Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai KONA vs Honda Accord
How the Hyundai KONA 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 vs Honda Accord: The KONA has 86 complaints per year, with engine failures causing sudden shutdowns, while the Accord has 444 per year, including false collision warnings and brake issues. The KONA's engine problems are more severe, but the Accord's higher volume suggests more frequent annoyances. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai KONA or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai KONA
The Hyundai KONA, a subcompact crossover, shows a reliability picture dominated by engine troubles, with owners reporting sudden shutdowns, loss of power, and shaking. Electrical and powertrain issues also surface, including false brake warnings and drivetrain jarring. While the complaint rate is lower than the Accord's, the nature of the failures—especially engine stalling—can be alarming for a first-time buyer.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a midsize sedan, has a higher complaint volume, but its issues are more varied, spanning engine, electrical, and advanced driver-assistance systems. Owners report engine noises, sudden loss of power with warning lights, and false collision warnings. The Accord also has a notable number of complaints about brakes and sunroof glass explosions, indicating a mix of mechanical and quality concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai KONA | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 778 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 45 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 86.4 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 48 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.
Hyundai KONA
- 01ENGINE400
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER136
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM136
- 04POWER TRAIN96
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE57
Owners report the engine seizing with a 'Turn off Engine and Restart Engine' message, random shutdowns that lock up steering, and poor acceleration with shaking after incidents. This suggests potential engine control or fuel system failures that could leave you stranded.
Complaints include a liftgate bolt buckling due to a power liftgate malfunction and broader drivetrain issues like loss of drive power and sluggish acceleration, indicating electrical gremlins affecting mechanical components.
The system triggers false warnings on windy or pothole-filled roads, distracting the driver. This could be a nuisance and potentially reduce trust in safety features.
Reports describe the engine roaring and dropping, causing jarring movements, and one owner had two engines fail within a year. This points to transmission or engine management problems that affect drivability and reliability.
“The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message to “Turn off Engine and Restart Engine” was displayed and the engine seized. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on a b…”
“The car shuts off at random times during me driving . Its like the car locks up steering and shuts completely down . Have to pull over and give the car time . And it shuts back on in and drives with poor accelerate after each issuse. The car is now shaking an…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises from new vehicles and sudden loss of speed with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) at highway speeds, indicating possible engine or electronic control failures.
Issues include a TPMS warning followed by a tire failure, and rodent damage to the camshaft position wiring harness, suggesting wiring vulnerabilities and potential for unexpected electrical failures.
The system triggers false alerts on open roads with no obstructions, and intermittent messages about adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist appear, indicating sensor or software glitches.
While not detailed in the sample, the high complaint count for brakes suggests potential issues with braking performance or false ABS activations, which are critical for safety.
“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 — 15 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Kona Electric and 2024-2026 Kona vehicles. The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
The risk: A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Passengers are advised not to use the rear center seat until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 11, 2026. Owner…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Kona vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the right and left rear seats may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupation Crash Protecti…
The risk: A seat belt that does not function properly may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractor as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 21, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recal…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Kona vehicles. The 12-Volt battery cables may chafe against the engine control module bracket and short circuit during a crash.
The risk: A short circuit increases the risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Dealers will install sheathing over the wiring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 22, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 252.
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Elantra, Venue, and Kona vehicles. An electrical short circuit may occur in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve assembly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 28, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 260.
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 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Hyundai KONA has fewer complaints per year (86.4) than the Honda Accord (443.8), but its engine-related failures are more severe and potentially dangerous. The Accord's higher volume is spread across many systems, but its issues are less likely to cause sudden stalling. In practice, the KONA may pose a higher risk of breakdowns, while the Accord may have more frequent but less critical annoyances.
Key differences
- The KONA's engine complaints often involve sudden shutdowns and loss of power, while the Accord's engine issues are more about noises and warning lights.
- The Accord has a much higher rate of forward collision avoidance complaints (821 vs 57), suggesting more false alerts.
- The KONA has a recall for seat belt buckles and retractors, while the Accord has recalls for hybrid power control unit software and fuel pumps.
- The Accord has a notable number of complaints about brakes (592), which is not a top issue for the KONA.
- Inspect the engine for any signs of stalling or hesitation during a test drive, and check for any open recalls related to the engine or electrical system.
- Test the forward collision warning on a bumpy road to see if it triggers false alerts.
- Check the vehicle's service history for any engine or electrical repairs, and ask about the TPMS and tire condition.
- Test the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist to ensure they don't show intermittent error messages.
Before you buy
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles using the VIN.
- Test drive at highway speeds to listen for unusual engine noises or vibrations.
- Operate all driver assistance features (ACC, LKA, FCW) to ensure they function without false alerts.
- Inspect the condition of wiring harnesses under the hood for signs of rodent damage.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for engine and transmission services.
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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 5 |
| 2025 | 28 | 101 |
| 2024 | 49 | 214 |
| 2023 | 63 | 224 |
| 2022 | 96 | 238 |
| 2021 | 115 | 226 |
| 2020 | 157 | 355 |
| 2019 | 187 | 677 |
| 2018 | 74 | 1864 |
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 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai KONA vs Honda Accord
- Hyundai KONA total complaints
- 778
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Hyundai KONA total recalls
- 15
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Hyundai KONA avg complaints/year
- 86.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai KONA
- Hyundai KONA top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE