Head-to-head reliability
LAND Rover Range Rover Sport vs Honda Accord
How the LAND Rover Range Rover Sport 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
LAND Rover Range Rover Sport vs Honda Accord: The Range Rover Sport has 470 complaints over 10 years (47/year) and 65 recalls, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints (452/year) and 38 recalls. Both have serious safety complaints, but the Range Rover's are more frequent per vehicle. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the LAND Rover Range Rover Sport or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
LAND Rover Range Rover Sport
The Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a luxury SUV that demands attention, but NHTSA data shows 470 complaints over 10 years, averaging 47 per year. Owners frequently report electrical and engine problems, including repeated alternator failures and braking system lockups. With 65 recalls and 12 crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle that requires diligent maintenance and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 4,524 over 10 years, or about 452 per year. However, many complaints center on advanced driver aids and hybrid system quirks, with some serious electrical and engine issues. It has 38 recalls and 162 crash-related complaints, so while common, it's not immune to significant problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | LAND Rover Range Rover Sport | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 470 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 65 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 12 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 47.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 18 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 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.
LAND Rover Range Rover Sport
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM113
- 02ENGINE108
- 03STEERING91
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER66
- 05SUSPENSION60
Owners report alternator failures, sometimes multiple times before 100,000 miles, leading to charging system problems. There are also complaints of braking system lockups where the car becomes unable to stop safely, a severe safety concern.
The engine category includes alternator issues (as part of charging) and abnormal odors requiring engine cleaning. These can indicate poor reliability and potential costly repairs.
Drivers describe steering that remains uncentered and unresponsive despite new tires and alignments, making the vehicle dangerous in rainy conditions. This suggests underlying steering component wear or design flaws.
Suspension complaints are common, though specific failure patterns aren't detailed in the sample. Given the vehicle's complexity, air suspension issues can be expensive to fix.
“The component that failed is the charging system alternator on my 2020 Range Rover Sport HST (mild-hybrid). This vehicle has experienced three alternator failures prior to 100,000 miles. The failed alternator and related components are currently in dealer pos…”
“The braking system keeps repeatedly failing. I have numerous times been driving when the braking system locks, leaving the car uncapable of securing a safe stop at any given moment. In 2024, the vehicle was serviced at Landrover Englewood, NJ where I paid for…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of power with multiple alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) and rough transitions between EV and gas modes in hybrids. These can leave drivers stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. These are critical safety systems that should not fail.
The system may fail to intervene or cause unexpected braking, as owners describe incidents where adaptive cruise control suddenly disengaged or the car braked without obstruction. This undermines trust in driver-assist features.
Fuel pump issues and hybrid power control module problems are noted, which can cause stalling or loss of motive power. These are serious reliability concerns.
“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.
LAND Rover Range Rover Sport — 65 recalls
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC. (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Discovery, and Range Rover Velar vehicles. The Auto High Beam (AHB) system does not indicate through the instrument cluster when the high beams are illuminated automatically. As such, t…
The risk: The driver may be unaware that the high beams are illuminated, reducing visibility for oncoming traffic, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N556.
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Range Rover Sport vehicles equipped with 19-inch wheels. The tire inflation pressure label and the tire placard label state the incorrect tire pressures for the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…
The risk: Failure to inflate tires to the correct pressure could lead to loss of vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will apply the correct labels, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-369-1000. Land Rover's number for this recall is N491.
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Range Rover Sport vehicles equipped with 20-inch, 21-inch, or 22-inch wheels. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) recommended pressure has been set incorrectly in the instrument cluster. As a result, the TPMS wa…
The risk: Drivers may unknowingly operate the vehicle with low tire pressure, possibly causing tire tread separation, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-369-1000. Land Rover's number for this recal…
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2023 Range Rover, Defender, 2022-2023 Discovery, and 2023 Range Rover Velar vehicles. The engine cam carrier oil channel may be blocked, which can lead to an oil leak.
The risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine cam carrier and related components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2023. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rove…
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
LAND Rover Range Rover Sport or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Land Rover Range Rover Sport has far fewer complaints per year (47 vs. 452), but its issues often involve severe safety failures like braking and steering. The Honda Accord's higher volume means more frequent problems, but many are related to complex electronics. In practice, the Range Rover may have fewer overall incidents, but each could be more dangerous.
Key differences
- The Range Rover Sport averages 47 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages 452, but the Accord has fewer recalls (38 vs. 65).
- Range Rover owners report dangerous braking and steering failures, while Accord owners report advanced driver-assist malfunctions and hybrid system jerks.
- The Range Rover has 2 deaths and 18 injuries in complaints; the Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries, though higher volume may influence this.
- Electrical and engine issues dominate both, but the Range Rover's alternator failures are a recurring theme, whereas the Accord's forward collision avoidance complaints are notably high.
- Check for alternator replacement history and charging system health, as multiple failures have been reported.
- Test the braking system thoroughly for any lockup or unusual behavior, and inspect steering for centering and responsiveness.
- Verify that electronic power steering and braking systems function correctly at highway speeds, as simultaneous failures have been reported.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems for unexpected braking or disengagement.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including alternator and battery, especially on the Range Rover.
- For the Accord, test all driver-assist features and ensure software updates are applied.
- Take a lengthy test drive covering highway speeds and varying conditions to replicate potential failures.
- Review NHTSA complaints for the specific model year you're considering to identify common issues.
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 | LAND Rover Range Rover Sport | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 17 | 219 |
| 2023 | 23 | 226 |
| 2022 | 14 | 252 |
| 2021 | 11 | 234 |
| 2020 | 46 | 362 |
| 2019 | 50 | 691 |
| 2018 | 66 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 242 | 537 |
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 LAND Rover Range Rover Sport or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- LAND Rover Range Rover Sport vs Honda Accord
- LAND Rover Range Rover Sport total complaints
- 470
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- LAND Rover Range Rover Sport total recalls
- 65
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- LAND Rover Range Rover Sport avg complaints/year
- 47.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- LAND Rover Range Rover Sport
- LAND Rover Range Rover Sport top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE