Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti G35 vs Honda Accord
How the Infiniti G35 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
Infiniti G35 vs Honda Accord: The G35 averages 260.6 complaints per year, with frequent electrical stalling and airbag sensor failures, while the Accord averages 443.8, often for forward collision system glitches. The G35 has 17 recalls, the Accord 38. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti G35 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti G35
The Infiniti G35 is a used sports sedan that, based on NHTSA data, shows a pattern of electrical gremlins and airbag sensor issues that can leave owners stranded or with a disabled passenger airbag. Owners report stalling at low speeds with multiple warning lights, and intermittent no-start conditions, which points to a car that may be unreliable in daily driving. While engine problems are also common, the electrical and airbag complaints are the most frequent and can be costly to diagnose.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, in its recent model years, is a popular midsize sedan that, according to NHTSA complaints, has a high volume of issues related to its advanced driver assistance systems, particularly forward collision avoidance, as well as engine and electrical problems. Owners describe sudden loss of power, false alerts, and even a sunroof explosion, suggesting that while the Accord is generally dependable, newer technology and certain components can fail unexpectedly. The sheer number of complaints over 10 years is higher than the G35, but the Accord also has more recalls, indicating a mix of software and hardware fixes.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti G35 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,824 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 91 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 260.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 62 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 5 | 3 Better |
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.
Infiniti G35
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM392
- 02AIR BAGS264
- 03ENGINE239
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING202
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING194
Owners report intermittent starting problems, stalling at low speeds with warning lights (check engine, slip, battery) and complete shutdown, which can be a safety hazard in traffic.
The front passenger airbag sensor frequently fails, causing the airbag to remain off even with a passenger, and the warning light illuminates. Dealership repairs may not permanently fix the issue.
Some owners describe sudden unintended acceleration to redline without pressing the pedal, while others report stalling while driving, both of which are alarming and potentially dangerous.
“PURCHASED CAR, USED, 6/2011. WAS TOLD IT WAS A OWNER BUY BACK DUE TO IT NOT STARTING. FINANCE MANAGER GUARANTEED PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. IN SEPTEMBER 2011 CAR STARTED HESITATING TO START-REQUIRING ME TO LET MY FOOT OFF BRAKE/CLUTCH. INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD ILL…”
“MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS COME UP (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SLIP LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT) AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. UPON PLACING THE CAR IN PARK, I AM ABLE TO RE-START IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Complaints include unusual noises from new vehicles and sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) at highway speeds, indicating possible powertrain or sensor failures.
Issues range from TPMS warnings leading to tire failure to rodent damage on wiring harnesses, but also include more systemic electrical problems that trigger multiple system alerts.
The system can falsely activate or show errors for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams, sometimes intermittently, which can be distracting and undermine driver trust.
“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.
Infiniti G35 — 17 recalls
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CON…
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFI…
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CON…
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFI…
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2007 INFINITI G35 SEDANS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 29, 2004 THROUGH AUGUST 25, 2006 AND INFINITI G35 COUPES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 1, 2004 THROUGH MAY 30, 2007. THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTING THE BELT TENSION SENSOR (BTS) AND THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SE…
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
The fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-662-6200.
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE "VERTICAL GRADIENT" AND "HEADLAMP PHOTOMETRIC VALUES" REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.'
The risk: THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE CRASHES, INJURIES AND DEATHS BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY, AND BY ENHANCING THE CONSPICUITY OF MOTOR VEHICLES ON THE PUBLIC ROADS SO THAT THEIR PRESENCE IS PERCEIVED AND THEIR SIGNALS UNDERST…
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
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
Infiniti G35 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Infiniti G35 has fewer complaints per year (260.6) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the G35's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical areas like airbags and electrical stalling. The Accord's higher complaint volume is partly due to its larger sales and newer technology, but its problems are often software-related and may be addressed by recalls. In practice, the G35 may require more frequent repairs for age-related failures, while the Accord might have more warranty-covered fixes.
Key differences
- The G35 has a higher proportion of airbag sensor failures, which can disable the passenger airbag, while the Accord's airbag recalls focus on occupant classification sensors.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance system generates many complaints about false alerts and system errors, a feature the G35 lacks.
- The G35's electrical issues often cause stalling and no-start conditions, whereas the Accord's electrical complaints include tire pressure monitoring and wiring damage.
- The Accord has more recalls (38 vs 17), but many are software updates, while the G35's recalls are more focused on airbags and lighting.
- Check for any history of airbag sensor warnings or repairs, and test the passenger airbag indicator with a passenger.
- Inspect for signs of intermittent stalling or starting issues, such as recent battery or alternator replacements, and ask about any recurring electrical problems.
- Verify that all forward collision avoidance and driver assistance recalls have been performed, and test the system for false alerts.
- Look for any evidence of rodent damage to wiring, especially if the car is parked outdoors, and check the condition of the TPMS sensors.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the G35's electrical system and airbag sensors, and the Accord's engine and forward collision system.
- Test drive at low speeds to see if the G35 stalls or hesitates, and on the highway to see if the Accord's warning lights appear.
- Ask for service records, especially for airbag sensor repairs on the G35 and any software updates on the Accord.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recalls specific to the model year you are considering.
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 Infiniti G35 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti G35 vs Honda Accord
- Infiniti G35 total complaints
- 1,824
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Infiniti G35 total recalls
- 17
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Infiniti G35 avg complaints/year
- 260.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti G35
- Infiniti G35 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE