Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Palisade vs Honda Accord
How the Hyundai Palisade 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 Palisade vs Honda Accord: The Palisade averages 341 complaints per year over 7 years, while the Accord averages 443.8 per year over 10 years. The Palisade has more brake and seat belt complaints, while the Accord leads in engine and forward collision issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Palisade or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade is a large three-row SUV that owners report as comfortable and feature-rich, but its complaint history reveals recurring issues with braking, seat belts, and engine performance. Owners describe brake pedals sinking to the floor, brakes locking up, and seat belt sensors giving false readings, which can be alarming. Engine problems include shaking, sputtering, and loss of power, sometimes at low mileage. These patterns suggest that while the Palisade offers family-friendly space, buyers should be prepared for potential reliability headaches.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan known for fuel efficiency and driving dynamics, but its complaint data shows a high volume of engine and electrical system issues. Owners report engine noises, loss of power, and warning lights related to braking and stability systems. Electrical problems range from tire pressure monitoring failures to rodent damage to wiring. Additionally, many complaints involve the forward collision avoidance system, which can trigger false alerts or fail to work as expected. This indicates that the Accord's advanced tech and powertrain may require more attention than typical.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Palisade | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,387 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 32 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 57 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 341.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 69 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 Palisade
- 01SERVICE BRAKES435
- 02SEAT BELTS411
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER369
- 04ENGINE302
- 05VISIBILITY/WIPER269
Owners report brake pedals that sink to the floor, causing the vehicle to glide before stopping, and brakes that lock up unexpectedly, preventing the car from moving. These issues can lead to reduced stopping power and potential loss of control.
There are multiple complaints about the third-row seat belt buckle sensor malfunctioning, showing the belt as buckled when it's not, or vice versa. This can give a false sense of security and may affect airbag deployment in a crash.
Some owners describe severe shaking, sputtering, and loss of acceleration, sometimes leading to stalling. These symptoms can occur at low mileage and may indicate drivetrain problems that affect reliability and safety.
While not detailed in the sample, the high number of complaints in this category suggests issues with wipers or visibility systems, which could impair driving in bad weather.
“2026 Hyundai Palisade SEL 8P AWD. Brake pedal sinks to floor when depressed while vehicle is in motion, causing vehicle to glide before stopping. Defect first noticed June 1, 2026 and confirmed June 2, 2026 at approximately 530 miles during a 34-mile round tr…”
“Stopped at the gas pump and filled up. When I went to leave all dash lights were lit up and car wouldn’t move. Brakes were locked. I tried restarting and restarting. Brakes would lock up when I tried to move, either direction. I finally gases it enough that i…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises, loss of power, and warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. Some vehicles experience sudden speed loss on the highway, which can be dangerous.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system failures leading to tire blowouts, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause various malfunctions. These issues may require costly repairs.
Many owners report the system activating unexpectedly or displaying error messages for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. This can be distracting and may undermine trust in safety features.
While not detailed in the sample, the high count suggests issues with braking performance or the antilock brake system, which could affect stopping ability.
“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 Palisade — 32 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel displa…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Palisade and 2026 Palisade Hybrid vehicles equipped with a Limited or Calligraphy trim package. The second and third row power seats may fail to detect a person. The seat may continue to move after contacting a person during powered seat fun…
The risk: A person, especially a child, may become trapped by a rear powered seat, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised to exercise caution when operating the second and third row power seat functions until the repair is performed. Children are advised to not be in the rear seats or near the rear seating area during power-folding operatio…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Hyundai Palisade and 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid vehicles equipped with "Limited" and "Calligraphy" trim packages. The internal wiring within the third-row driver-side seat belt buckle may become damaged and result in a permanent display of…
The risk: A faulty seat belt status indicator may fail to alert occupants to an unfastened seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will install a wiring harness extension and replace the seat belt assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 8, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles. The seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch.
The risk: Seat belt buckles that fail to latch may not properly restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Passengers are advised to insert the belt firmly into the buckle with a quick and direct motion, pulling on the belt to confirm the seat belt is fully secured, until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle…
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 Palisade or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has a higher average number of complaints per year (443.8) compared to the Hyundai Palisade (341.0), but the Palisade has a higher rate of recalls per year (4.6 vs 3.8). In practice, the Accord may require more frequent visits to the shop for engine and electronic issues, while the Palisade's problems are more concentrated in brakes and seat belts. Neither is trouble-free, but the Palisade's lower complaint volume might suggest slightly fewer owner-reported issues.
Key differences
- The Palisade has a higher number of brake-related complaints (435) compared to the Accord (592), but the Accord has more engine complaints (985 vs 302).
- The Accord has a significant number of forward collision avoidance complaints (821), which are not a top issue for the Palisade.
- The Palisade has multiple recalls for seat belt buckles, while the Accord has recalls for hybrid power control unit and fuel pump.
- The Palisade's complaints include brake pedal sinking and locking, while the Accord's include engine power loss and electrical failures.
- Inspect the brake system for any signs of pedal softness or locking, and have a mechanic check the brake booster and master cylinder.
- Test all seat belt buckles, especially in the third row, to ensure the sensors correctly indicate buckled/unbuckled status.
- Check the engine for any unusual noises or hesitation during a test drive, and review service records for any engine-related repairs.
- Test the forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control to ensure they operate without false alerts or error messages.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic focusing on brakes, engine, and electrical systems.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for any vibrations, loss of power, or brake issues.
- Check the operation of all seat belts and safety systems, including sensors and warning lights.
- Ask for maintenance records and verify that any recalls have been addressed.
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 Palisade | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 110 | 5 |
| 2025 | 240 | 101 |
| 2024 | 382 | 214 |
| 2023 | 396 | 224 |
| 2022 | 302 | 238 |
| 2021 | 429 | 226 |
| 2020 | 528 | 355 |
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 Palisade or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Palisade vs Honda Accord
- Hyundai Palisade total complaints
- 2,387
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Hyundai Palisade total recalls
- 32
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Hyundai Palisade avg complaints/year
- 341.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Palisade
- Hyundai Palisade top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE