Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti Q50 vs Honda Accord
How the Infiniti Q50 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 Q50 vs Honda Accord: The Q50 has 314 complaints over 10 years (about 31 per year) and 18 recalls, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints (about 444 per year) and 38 recalls. Both show serious engine and safety issues, but the Q50's lower volume may mean fewer problems overall. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti Q50 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti Q50
The Infiniti Q50 is a luxury sport sedan with a relatively low complaint volume: 314 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 31 per year. That said, owners report serious issues like sudden engine power loss, rough running, and steering problems that can appear even at low mileage. With 18 recalls and 27 crash-related complaints, it's a car that demands a careful pre-purchase inspection and a check for open recalls.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint count: 4,438 over 10 years, or about 444 per year. The volume reflects its huge sales, but owners describe a wide range of problems, from engine and electrical faults to forward collision warnings and brake issues. There are also 38 recalls and 160 crash-related complaints, so while it's a popular choice, it's not trouble-free.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti Q50 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 314 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 31.4 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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 Q50
- 01ENGINE64
- 02POWER TRAIN59
- 03AIR BAGS46
- 04STEERING46
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44
Owners report sudden power loss, warning lights, and the engine shutting off while driving, as well as knocking, ticking, rough idle, and misfires that persist after repairs. These symptoms can leave you stranded and may lead to expensive engine work.
Complaints include the vehicle losing power and not accelerating properly, sometimes shutting off entirely. This can happen even shortly after purchase, making it a major safety and reliability concern.
Owners describe airbag warning lights coming on, seatbelt warnings activating when no one is in the passenger seat, and airbags failing to deploy. These are critical safety systems, and repairs can be costly, especially out of warranty.
Reports include faulty steering assemblies, the steering wheel locking or feeling stiff, and combined brake, steering, and acceleration problems. Such issues can make the car hard to control and increase crash risk.
“Shortly after purchasing the vehicle, I began experiencing serious performance issues. While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost power, would not accelerate properly, and warning lights appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle eventually shut off while in operat…”
“own a 2019 Infiniti Q50 3.0t Sport with approximately 80,000 miles. The vehicle began experiencing engine knocking/ticking noises, rough idle, hesitation under acceleration, shaking, and intermittent misfire symptoms. The issue continued even after replacing…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, alarms, and loss of speed, with some vehicles unable to maintain highway speeds. These problems can appear even on new cars, leading to unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs.
Complaints include TPMS warnings followed by tire failure, rodent damage to wiring, and various electrical glitches. Electrical faults can be hard to diagnose and may affect multiple systems, including safety features.
Owners describe adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams malfunctioning, often with intermittent dashboard warnings. These failures can reduce driver confidence and may compromise safety if the systems don't work when needed.
Reports include brake system warnings and loss of braking performance, sometimes accompanied by other system failures. Brake problems are a serious safety concern and should be addressed immediately.
“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 Q50 — 18 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Nissan Murano, INFINITI QX60, 2021 Nissan GT-R, INFINITI QX50, and Q50 vehicles. The front steering knuckle or rear axle housing may have insufficient strength due to improper heat-treatment.
The risk: The steering knuckle or rear axle could deform upon impact, such as from hitting a curb, resulting in a loss of steering control, or possible wheel separation. Both of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckle and rear axle housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2021. Nissan owners may contact customer service at 1-800-867-7669. INFINITI o…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2021 INFINITI Q50 and Q60 vehicles. After detecting rapid acceleration, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may incorrectly reduce engine power and reduce fuel supply to the engine.
The risk: A lack of fuel may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: INFINITI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's number for this recall is R20C5.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Infinity Q50, Q60, and QX80 vehicles. A software error may deactivate the audio/video control unit screen, preventing the rear-view image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehi…
The risk: A rear-view camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 14, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R21A9.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
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 Q50 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Infiniti Q50 has far fewer complaints per year (about 31 vs. 444 for the Honda Accord), but both have serious safety-related reports. In practice, the Q50 may have fewer overall issues, but the ones reported are often severe, while the Accord's higher volume means you're more likely to encounter a problem, though many are covered by recalls or warranties.
Key differences
- The Infiniti Q50 averages about 31 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 444, but the Accord sells in much higher numbers.
- Infiniti Q50 owners frequently report sudden engine power loss and steering problems, while Honda Accord owners report a broader mix of engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance issues.
- The Honda Accord has more than twice as many recalls (38 vs. 18) and far more crash-related complaints (160 vs. 27), though the Q50's lower volume doesn't guarantee fewer problems.
- Both vehicles have reports of engine and brake issues, but the Q50's complaints often involve complete power loss, while the Accord's include advanced driver-assist system failures.
- During a test drive, watch for any hesitation, rough idle, or sudden loss of power, and check for engine warning lights—these are common complaints.
- Ask for service records related to steering and airbag systems, and have a mechanic inspect the steering assembly and airbag warning lights.
- Check for any history of electrical gremlins, especially TPMS warnings or tire issues, and inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage.
- Test all advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams to ensure they work consistently without intermittent warnings.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine, transmission, steering, and brakes.
- During the test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or performance issues, especially during acceleration and braking.
- Ask the seller for all maintenance records and confirm that any recall work has been completed.
- For the Honda Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and electrical systems; for the Infiniti Q50, test the engine and steering under various conditions.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Infiniti Q50 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 214 |
| 2023 | 8 | 224 |
| 2022 | 1 | 238 |
| 2021 | 4 | 226 |
| 2020 | 3 | 355 |
| 2019 | 30 | 677 |
| 2018 | 42 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 62 | 534 |
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 Q50 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti Q50 vs Honda Accord
- Infiniti Q50 total complaints
- 314
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Infiniti Q50 total recalls
- 18
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Infiniti Q50 avg complaints/year
- 31.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti Q50
- Infiniti Q50 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE