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 799 complaints over 9 years (about 89 per year), while the Accord has 4,524 over 10 years (about 452 per year). The KONA's top issue is engine (413 complaints), and the Accord's is also engine (1,006). 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 is a subcompact SUV with 799 complaints over 9 years, averaging about 89 per year. The most common complaint area is the engine, with 413 reports, followed by electrical and power train issues. Owners describe sudden engine shutdowns, loss of power, and strange noises, which can be alarming. With 15 recalls and 45 crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle that may require more frequent attention than some rivals.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 452 per year. The most frequent complaints involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Owners report issues like loss of power, electronic steering and braking failures, and false automatic braking. With 38 recalls and 162 crash-related complaints, it has a higher volume of reported problems, though it's a popular model with many units on the road.
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 | 799 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 45 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 88.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 48 Better | 146 |
| 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
- 01ENGINE413
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER138
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM137
- 04POWER TRAIN99
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE59
Owners report the engine seizing or shutting off randomly while driving, sometimes with a 'Turn off Engine and Restart' message. This can cause a sudden loss of power and steering assist, which is dangerous.
Complaints include liftgate bolts buckling and various electrical glitches that may affect lights or other systems. These issues can be intermittent and frustrating to diagnose.
Drivers describe loss of drive power, sluggish acceleration, and grinding or clanking noises. Some report the engine roaring and jerking during gear changes, affecting drivability.
There are reports of false activations or malfunctions in the automatic braking system, which can unexpectedly slow the car. This may startle the driver and increase crash risk.
“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
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises while accelerating, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden loss of speed with multiple warning lights. These issues can leave the car undrivable and require costly repairs.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as tire pressure monitoring system problems. Such failures can lead to loss of control and near-collisions.
Drivers describe the system braking unexpectedly or failing to respond, sometimes under consistent conditions. This undermines trust in the safety feature and could cause rear-end collisions.
Issues include fuel pump failures and persistent sulfur odors from the fuel system. A failing fuel pump can cause stalling, while odors may indicate leaks or other problems.
“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 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 were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact H…
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 (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 KONA or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Hyundai KONA has far fewer complaints per year (about 89) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), suggesting fewer reported issues overall. However, the KONA's engine complaints are a larger share of its total, while the Accord's problems are spread across more systems. In practice, the KONA may have fewer problems but some can be severe, whereas the Accord has more frequent complaints that may require more frequent repairs.
Key differences
- The Hyundai KONA has 799 complaints over 9 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 over 10 years, meaning the Accord has about five times more complaints per year.
- Engine problems dominate KONA complaints (413), often involving sudden shutdowns, whereas Accord engine complaints (1,006) include rattling and power loss but are a smaller proportion of total complaints.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs. 45) and injuries (146 vs. 48), but it also has more vehicles on the road, so rates may differ.
- Both have forward collision avoidance issues, but the Accord's 837 complaints in that area are notably higher than the KONA's 59, suggesting more owner reports of automatic braking problems.
- During a test drive, listen for unusual engine noises, check for any hesitation or sudden loss of power, and ask if the engine has ever seized or shut off unexpectedly.
- Inspect the liftgate operation and look for any signs of loose or buckled bolts, as some owners reported mechanical failure in that area.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking at low and high speeds; any warning lights or unusual feel could indicate a serious issue.
- Check for rattling noises from the engine, especially during acceleration, and ask about any history of fuel pump or fuel odor problems.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, as both have multiple recalls.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine, electrical, and safety systems.
- During a test drive, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control if equipped, looking for unexpected braking.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether any engine or electrical repairs have been done.
- For the Accord, check for sulfur odors and inquire about fuel pump replacement; for the KONA, listen for engine knocking and check for software updates.
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 | 10 |
| 2025 | 28 | 109 |
| 2024 | 52 | 219 |
| 2023 | 65 | 226 |
| 2022 | 100 | 252 |
| 2021 | 117 | 234 |
| 2020 | 160 | 362 |
| 2019 | 193 | 691 |
| 2018 | 75 | 1884 |
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
- 799
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Hyundai KONA total recalls
- 15
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Hyundai KONA avg complaints/year
- 88.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai KONA
- Hyundai KONA top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE