Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti QX55 vs Honda Accord
How the Infiniti QX55 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 QX55 vs Honda Accord: The QX55 has 13 complaints over 4 years (3.3/year) and 2 recalls, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years (452.4/year) and 38 recalls. The Accord also reports 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths; the QX55 reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti QX55 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti QX55
The Infiniti QX55 is a compact luxury SUV with a low complaint rate: 13 complaints over 4 years, averaging 3.3 per year. The main pattern is engine trouble, with owners reporting white smoke from the exhaust and sudden power loss, plus a recall for internal engine parts. Other issues include seats that move or overheat, a rear door lock that can trap people, and minor electronic glitches. Overall, it's a low-volume vehicle with a few serious but not widespread problems.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a very high complaint volume: 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging 452 per year. Owners report a wide range of problems, including engine stalling, electrical failures that can lock up steering and brakes, and forward collision avoidance systems that brake unexpectedly. There are also 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths reported, along with 38 recalls. This suggests that while many Accords are on the road, some owners experience severe safety issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti QX55 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 13 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.3 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 QX55
- 01ENGINE6
- 02SEATS2
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 04STRUCTURE1
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
Owners report white smoke from the exhaust and sudden power loss, sometimes with grinding noises. One complaint mentions a 2022 QX55 with only 16,500 miles losing power, which could mean expensive repairs if the engine fails.
The driver's seat can move while driving or turning, and the rear seat heater may overheat and burn the seat cushions. These issues affect comfort and could be a fire risk if the heater malfunctions.
The rear door lock can jam, trapping people inside and preventing first responders from opening the door. This is a serious safety concern in an emergency.
Owners report Bluetooth and CarPlay disconnecting after a few minutes, and a dashboard rattle at highway speeds that may be linked to an air bag issue. These are annoying but not safety-critical.
“The contact owned a 2022 Infinity QX55. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle in the garage, the contact noticed white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the white smoke increased significantly. T…”
“Every single one of these 2.0 litre engines should be recalled. My partner has a 2022 QX50 and the long engine should be replaced. On May 18, 2025, my QX55 with 16,500 miles that I was absolutely perfect in servicing suddenly started losing power, grinding, t…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report the vehicle losing speed with multiple warning lights, and rattling noises during acceleration. Some complaints describe rough transitions between electric and gas modes, which can affect drivability.
There are reports of electronic power steering and braking failing simultaneously at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another complaint mentions a tire failure after a TPMS repair, suggesting possible service-related issues.
Owners say the system can brake unexpectedly on open roads or with adaptive cruise control set, even with no obstacles. This could cause a crash if it activates without warning.
Complaints include a persistent rotten-egg odor that isn't fixed by filter replacement, and a foot getting stuck behind a plastic panel. These are less severe but still frustrating.
“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 QX55 — 2 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects tha…
The risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 INFINITI QX55 and 2022 INFINITI QX50 vehicles. The incorrect door latch may have been installed in the front right-side passenger door lock assembly, preventing the front right-side door lock from automatically locking.
The risk: An unlocked door may unlatch and open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front right-side passenger door lock assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 14, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for…
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 QX55 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Infiniti QX55 has far fewer issues per year (3.3 vs. 452.4), but the Honda Accord's higher volume means more reported problems overall. In practice, the QX55 may be less likely to leave you stranded, but the Accord's issues include more crashes and injuries. The difference means the QX55 is a lower-risk choice for reliability, while the Accord has a broader range of safety-related complaints.
Key differences
- The Infiniti QX55 has 13 complaints over 4 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 over 10 years, showing a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- The QX55's top issue is engine smoke and power loss, while the Accord's top issues include electrical failures that can lock steering and brakes.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related complaints, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths; the QX55 has none of these reported.
- The QX55 has 2 recalls, including engine and door lock issues; the Accord has 38 recalls covering electrical, fuel, air bags, and more.
- Check for white smoke from the exhaust on start-up or while driving, and listen for grinding noises from the engine.
- Test the rear door locks to ensure they open from inside and outside, and inspect the driver's seat for movement and the rear seat heater for burn marks.
- Test the electronic power steering and brakes at low and high speeds, and watch for warning lights on the dashboard.
- Check the forward collision avoidance system by driving with adaptive cruise control and noting any unexpected braking; also inspect for sulfur odors.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially engine and door lock recalls for the QX55 and electrical/fuel recalls for the Accord.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds, turning, and braking to feel for power loss, seat movement, or unexpected braking.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine for leaks, smoke, or unusual noises, and check the transmission for rough shifting.
- For the Accord, specifically test the electronic power steering and braking systems, and ask about any prior electrical repairs.
- For the QX55, check the rear seat heaters and door locks, and verify that the infotainment system connects reliably.
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 QX55 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 4 | 226 |
| 2022 | 9 | 252 |
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 QX55 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti QX55 vs Honda Accord
- Infiniti QX55 total complaints
- 13
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Infiniti QX55 total recalls
- 2
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Infiniti QX55 avg complaints/year
- 3.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti QX55
- Infiniti QX55 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE