Vehicle 1

Hyundai Santa FE

1,876 complaints · 13 recalls

VS

Vehicle 2

Honda Accord

1,441 complaints · 6 recalls

📊 Based on NHTSA owner complaint & recall data
Which Should I Buy?

Hyundai Santa Fe vs Honda Accord: The Santa Fe has 1876 total complaints (187.6/year) and 13 recalls, while the Accord has 1441 complaints (144.1/year) and 6 recalls. The Santa Fe's top issue is engine (868), the Accord's is electrical (333). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

Category Wins

Lower numbers are better for complaints, recalls, and crashes.

1
Hyundai Santa FE
wins 1 of 4 categories
3
Honda Accord
wins 3 of 4 categories
CategoryHyundai Santa FEHonda Accord
Total Complaints
All years combined
1,876
1,441
✓ lower
Safety Recalls
Federal campaigns
13
6
✓ lower
Crash Reports
Crash-related complaints
65
✓ lower
79
Avg / Year
Complaints per model year
187.6
144.1
✓ lower

Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records. Lower is better.

Top Problem Areas

Most frequently reported components across all model years.

Hyundai Santa FE

1. ENGINE868
2. POWER TRAIN332
3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER282
4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM220
5. SERVICE BRAKES136

Honda Accord

1. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM333
2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER273
3. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE244
4. ENGINE210
5. SERVICE BRAKES203
🤖
AI Buyer Analysis
DeepSeek interpretation of NHTSA data · cached result
The Verdict

The Honda Accord has fewer complaints per year (144.1 vs 187.6), suggesting it may have fewer reported issues on average. However, the Hyundai Santa Fe has fewer crash complaints (65 vs 79), so neither is clearly superior in safety based on this data alone.

💡 Buyer Recommendation

If you prioritize lower overall complaint rates, the Honda Accord is the better choice. If you are concerned about engine reliability, the Hyundai Santa Fe has significantly more engine complaints (868 vs 210), so you may want to avoid it. For crash-related concerns, both have similar numbers, so other factors should guide your decision.

Key Differences
  • Hyundai Santa Fe has 1876 total complaints vs Honda Accord's 1441, a difference of 435.
  • Hyundai Santa Fe has 13 recalls, more than double Honda Accord's 6.
  • Hyundai Santa Fe's top issue is ENGINE (868 complaints), while Honda Accord's top issue is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (333).
  • Honda Accord has 244 FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE complaints, a unique issue not in Hyundai's top five.
⚠ Watch on Hyundai Santa FE
  • Watch for engine problems: 868 complaints, the most common issue.
  • Check for unresolved recalls: 13 total, which is high.
⚠ Watch on Honda Accord
  • Watch for electrical system issues: 333 complaints, the most common.
  • Check forward collision avoidance system: 244 complaints, which may indicate sensor or calibration problems.
✓ Before You Buy — Checklist
  • Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles and ensure all recalls are completed.
  • For Hyundai Santa Fe, inspect engine for known issues like stalling or failure.
  • For Honda Accord, test the forward collision avoidance system for proper operation.
  • Review service history for both vehicles, especially for top complaint areas.
  • Get a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.

Complaints by Model Year

Years available for both vehicles (lower is better).

Hyundai Santa FEHonda Accord
2026
25
1
2025
61
68
2024
123
0
2023
196
213
2022
59
0
2021
158
200
2020
191
330
2019
25
0
2018
107
111
2017
931
518
Hyundai Santa FE vs Honda Accord — comparison facts
Comparison
Hyundai Santa FE vs Honda Accord
Hyundai Santa FE total complaints
1,876
Honda Accord total complaints
1,441
Hyundai Santa FE total recalls
13
Honda Accord total recalls
6
Hyundai Santa FE avg complaints/year
187.6
Honda Accord avg complaints/year
144.1
More reliable overall
Honda Accord
Hyundai Santa FE top complaint area
ENGINE
Honda Accord top complaint area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Full Reliability Reports

Full Report →

Hyundai Santa FE Reliability & Problems

1,876 complaints · All years · NHTSA data

Full Report →

Honda Accord Reliability & Problems

1,441 complaints · All years · NHTSA data

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