Head-to-head reliability
Mazda Tribute vs Honda Accord
How the Mazda Tribute 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
Mazda Tribute vs Honda Accord: The Tribute averaged 216 complaints per year with 56 recalls, while the Accord had 444 complaints per year and 38 recalls. The Tribute also had 5 deaths and 96 injuries reported, compared to 3 deaths and 144 injuries for the Accord. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda Tribute or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda Tribute
The Mazda Tribute is a compact SUV that averaged 216 complaints per year over a decade, with 56 recalls. Owners frequently report unintended acceleration or cruise control surging, tailgate latch failures, and suspension or steering issues. These patterns suggest a vehicle that can be costly to maintain and may have safety-related defects.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint rate—about 444 per year—but fewer recalls (38). Complaints cluster around engine noises, electrical glitches, and advanced safety systems like forward collision avoidance. Many reports involve newer models with low mileage, indicating potential quality control issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda Tribute | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,160 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 56 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 113 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 216.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 96 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 5 | 3 Better |
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.
Mazda Tribute
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING355
- 02VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL344
- 03STRUCTURE290
- 04SUSPENSION250
- 05POWER TRAIN235
Owners describe the gas pedal feeling strange and cruise control unexpectedly accelerating, such as speeding up from 70 to 80 mph repeatedly. This can be frightening and may lead to loss of control.
The rear tailgate or hatch often fails to open when the button is pressed, sometimes requiring replacement of the entire pump. This is inconvenient and could be a safety hazard if rear access is needed in an emergency.
With 355 complaints, this is the most common area, though specific failure details are not provided in the sample. Buyers should expect potential engine-related issues that may require costly repairs.
Front wheel bearing problems are serious enough to trigger recalls. Worn bearings can cause noise, poor handling, and uneven tire wear, affecting safety and driving comfort.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises and critical failure warnings, such as brake, hill descent, and ABS alarms, leading to speed loss. These symptoms can indicate serious mechanical or electronic faults.
Complaints include TPMS warnings followed by tire failure and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and difficult to diagnose, potentially leaving drivers stranded.
Adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams may show intermittent error messages. These failures could reduce the effectiveness of advanced safety features.
With 592 complaints, brake issues are common, though sample texts focus on other areas. Problems may include premature wear or electronic control unit faults, affecting stopping reliability.
“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.
Mazda Tribute — 56 recalls
The defect: The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have…
The risk: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured October 5, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system cou…
The risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Tribute vehicles manufactured March 3, 2009, to May 26, 2011. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety recall were mailed on…
The defect: The Timken Company (Timken) is recalling certain aftermarket front wheel bearings, part number 510072, sold from January 22, 2015, to May 21, 2015, to be used as service parts on 2001-2012 Ford Escape, 2001-2011 Mazda Tribute, and 2005-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles. The affected wheel bearings have…
The risk: Use of an incorrectly sized wheel bearing can adversely affect the braking and steering of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Timken has begun notifying distributors who will offer purchasers replacement wheel bearings, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Timken customer service at 1-866-984-6536.
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
Mazda Tribute or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mazda Tribute has fewer complaints per year (216 vs. 444 for the Honda Accord), but more recalls (56 vs. 38). In practice, the Tribute may have fewer reported issues overall, but the higher recall count suggests more widespread safety defects. The Accord's higher complaint rate, especially on newer models, indicates potential ongoing quality concerns.
Key differences
- The Mazda Tribute has about half the annual complaints of the Honda Accord (216 vs. 444), but nearly 50% more recalls (56 vs. 38).
- Tribute owners report unintended acceleration and tailgate failures, while Accord owners report engine noises and electrical glitches.
- The Accord's complaints often involve advanced safety systems like forward collision avoidance, which are absent in Tribute data.
- Both vehicles have fuel pump recalls, but the Tribute also has suspension and steering recalls, while the Accord has brake and airbag recalls.
- Test the gas pedal and cruise control for any sticking or unexpected acceleration, as owners report surging.
- Check the rear tailgate operation; if it doesn't open smoothly, the latch or pump may need replacement.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and watch for dashboard warnings related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent.
- Test all electrical components, including TPMS and infotainment, and check for rodent damage under the hood.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Mazda Tribute's suspension, steering, and tailgate mechanism.
- For the Honda Accord, scan for stored error codes and test advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and cruise control use to replicate reported conditions.
- Verify that all recall repairs have been completed, especially fuel pump and brake-related recalls.
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 Mazda Tribute or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda Tribute vs Honda Accord
- Mazda Tribute total complaints
- 2,160
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mazda Tribute total recalls
- 56
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mazda Tribute avg complaints/year
- 216.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mazda Tribute
- Mazda Tribute top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE