Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti Q40 vs Honda Accord
How the Infiniti Q40 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 Q40 vs Honda Accord: The Q40 has 8 complaints over 2 years and 0 recalls, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years and 38 recalls. The Q40 averages 4 complaints per year; the Accord averages 452. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti Q40 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti Q40
The Infiniti Q40 is a compact luxury sedan with very few complaints on file—just 8 over 2 years, or about 4 per year. Owners report issues like a passenger air bag off light staying on for smaller adults, a clogged sunroof drain that can lead to moisture and electrical problems, and a VDC system that may flicker and cause a loss of control. There are no recalls on record, but the low complaint count means less data to spot patterns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize sedan with a huge complaint volume: 4,524 over 10 years, averaging about 452 per year. Owners describe engine stalling or loss of power, electronic power steering and braking failures, forward collision avoidance system malfunctions, and fuel pump issues. There are 38 recalls covering electrical, fuel, air bag, and seat belt systems, indicating a wide range of safety-related fixes.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti Q40 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 8 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 4.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Q40
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
- 02AIR BAGS3
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
- 05STRUCTURE1
Owners report the passenger 'air bag off' light stays on even when an adult passenger is seated, meaning the air bag may not deploy in a crash. This is a serious safety concern because it could leave a front passenger unprotected.
A clogged sunroof drain can let water into the floor and panels, damaging electrical components like the body control module. This can cause a range of electrical gremlins and costly repairs.
One owner reported ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss after driving the car, suggesting possible noise or vibration issues. Another described the VDC system flickering and causing a loss of control on the highway, which is a serious safety risk.
The same sunroof drain clog that affects electrical components can also impact exterior lighting, potentially leading to lights that fail or work intermittently. This matters for visibility and safety.
“I BOUGHT THIS NEW 2015 INFINITI Q40 AWD FROM INFINITI DEALER ON FEB 28, 2015. AFTER DRIVING THIS NOISY CAR FOR THREE MONTHS(3000MILES), I STARTED HAVING RINGING IN BOTH EARS (TINNITUS). I HAVE TROUBLE TO SLEEP AND START LOSING MY HEARING IN BOTH EARS. I HAVE…”
“WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY THE VDC (AUTO HYDROPLANE CORRECT FUNCTION) IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE CAUSED INCREASE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THAT THE VDC LIGHT WAS FLICKERING ON AND OFF. IT DID INITIALLY COME ON TO AUTO CORRECT BUT THEN ABRU…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of power and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) while driving, as well as rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause a crash.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and tire failure after TPMS service. These are severe safety defects that can lead to loss of control.
Owners describe the system braking unexpectedly or failing to respond, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. This can cause sudden deceleration or a crash if the system misjudges a situation.
Fuel pump issues are noted in complaints and there is a recall for fuel pump failure. A failing fuel pump can cause the engine to stall, increasing crash risk.
“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 Q40
No recalls on record.
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 Q40 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Infiniti Q40 has far fewer issues per year (about 4) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452). In practice, this means the Q40 owner is much less likely to experience frequent repairs or safety defects, while the Accord has a much higher volume of complaints and recalls, suggesting more potential for problems.
Key differences
- The Infiniti Q40 has 8 complaints over 2 years and 0 recalls, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years and 38 recalls.
- Infiniti Q40 owners report air bag off lights and sunroof drain clogs; Honda Accord owners report engine stalling, power steering/brake failure, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- The Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths reported, while the Infiniti Q40 has 1 crash-related complaint and 0 deaths.
- The Honda Accord has recalls for fuel pump, air bag sensor, and seat belt issues, while the Infiniti Q40 has no recalls on record.
- Check the passenger air bag off light with a passenger seated—if it stays on, the air bag may not deploy.
- Inspect for water damage or musty smells from a clogged sunroof drain, especially in the floor and right-side panels.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for sudden loss of power, warning lights, or unexpected braking from the forward collision system.
- Ask for proof that all 38 recalls have been completed, especially for fuel pump, air bag sensor, and seat belt issues.
Before you buy
- For the Infiniti Q40, verify the passenger air bag system works with a passenger seated and check for sunroof drain clogs or water damage.
- For the Honda Accord, run the VIN to see if all recalls are done and test drive at various speeds to check for stalling or braking issues.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model to look for the reported problems.
- Review the NHTSA complaint history for the exact model year you are considering to see if patterns apply.
- Check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website and confirm they have been repaired before buying.
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 Q40 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti Q40 vs Honda Accord
- Infiniti Q40 total complaints
- 8
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Infiniti Q40 total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Infiniti Q40 avg complaints/year
- 4.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti Q40
- Infiniti Q40 top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE