Head-to-head reliability
Jaguar XK vs Honda Accord
How the Jaguar XK 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
Jaguar XK vs Honda Accord: The XK averages 8.4 complaints per year with 20 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The XK's top issue is unintended acceleration; the Accord's is engine problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Jaguar XK or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Jaguar XK
The Jaguar XK is a low-volume sports coupe, so you'll see fewer complaints overall—about 8.4 per year—but the pattern is serious. Owners report unintended acceleration where braking doesn't stop the car, brake failures, and transmission or differential problems. With 20 recalls and 5 injuries in the data, living with an XK means staying on top of safety fixes and being ready for expensive repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan, so it naturally generates many more complaints—about 452 per year—but that's spread across hundreds of thousands of cars. The data shows 3 deaths and 146 injuries, with engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance systems as the most common trouble spots. Owners describe stalling, warning-light cascades, and automatic braking that activates unexpectedly.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Jaguar XK | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 84 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 8.4 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 5 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.
Jaguar XK
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL20
- 02SERVICE BRAKES13
- 03POWER TRAIN11
- 04AIR BAGS9
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
Owners report unintended acceleration where pressing the brakes does not slow the car, sometimes forcing them to shift into park to stop. This is the most complained-about area on the XK and is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include brakes that fail to respond when coming to a stop, and high-performance tires with poor wet traction that undermine anti-lock brakes and stability control. Both issues can leave you with longer stopping distances or no stopping power.
Reported problems include transmission replacements at low mileage and rear differential fluid leaks that require seal repairs. These are costly drivetrain repairs that can sideline the car.
Owners describe airbag warning lights that keep coming on even after multiple dealer visits, with fixes like fuse replacements or connection corrections that don't last. A persistent airbag light means the system may not deploy in a crash.
“On at least 3 occasions, my vehicle had unintended acceleration and applying brakes did not stop the car. I put it in park to stop. I took it to the Foreign performance (mechanic shop) on 11-29-23 after the first time and they said they fixed it. It occurred…”
“TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 JAGUAR X-TYPE PURCHASED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2006 WITH 15 MILES. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THAT EARLY IN DECEMBER 2006 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 40 TO 45 MPH AND BEFORE COMING TO A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden power loss at highway speeds with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) and rattling noises during acceleration. These symptoms can leave you stranded or in a dangerous situation.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. Electrical glitches can disable critical safety systems without warning.
Owners describe the system braking unexpectedly on open roads or with adaptive cruise control set, sometimes repeatedly on the same route. Phantom braking can cause a rear-end collision or loss of control.
Reports include persistent rotten-egg sulfur odors and fuel pump issues that can lead to stalling or failure to start. Fuel system problems affect driveability and can be a fire 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.
Jaguar XK — 20 recalls
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Jaguar XK vehicles manufactured March 4, 2011, to March 20, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the front side lamps (parking lamps) may turn off after approximately 5 minutes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply…
The risk: If the parking lamps turn off, the vehicle will have reduced conspicuity, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will update software that controls the front side lamps, free of charge. The recall began March 5, 2015. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this recall i…
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 XK (XKR and XKR-S) vehicles manufactured August 24, 2012, to June 10, 2014, and equipped with a 5.0L engine. The tire placard has incorrect information for the spare tire stating "none" for the inflation pressur…
The risk: If the recommended pressure for the spare tire is not provided, the tire may not be properly inflated which may result in its failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and, as necessary, attach a corrected tire placard label stating the tire size and pressure, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2014. Owners may contact Jaguar cu…
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 XJ, XF and XK vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the toe links, components used to control the alignment of the rear wheels, can separate from the rear sub-frame.
The risk: If a toe link separates from the rear sub-frame, a loss of vehicle stability and directional control may result, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Jaguar notified owners on May 8, 2014, and dealers will replace the nut and washer assembly on the rear toe links, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin around May 27, 2014. Owners may contact Jaguar at 1-855-524-8278. Jaguar's n…
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 XK convertible vehicles manufactured October 1, 2010, through August 1, 2013. The switch in the overhead roof console also activates the power operated windows when the convertible roof is opening or closing. Th…
The risk: The power windows may inadvertently be activated and pinch or injure an arm or finger.
The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will replace the overhead roof console, free of charge. The recall began on October 1, 2013. Owners may contact Jaguar at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's recall number is J030.
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
Jaguar XK or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Jaguar XK has far fewer complaints per year (8.4 vs. 452.4), but the Accord's higher count reflects its much larger sales volume. In practice, the XK's issues tend to be severe and expensive, while the Accord's are more varied but often addressed by recalls or warranty fixes.
Key differences
- The Jaguar XK has 8.4 complaints per year vs. 452.4 for the Honda Accord, but the XK's top issue is unintended acceleration where brakes fail to stop the car.
- The Honda Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries in the data, while the Jaguar XK has 0 deaths and 5 injuries, though the XK's crash-related complaints (8) are a smaller share of its total.
- The Accord's most common complaint areas are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance, with reports of stalling and phantom braking; the XK's are speed control, brakes, and powertrain, with reports of unintended acceleration and transmission failures.
- Both have recalls: 20 for the XK (including lighting, suspension, electrical) and 38 for the Accord (including hybrid software, fuel pump, airbag sensors).
- Test the brakes at low speed and check for any unintended acceleration by lightly pressing the accelerator while stationary—if the car lurches, walk away.
- Look for a persistent airbag warning light and ask for service records showing repeated fixes; if the light is on, the airbag may not deploy.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any sudden loss of power or multiple warning lights (brake, ABS, hill descent) appearing on the dash.
- Check for a rotten-egg sulfur smell from the exhaust or cabin, and ask if the fuel pump or fuel system has been replaced under recall.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific car and confirm they've been fixed.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on the complaint areas listed above.
- For the Jaguar XK, test the brakes and acceleration response in a safe area, and check for transmission or differential leaks.
- For the Honda Accord, test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control on a highway to see if it brakes unexpectedly.
- Request full service records and look for repeated repairs to the same system, which can indicate a persistent defect.
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 XK or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Jaguar XK vs Honda Accord
- Jaguar XK total complaints
- 84
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Jaguar XK total recalls
- 20
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Jaguar XK avg complaints/year
- 8.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Jaguar XK
- Jaguar XK top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE