Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai KONA N vs Honda Accord
How the Hyundai KONA N 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 KONA N vs Honda Accord: The KONA N has 11 complaints over 2 years (5.5/year) and 3 recalls, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints over 10 years (443.8/year) and 38 recalls. The Accord data also includes 160 crash-related complaints and 144 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai KONA N or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai KONA N
The Hyundai KONA N is a sporty compact SUV with a relatively low complaint volume: 11 complaints over 2 years (about 5.5 per year) and 3 recalls. Owners frequently report sudden power loss, limp mode, and warning lights, often after a car wash or in wet conditions. These issues can be alarming but appear less frequent than those of the Honda Accord. No crashes, injuries, or deaths are reported in the KONA N data.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 4,438 complaints over 10 years (about 444 per year) and 38 recalls. Owners report a wide range of problems, including engine and electrical failures, forward collision avoidance glitches, and brake issues. The data also includes 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths. This suggests that while many Accords are reliable, a notable number of owners experience serious safety-related defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai KONA N | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 11 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.5 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Hyundai KONA N
- 01ENGINE6
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
- 03POWER TRAIN3
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
- 05STEERING1
Owners report sudden, complete loss of power, often after a car wash or in wet conditions, with a flashing check engine light. Some also experience limp mode limiting RPM to 2000. This can be dangerous when merging or pulling into traffic.
Complaints describe limp mode, multiple warning lights (electrical, safety, engine), and error code P211800 after car washes or rain. The car may limit engine speed to 2000 RPM, reducing power and increasing crash risk.
Similar to engine and electrical complaints, owners report sudden power loss and limp mode after washing the car. The power train issues seem linked to moisture affecting sensors or control modules, leading to reduced performance.
Some owners report knock sensor code P1326 triggering limp mode after car washes or rainy driving, requiring dealership replacement. Others note jerking or jumping when pulling out, with suspension noise, which may indicate transmission or suspension quirks.
“After washing my '23 Kona N in a hand car wash, I experienced a sudden, complete loss of power as I was pulling into traffic immediately afterwards, nearly resulting in a rear-end collision. There was a flashing check engine light (CEL or MIL) on the dash, an…”
“I took my vehicle through a touch free car wash. After the wash the vehicle sat for about 10 to 20 minutes while I dried off the exterior and cleaned out my interior. After leaving the car wash the car made it less than a mile down the road and illuminated a…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of speed, and multiple alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS, critical failure) during highway driving. Some vehicles lose power and cannot maintain speed, which is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include TPMS warnings leading to catastrophic tire failure shortly after service, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new vehicles. These electrical gremlins can cause sudden safety hazards.
Owners report intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation, and automatic high beams. These systems may show warnings and stop working, potentially increasing crash risk if the driver relies on them.
Some owners experience sunroof glass exploding spontaneously, and tire failures after TPMS service. These unexpected failures can cause injury or distraction while driving.
“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.
Hyundai KONA N — 3 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Genesis G70, 2022-2023 Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update engine control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning Septembe…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Genesis G70, 2022-2023 Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update engine control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning Septembe…
The defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete l…
The risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners…
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
Hyundai KONA N or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Hyundai KONA N has far fewer complaints per year (about 5.5) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444). In practice, this means a KONA N owner is less likely to experience a reported defect, but the KONA N's issues tend to cluster around moisture-related power loss. The Accord's much larger complaint pool includes more severe outcomes like crashes and injuries, though many Accords still serve reliably.
Key differences
- The KONA N has 11 complaints over 2 years, while the Accord has 4,438 over 10 years, a massive difference in reported issues per year.
- KONA N complaints often involve sudden power loss and limp mode after car washes, while Accord complaints include engine failures, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- The Accord data includes 160 crash-related complaints, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths; the KONA N data shows 0 in all these categories.
- Both have recalls: KONA N has 3 (fuel pump control module, transmission), Accord has 38 (including hybrid software, brakes, air bags, fuel pump).
- Check for any history of sudden power loss or limp mode, especially if the car was frequently washed or driven in rain; ask if the knock sensor or fuel pump control module has been replaced.
- Inspect for transmission jerking or jumping when accelerating from a stop, and listen for suspension noises during turns.
- Look for signs of electrical issues: ask about TPMS warnings, tire failures, or rodent damage to wiring; check if forward collision avoidance systems work consistently.
- Inspect the sunroof for cracks or previous replacement, and verify that all safety recalls (especially brake and air bag) have been performed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been completed for the specific car.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds, stopping, and turning to check for power loss, limp mode, or unusual noises.
- For the KONA N, ask if it has been driven through car washes frequently and if any moisture-related repairs were done.
- For the Accord, test all advanced safety features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping, automatic high beams) and check for warning lights.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on engine, electrical, and transmission components.
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 | Hyundai KONA N | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 224 |
| 2022 | 7 | 238 |
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 KONA N or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai KONA N vs Honda Accord
- Hyundai KONA N total complaints
- 11
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Hyundai KONA N total recalls
- 3
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Hyundai KONA N avg complaints/year
- 5.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai KONA N
- Hyundai KONA N top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE