Head-to-head reliability
Nissan JUKE vs Honda Accord
How the Nissan JUKE 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
Nissan JUKE vs Honda Accord: The JUKE averages 59.8 complaints per year with 14 recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The JUKE's issues often involve engine and transmission power loss, whereas the Accord has more electrical and driver-assist complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan JUKE or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan JUKE
The Nissan JUKE is a small, turbocharged crossover that can be fun to drive but demands attention as it ages. Over 8 years, owners filed 478 complaints, averaging about 60 per year, with engine and transmission problems dominating the list. Many reports describe the car losing power or failing to accelerate, sometimes on the highway, which is a serious concern for a first-time buyer. Recalls for brakes, fuel, and ignition add to the ownership burden.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize sedan with a strong reputation, but the data shows a high volume of complaints: 4,438 over 10 years, or about 444 per year. That's expected given how many Accords are on the road, yet the pattern includes advanced driver-assist glitches, electrical faults, and engine issues. Some complaints involve sudden loss of power or braking problems, and there are 3 deaths reported. It's still a popular choice, but buyers should check for open recalls and software updates.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan JUKE | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 478 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 59.8 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 18 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.
Nissan JUKE
- 01ENGINE178
- 02POWER TRAIN75
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM73
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM72
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER55
Owners frequently report the engine surging or jumping unexpectedly, and some say the car revs but won't accelerate, especially after highway driving. This can leave you stranded or cause a crash if it happens in traffic.
Transmission slipping and loss of power are common, with owners describing scary incidents on highways where the car won't respond. The CVT transmission appears to be a weak point that can fail early.
Complaints include fuel vapor vent tube clogs that trigger warnings and can affect emissions or cause stalling. Owners also report steam or fog from the hood, which may indicate a fuel or cooling issue.
Many electrical complaints are tied to the same transmission failure, where the car revs but doesn't move. This suggests sensor or wiring problems that can disable the drivetrain without warning.
“2016 NISSAN JUKE SL AWD AUG 2017, I TRADED-IN A 2011 NISSAN JUKE SL FOR A NEW 2016 JUKE SL 1. TRANSMISSION CATCHES: 2016 JUKE HAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING EVEN WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH RESULTS IN DRIVER/PASSENGER…”
“APPROX 1:00 P.M. I PULLED INTO THE WENDY'S DRIVE THROUGH AND THE LINE WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE BUILDING. THERE WAS A LARGE LIKE FORD TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I SAT THERE MAYBE 1 MIN AND I THOUGHT FELT MY CAR JUMP (AND I THOUGHT 'WHAT WAS THAT'), THEN THE TRUCK PUL…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple dashboard alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS) that appear suddenly at highway speeds. Some say the vehicle cannot maintain speed, which is dangerous in fast traffic.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring failures that may lead to tire blowouts, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new cars. These issues can cause unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs.
Adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic braking systems often show error messages and may not work intermittently. Owners report the systems failing to detect obstacles, which undermines trust in the safety features.
Brake-related complaints include ABS and traction control module failures that can affect stopping ability. Some owners experience sudden brake issues, and there are recalls for antilock brake control units.
“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.
Nissan JUKE — 14 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Juke Nismo RS vehicles. Due to a problem within the brake master cylinder, brake fluid may leak into the brake booster, reducing brake performance.
The risk: If brake fluid leaks into the brake booster it can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Juke Nismo RS vehicles. Due to a problem within the brake master cylinder, brake fluid may leak into the brake booster, reducing brake performance.
The risk: If brake fluid leaks into the brake booster it can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Versa Sedan vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013, to January 29, 2014, 2013-2014 Cube vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 21, 2013, and 2013-2014 Juke vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 22, 2013. When exp…
The risk: If the engine start/stop button gets stuck in the housing, road vibrations may cause the engine to shut off unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the start/stop switch housing, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Nissan Juke, 2012-2013 Infiniti M56, QX56, and 2014-2015 Infiniti Q70 (V8 engine vehicles only), and QX80 vehicles. The fuel pressure sensors may not have been sufficiently tightened during production. As a result, the fu…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could cause a vehicle fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-torque the fuel pressure sensors free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
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
Nissan JUKE or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Nissan JUKE has far fewer complaints per year (about 60) than the Honda Accord (about 444), but the JUKE's issues are concentrated in engine and transmission failures that can be severe. The Accord's higher volume is partly due to its popularity, yet it still has more crash-related reports and deaths. In practice, the JUKE may have fewer total problems but they can be more debilitating, while the Accord has a broader range of electronic and safety system glitches.
Key differences
- The JUKE's top complaint is engine (178), often involving power loss and transmission slipping, while the Accord's top complaint is also engine (985) but includes many electrical and forward collision avoidance issues.
- The JUKE has 14 recalls over 8 years, including brakes and fuel system; the Accord has 38 recalls over 10 years, covering hybrid software, tires, brakes, air bags, and fuel pumps.
- The Accord has 160 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, compared to the JUKE's 27 crash-related and 0 deaths, though the Accord's larger sales volume must be considered.
- JUKE owners describe sudden transmission failure on highways; Accord owners report intermittent driver-assist failures and electrical glitches that can disable safety features.
- Test drive the JUKE extensively, especially at highway speeds, and check for any hesitation, slipping, or delayed acceleration that could indicate transmission problems.
- Ask for service records related to fuel system recalls and inspect for fuel odors or warning lights, as clogged vent tubes and fuel leaks are reported.
- Verify that all recalls, especially for brake control units and fuel pumps, have been performed, and check for any warning lights related to ABS, traction control, or forward collision avoidance.
- Inspect tires carefully for uneven wear or damage, and test all driver-assist features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) during a test drive to ensure they function without error messages.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are addressed by a dealer.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the transmission (JUKE) or electrical and brake systems (Accord).
- During a test drive, deliberately test acceleration from a stop and at highway speeds, and engage all safety and driver-assist features.
- Check for any signs of fluid leaks, unusual noises, or warning lights on the dashboard.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes (JUKE) or software updates (Accord).
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 | Nissan JUKE | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 14 | 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 Nissan JUKE or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan JUKE vs Honda Accord
- Nissan JUKE total complaints
- 478
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Nissan JUKE total recalls
- 14
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan JUKE avg complaints/year
- 59.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Nissan JUKE
- Nissan JUKE top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE