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, while the Accord averages 443.8. M56 owners report powertrain hesitation and engine oil loss, whereas Accord owners face frequent false collision warnings and electrical glitches. Recalls affect both, but the M56's driveshaft issue is critical. 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 luxury sedan that, in the data, shows a relatively low complaint volume but a focused set of issues. Owners report serious powertrain hesitation after slowing or stopping, engine problems like solenoid failures and oil loss, and electrical glitches such as a faulty passenger occupancy sensor. Recalls center on the driveshaft and fuel system, indicating potential safety-related defects that require attention.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume, reflecting its widespread use. Owners report engine issues like abnormal noises and loss of power, electrical problems including TPMS failures and rodent damage to wiring, and frequent false activations of forward collision avoidance systems. Recalls cover hybrid control units, spare tires, ABS modules, airbag sensors, and fuel pumps, suggesting a range of potential reliability and safety concerns.
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 | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 8.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 144 |
| 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
- 05STEERING3
Owners report severe hesitation when accelerating after slowing or stopping, which can be dangerous in traffic. One owner had the issue persist for 10 months despite dealer visits, and a recall (20V755000) was issued but parts were unavailable, leaving owners waiting for a fix.
Engine problems include a bad solenoid switch causing squealing noises and a separate issue where the engine was low on oil and a fusible link was destroyed to prevent seizing, indicating potential oil consumption or electrical faults that could lead to engine damage.
A defective passenger occupancy sensor causes the seat belt light to stay on even when the seat is empty, requiring the belt to be buckled to turn it off. This is a minor annoyance but could indicate wiring or sensor issues.
Some owners report the same oil loss and fusible link issue as in the engine, and a recall (R20B8) for the propeller shaft design was not addressed by a dealer due to lack of parts/procedure, leaving the vehicle potentially unsafe.
“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
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report abnormal noises from the engine that persist and may worsen, and in some cases, the vehicle loses power with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) indicating a critical failure. These issues could stem from internal engine problems or sensor malfunctions.
Electrical issues include TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures, and rodent damage to the camshaft position wiring harness, which can cause engine performance issues. These problems highlight vulnerability to environmental factors and potential wiring defects.
The system triggers false alerts and warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams, sometimes at highway speeds. Owners report the system fails to resolve despite dealer visits, which can be distracting and undermine trust in safety features.
While not detailed in the sample, the high number of brake complaints suggests issues with braking performance or the antilock system. Owners may experience reduced braking effectiveness or warning lights, which are critical for safety.
“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 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 (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 M56 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Infiniti M56 has far fewer complaints per year (8.0) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the M56's problems are serious, involving powertrain and engine failures, while the Accord's higher volume includes many minor electrical and sensor glitches. In practice, the M56 may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience in terms of frequency, but the severity of its issues could be more costly.
Key differences
- The Infiniti M56 has a much lower complaint rate (8 per year) than the Accord (443.8 per year), but its complaints often involve powertrain hesitation and engine oil loss, which can be dangerous.
- The Accord's top issue is engine problems (985 complaints), but many are noise-related, while the M56's engine issues include solenoid failures and oil loss that could lead to seizing.
- The Accord has a significant number of forward collision avoidance complaints (821), indicating the system may be overly sensitive, whereas the M56 has no such complaints.
- The M56 has recalls for driveshaft and fuel system, while the Accord has recalls for hybrid control units and airbag sensors, reflecting different safety concerns.
- Inspect the powertrain for hesitation during test drive, especially after stopping, and check for any open recalls like the driveshaft issue.
- Check engine oil level and listen for unusual noises from the engine, as oil loss and solenoid failures are reported.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system to see if it triggers false alerts, and check for any warning lights related to the system.
- Inspect the wiring harness for signs of rodent damage, especially if the vehicle is parked outdoors, and verify the TPMS is functioning properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's recall status and ensure all recalls have been addressed, especially the driveshaft recall on the M56 and the fuel pump recall on the Accord.
- During a test drive, accelerate from a stop and at highway speeds to check for hesitation or loss of power.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine for oil leaks, unusual noises, and check the condition of the wiring harness.
- Test all safety features, including forward collision warning and lane keeping, to ensure they operate correctly without false alerts.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any repeated repairs related to the top complaint areas.
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
- 4,438
- Infiniti M56 total recalls
- 8
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Infiniti M56 avg complaints/year
- 8.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti M56
- Infiniti M56 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE