers more peace of mind but a higher chance of encountering a defect.
Key differences
- The Equus has about 16 complaints per year, while the Accord has about 452 per year—but the Accord sells in much higher numbers.
- Equus owners report suspension and brake problems like dragging and fluid leaks; Accord owners report engine power loss and simultaneous steering/braking failures.
- The Accord has 38 recalls including fuel pumps and air bags; the Equus has 6 recalls mostly for brakes and wipers.
- The Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries reported, while the Equus has 0 deaths and 5 injuries, though these numbers don't account for vehicle population.
- Check for suspension noises or a dragging feeling, especially on models over 100,000 miles—air suspension repairs can be very expensive.
- Test all exterior lights, especially in auto mode, for flickering or shutting off, and verify the brake fluid recall was performed.
- Listen for engine rattles during acceleration and watch for warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent—these may indicate a serious fault.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control at highway speeds to ensure they don't unexpectedly brake or fail to respond.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all safety recalls have been repaired.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the known problem areas for each model.
- For the Equus, specifically check suspension components, brake fluid leaks, and battery/electrical health.
- For the Accord, scan for engine and hybrid system error codes, and test all driver-assist features.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and varying conditions to replicate potential issues.
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 Hyundai Equus or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Equus vs Honda Accord
- Hyundai Equus total complaints
- 97
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Hyundai Equus total recalls
- 6
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Hyundai Equus avg complaints/year
- 16.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Equus
- Hyundai Equus top complaint area
- SUSPENSION
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE