Head-to-head reliability
KIA Cadenza vs Honda Accord
How the KIA Cadenza 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
KIA Cadenza vs Honda Accord: The Cadenza averages 30.9 complaints per year over 7 years, while the Accord averages 443.8 per year over 10 years. Engine issues dominate the Cadenza, while the Accord has more electrical and forward collision complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA Cadenza or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
KIA Cadenza
The KIA Cadenza, a full-size sedan, shows a reliability picture dominated by engine troubles, with owners reporting oil consumption, knocking, and sudden stalling often without warning lights. Brake issues, including a reported failure and ABS problems, add to the concern. Electrical and visibility complaints also appear, but the engine is the primary source of owner frustration.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume, but this is partly due to its larger sales base. Engine issues are common, with reports of noises and sudden power loss, while electrical problems range from TPMS failures to rodent damage. A significant number of complaints involve forward collision avoidance systems acting erratically, which can be alarming for drivers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA Cadenza | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 216 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 30.9 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.
KIA Cadenza
- 01ENGINE63
- 02SERVICE BRAKES36
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER33
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM33
- 05VISIBILITY25
Owners report oil burning, knocking, and the engine dying, often with the oil pressure light failing to warn. One owner described an oil pressure sender leaking internally, leading to oil loss and potential engine damage.
There are reports of brake failure, including an accident at low speed, and intermittent ABS warning lights. The brake system may lose power assist or have electronic control issues.
Complaints include unresolved recalls and issues with warning lights not illuminating when they should, such as the oil light, which can leave drivers unaware of serious problems.
“A little history, my Cadenza was placed at KIA of Bradley [XXX] 2024, I complained of oil burning, the oil sending unit light staying on and the engine dying. The Kia rep found “THE OIL PRESSURE SENDER INTERNALLY FAULTED, LEAKING OIL INTERNALLY – OIL LEAKING…”
“Multiple oil, engine/knocking issues. Drove the car unaware of loss of oil ( disguised as water from days rain) no oil light or engine light appeared. When I took to dealer the leak was fixed.Multiple times of loss of oil and only once did it show on dash.I k…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power at highway speeds, accompanied by multiple warning lights. Some vehicles may experience critical failures that affect drivability.
Issues range from TPMS warnings leading to tire failures to rodent damage on wiring harnesses. Electrical gremlins can cause intermittent problems that are hard to diagnose.
Many complaints describe the system activating unexpectedly or displaying errors for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams, which can be distracting and potentially dangerous.
“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.
KIA Cadenza — 12 recalls
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
The risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an elect…
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
The risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an elect…
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
The risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an elect…
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Cadenza vehicles. The brake vacuum hose on the affected vehicles may kink, reducing braking performance.
The risk: Reduced braking performance can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake vacuum hose, replacing it as necessary, free charge. The recall began on April 17, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is…
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
KIA Cadenza or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The KIA Cadenza has far fewer complaints per year (30.9 vs 443.8), but its issues are more concentrated on engine reliability, which can be costly. The Honda Accord's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the nature of its complaints, especially with driver-assist systems, may be more concerning for daily driving.
Key differences
- The Cadenza has a much lower complaint rate per year (30.9) compared to the Accord (443.8), but the Cadenza's engine issues are more severe, including oil loss and stalling.
- The Accord has a significant number of complaints about forward collision avoidance systems acting up, which is not a major issue for the Cadenza.
- Both have brake-related recalls, but the Cadenza's brake complaints include a failure, while the Accord's are more about ABS and stability control warnings.
- The Accord has more electrical complaints, including TPMS and wiring issues, while the Cadenza's electrical problems often tie back to engine warning light failures.
- Inspect the engine for oil leaks, listen for knocking, and check the oil pressure light operation. Ask for service records related to oil consumption or engine repairs.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including ABS activation, and check for any recall completion on the ABS module.
- Check the forward collision avoidance system for any warning lights or erratic behavior during a test drive. Ask if the system has been updated or repaired.
- Inspect the wiring harnesses for signs of rodent damage, especially if the car is parked outdoors, and verify all recalls are completed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed for both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine health and brake system.
- Test drive at various speeds, including highway, to check for any warning lights or unusual behavior.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially oil change history for the Cadenza and any electrical repairs for the Accord.
- Check the operation of all driver-assist features on the Accord, including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping.
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 | KIA Cadenza | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 355 |
| 2019 | 5 | 677 |
| 2018 | 7 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 32 | 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 KIA Cadenza or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA Cadenza vs Honda Accord
- KIA Cadenza total complaints
- 216
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- KIA Cadenza total recalls
- 12
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- KIA Cadenza avg complaints/year
- 30.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- KIA Cadenza
- KIA Cadenza top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE