Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti M56 vs Honda Accord
How the Infiniti M56 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 M56 vs Honda Accord: The M56 averages 8 complaints per year with 0 crash-related reports, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 162 crash-related reports and 3 deaths. The M56 has 8 recalls; the Accord has 38. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti M56 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti M56
The Infiniti M56 is a low-volume luxury sedan with an average of 8 complaints per year over three years, suggesting a relatively small but focused set of owner issues. The most common complaints involve the power train, engine, and electrical system, with owners reporting hesitation, solenoid failures, and sensor problems. There are 8 recalls, including driveshaft and fuel system issues, but no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported in the data. For a used buyer, this means fewer overall complaints but potentially costly repairs if the known problems arise.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume mainstream sedan with an average of 452 complaints per year over ten years, reflecting its popularity and a wide range of reported issues. The most frequent complaints involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with some owners describing sudden power loss, braking failures, and unintended automatic braking. There are 38 recalls and a notable number of crash-related complaints (162), injuries (146), and deaths (3) in the data. For a used buyer, this suggests that while many Accords are on the road, certain model years may have serious safety-related defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti M56 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 24 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 8.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Infiniti M56
- 01POWER TRAIN10
- 02ENGINE6
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
- 05AIR BAGS3
Owners report severe hesitation when accelerating after slowing or stopping, which can make merging or crossing traffic feel unpredictable. Some also mention waiting for recall parts for a driveshaft issue, so a buyer should confirm that any open recalls have been repaired.
Complaints include a failed solenoid switch that caused a squealing noise, and one owner reported low oil and a destroyed fusible link that prevented the engine from seizing. These suggest potential oil consumption or electrical faults that could lead to expensive engine damage if ignored.
A common complaint is the passenger seat belt light staying on after the passenger exits, traced to a defective occupant sensor. This is a nuisance and may affect air bag deployment, so it's worth checking that the light behaves correctly.
Some owners report issues related to a fuel system recall, including low oil and a destroyed fusible link. Others mention dealers refusing recall repairs due to parts unavailability, so buyers should verify that all fuel-related recalls are completed.
“WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM THROUGH INFINITI SERVICE CENTER SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR 10 MONTHS AGO WITH ONLY 28K MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERE HESITATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SLOWING OR STOPPING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS…”
“The contact owns a 2011 Infiniti M56. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V755000 (Power Train) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that w…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe sudden loss of power at highway speeds with multiple dashboard warnings, as well as rattling noises and rough transitions between electric and gas modes. These symptoms could indicate serious engine or hybrid system faults that may strand a driver.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and a tire failure shortly after a TPMS repair. Such electrical and safety-system failures are alarming and should be thoroughly inspected.
Owners report unexpected automatic braking or failure to brake when needed, sometimes under consistent conditions like adaptive cruise control at 70 mph. This can cause near-misses or crashes, so testing these systems is critical.
There are complaints about a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor that remains after filter replacement, which may point to fuel or emissions issues. While not always safety-related, it can be a sign of incomplete combustion or catalytic converter 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.
Infiniti M56 — 8 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Infiniti M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, and 2014 Q70 and Q70 Hybrid vehicles. These models, equipped with 2WD and with a hybrid or VK56 powertrain, have a driveshaft that may break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash, or may disable the parking brake, increasing the risk of a rollaway and injury.
The fix: Infiniti will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2021. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Nissan Juke, 2012-2013 Infiniti M56, QX56, and 2014-2015 Infiniti Q70 (V8 engine vehicles only), and QX80 vehicles. The fuel pressure sensors may not have been sufficiently tightened during production. As a result, the fu…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could cause a vehicle fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-torque the fuel pressure sensors free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2011-2013 M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, 2014-2018 Q50, Q70 Hybrid, 2014-2019 Q70, and 2015-2019 Q70L two-wheel drive vehicles. The driveshaft can fatigue and break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power, or a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 13, 2024. Owners may contact INFINITI's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's numbers for this recall are R24A5 and R24A7.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Infiniti M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, and 2014 Q70 and Q70 Hybrid vehicles. These models, equipped with 2WD and with a hybrid or VK56 powertrain, have a driveshaft that may break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash, or may disable the parking brake, increasing the risk of a rollaway and injury.
The fix: Infiniti will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2021. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service 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 (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
Infiniti M56 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Infiniti M56 has far fewer complaints per year (8.0) compared to the Honda Accord (452.4), but the Accord's higher volume means more individual reports. In practice, the M56's issues are less frequent but can still be costly, while the Accord's larger complaint pool includes some serious safety-related failures. A buyer should weigh the lower frequency of problems against the potential severity of the Accord's reported defects.
Key differences
- The Infiniti M56 averages 8 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 452.4 per year, but the Accord sells in much higher volumes.
- The M56 has 0 crash-related complaints, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths in the data, whereas the Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths.
- Infiniti M56 owners commonly report power train hesitation and engine solenoid failures, while Honda Accord owners report sudden power loss, braking failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- The M56 has 8 recalls, including driveshaft and fuel system issues, while the Accord has 38 recalls, including hybrid software, seat belts, and fuel pump problems.
- During a test drive, accelerate immediately after slowing or stopping to check for severe hesitation, a common power train complaint.
- Ask for proof that all recalls, especially the driveshaft and fuel system recalls, have been completed, as some owners reported waiting for parts.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control at highway speeds if possible, as owners report unexpected braking or failure to brake.
- Check for any signs of electronic power steering or braking failure by scanning for stored codes and test-driving at various speeds, especially if the car is a hybrid.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm that all open recalls for the specific model year have been remedied.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the power train, engine, and electrical systems, focusing on the components mentioned in complaints.
- For the Honda Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems during a test drive.
- For the Infiniti M56, check the passenger seat belt light and occupant sensor by sitting in the passenger seat and then exiting.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for oil changes and any recall repairs, to gauge how well the car has been cared for.
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 M56 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti M56 vs Honda Accord
- Infiniti M56 total complaints
- 24
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Infiniti M56 total recalls
- 8
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Infiniti M56 avg complaints/year
- 8.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti M56
- Infiniti M56 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE