Head-to-head reliability
KIA Telluride vs Honda Accord
How the KIA Telluride 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 Telluride vs Honda Accord: The Telluride has 268 complaints per year with sudden engine shutdowns and windshield failures, while the Accord has 430 per year with engine power loss and ghost touches. The Telluride's issues are more safety-critical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA Telluride or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
KIA Telluride
The KIA Telluride is a popular midsize SUV, but owner complaints reveal a pattern of sudden engine shutdowns while driving, electrical system glitches that trigger false warnings, and windshield wiper fluid leaks. The vehicle also has a notable number of recalls, including for exterior trim, spare tire, seat recliner, side air bags, and instrument cluster. While the complaint count is lower than the Accord's, the nature of the failures—especially unexpected power loss—raises safety concerns for daily driving.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a well-known sedan with a high volume of complaints, particularly around engine power loss at highway speeds, electrical system issues like infotainment ghost touches, and forward collision avoidance systems that brake unexpectedly. Recalls cover seat belt retractors, air bag sensors, fuel pumps, and brake control modules. The sheer number of complaints suggests these problems are widespread, but many are related to electronics and driver-assist features rather than fundamental mechanical failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA Telluride | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,876 Better | 4,300 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 38 Better | 155 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 268.0 Better | 430.0 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 39 Better | 141 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Telluride
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER442
- 02VISIBILITY/WIPER341
- 03ENGINE280
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM264
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING204
Owners report the vehicle suddenly shutting off while driving, with a red dashboard warning and a message to shift into park or neutral to restart. This can occur in traffic, posing a risk of collision.
The windshield wiper system leaks fluid onto the rear window when spraying the front, and the windshield can shatter catastrophically from minor debris, failing to behave as federally regulated safety glass.
The engine overheats repeatedly when climbing mountain highways with the air conditioning on, and electronic safety/engine control systems malfunction while driving at speed, causing power loss.
The vehicle alarms and displays 'engine is off' messages while driving, then shuts off the engine mid-drive, requiring the driver to pull over and restart.
“I rented a car from Avis on [XXX] (a Friday) for a 24-hour rental. I rented it in Manhattan, and the car (a Kia Telluride) had a New York license plate [XXX] ). I drove to Boston to pick up my daughter from college and then returned the car Saturday morning (…”
“My 2025 Kia Telluride is suddenly shutting off in traffic. It first happened 6/24/26 I was pulling away from a stop light when my vehicle shut off. I received a red dash as you would for collision warning and a message to shift into park or neutral to restart…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE928
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM824
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE798
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER699
- 05SERVICE BRAKES577
The 1.5L turbo engine can suffer sudden complete power loss at highway speeds, with the vehicle unable to exceed 2,000 RPM, and hard idle at startup that may indicate a serious issue.
The infotainment touchscreen registers 'ghost touches' and random beeping, and the hybrid system can cause shuddering between 50-70 mph when transitioning from EV to engine power.
The collision mitigation braking system activates unexpectedly under bridges due to shadows, causing sudden braking that can surprise the driver and lead to rear-end collisions.
USB ports in the center console are physically loose, causing intermittent disconnection of Apple CarPlay, which can distract the driver when navigation or music cuts out.
“I am writing to file a complaint on the service that was provided at Vann York Honda. On February 17, 2026, I was returning home from work and my car had a hard idle at start up. I was able to drive it home without issue. The next day, February 18, I got in m…”
“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…”
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 Telluride — 33 recalls
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Telluride vehicles. The door belt molding trim can delaminate and detach from the vehicle.
The risk: A detached trim piece can become a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the belt molding trim assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall…
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride and 2026 Sorento vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with an incorrect spare tire which, when installed, can impair the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…
The risk: Anti-lock braking or traction control systems that do not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the spare wheel and tire assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2025. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC355. Vehicle Iden…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Telluride vehicles, equipped with power front seat(s). Due to a manufacturing error, the driver and passenger seat back frame assemblies may fail to properly restrain occupants in a crash.
The risk: A seat back frame that fails to properly restrain an occupant during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat back frame assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning April 24, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number f…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Telluride vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the wire harnesses for the second row seat side air bags may become damaged, causing them not to deploy in the event of a crash.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace, or secure the air bag wire harnesses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for thi…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
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…
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…
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,…
Buyer analysis
KIA Telluride or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The KIA Telluride has fewer complaints per year (268 vs 430) but its issues—especially sudden engine shutdowns—are more immediately dangerous. The Honda Accord has more complaints but many are about electronics and driver-assist quirks rather than total power loss. In practice, the Telluride's failures pose a higher safety risk, while the Accord's are more of a nuisance.
Key differences
- Telluride owners report sudden engine shutdowns while driving; Accord owners report power loss but often at highway speeds with RPM limits.
- Telluride has windshield wiper fluid leaks and shattering glass; Accord has ghost touches on infotainment and unexpected braking from collision avoidance.
- Telluride's engine overheating occurs on mountain climbs with AC; Accord's engine issues include hard idle and turbo problems.
- Telluride has fewer total complaints but more safety-critical failures; Accord has more complaints but many are electronic annoyances.
- Test drive the Telluride on a highway and uphill with AC on to check for engine overheating or shutdown.
- Inspect the windshield for any cracks and test the wiper fluid spray to ensure it doesn't leak onto the rear window.
- Test the Accord's infotainment screen for ghost touches and check USB port stability with a phone connected.
- Drive under bridges or overpasses to see if the collision mitigation braking activates unexpectedly.
Before you buy
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles and ensure all recalls have been performed.
- For the Telluride, ask for service records related to engine overheating or electrical system repairs.
- For the Accord, request records of any engine power loss incidents or infotainment replacements.
- Test drive both vehicles in conditions that trigger their known issues: highway speeds, hills, and low-light areas.
- Inspect the Telluride's windshield for any damage and the Accord's USB ports for looseness.
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 Telluride | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 4 |
| 2025 | 90 | 97 |
| 2024 | 204 | 207 |
| 2023 | 197 | 220 |
| 2022 | 311 | 217 |
| 2021 | 337 | 217 |
| 2020 | 737 | 341 |
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 Telluride or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA Telluride vs Honda Accord
- KIA Telluride total complaints
- 1,876
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,300
- KIA Telluride total recalls
- 33
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- KIA Telluride avg complaints/year
- 268.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 430.0
- More reliable overall
- KIA Telluride
- KIA Telluride top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE