Head-to-head reliability

Jaguar XJ vs Honda Accord

How the Jaguar XJ and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Jaguar XJ112 complaints · 20 recalls Fewer issues per year
Honda Accord4,173 complaints · 35 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Jaguar XJ averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Jaguar XJ has 112 complaints and 20 recalls on record; Honda Accord has 4,173 complaints and 35 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryJaguar XJHonda Accord
Total complaintsAll model years combined112 Better4,173
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns20 Better35
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints18 Better146
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years11.2 Better417.3
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints20 Better135
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better3

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.

Jaguar XJ

  1. 01ENGINE31
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER18
  4. 04POWER TRAIN12
  5. 05SERVICE BRAKES12
In owners' words — ENGINE

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS"UNUSUAL" ISSUES FROM "STICK-TO-YOUR-FINGERS" CONTROL BUTTONS THAT WERE CHANGED UNDER WARRANTY TO A FAULTY ALARM SYSTEM THAT GOES OFF RANDOMLY ONCE ACTIVATED,TO EXCEPTIONALLY SLOW TOUCH SCREEN FUNCTIONS THAT CAN ONLY BE CONTROLLED…

A SERIS OF ISSUES PLAQUE THIS MODEL. CHANGED THROTTLE BODY TWICE BUT CAR KEEP SHOWING STABILITY CONTROL NOT AVAILABLE, THROTTLE BODY ACTUATION ISSUES WITH P2119,P2118 CODES AMONG SEVERAL OTHERS. CAR SHAKES AND SHUTS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. AT IDLE, THE…

Honda Accord

  1. 01ENGINE940
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM812
  3. 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE784
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER677
  5. 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM567
In owners' words — ENGINE

2021 Honda Accord EX-L, 1.5T turbocharged engine. Within 8 months of purchase at approximately 21,900 miles, I experienced three separate incidents of sudden complete engine power loss at highway speeds. During each incident the vehicle would not exceed 2,000…

I am filing a complaint regarding the premature head gasket failure on my 2021 Honda Accord, which failed on May 28, 2026, with only 89,000 miles on the vehicle. A head gasket is a critical engine component that should last well beyond 89,000 miles under norm…

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.

Jaguar XJ — 20 recalls

Engine And Engine Cooling — Engine — Gasoline — Belts And Associated Pulleys
#19V039000

The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2019 Jaguar F-Pace, F-Type, and XJ vehicles equipped with V6 or V8 gasoline engines. The crankshaft pulley retaining bolt may have been improperly manufactured, possibly causing the crankshaft pulley bolt to fracture, potentially re…

The risk: Engine failure may increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: Jaguar has notified owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft pulley center retaining bolt, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2019. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this re…

Air Bags — Frontal
#20V557000Dec 2020

The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2010-2011 and 2017 XJ vehicles. The Restraint Control Module (RCM) software may cause the frontal air bags to deploy improperly in the event of a frontal impact crash.

The risk: Failure of the air bags to deploy properly increases the risk of injury in a crash.

The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will update the RCM software, free of charge. The recall began October 7, 2020. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-369-1000. Jaguar's number for this recall is H294.

Air Bags
#17V394000

The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2010-2011 XJ vehicles. If, while servicing the vehicle, the vehicle does not successfully receive an update to the Restraint Control Module (RCM) software, the default air bag calibration settings may be incorrect.

The risk: In the event of a crash, the incorrect calibration may not activate the air bag deployment as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will update the RCM with the latest software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this recall is H034.

Air Bags — Frontal
#20V557000Dec 2020

The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2010-2011 and 2017 XJ vehicles. The Restraint Control Module (RCM) software may cause the frontal air bags to deploy improperly in the event of a frontal impact crash.

The risk: Failure of the air bags to deploy properly increases the risk of injury in a crash.

The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will update the RCM software, free of charge. The recall began October 7, 2020. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-369-1000. Jaguar's number for this recall is H294.

Honda Accord — 35 recalls

Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Retractor
#21V900000

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.

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#24V064000Jan 2024

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…

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump
#23V858000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…

The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#26V332000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…

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.

YearJaguar XJHonda Accord
20191667
201821846
20174532
Years to scrutinize: the 2014 Jaguar XJ drew the most complaints (22); the 2018 Honda Accord drew the most (1,846). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Jaguar XJ or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Jaguar XJ vs Honda Accord — comparison facts
Comparison
Jaguar XJ vs Honda Accord
Jaguar XJ total complaints
112
Honda Accord total complaints
4,173
Jaguar XJ total recalls
20
Honda Accord total recalls
35
Jaguar XJ avg complaints/year
11.2
Honda Accord avg complaints/year
417.3
More reliable overall
Jaguar XJ
Jaguar XJ top complaint area
ENGINE
Honda Accord top complaint area
ENGINE