Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Kicks vs Honda Accord
How the Nissan Kicks 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 Kicks vs Honda Accord: The Kicks averages 67.9 complaints per year, while the Accord averages 443.8. Kicks owners report forward collision and electrical issues, while Accord owners face engine and electrical problems. Both have glass breakage reports. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Kicks or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Kicks
The Nissan Kicks is a subcompact crossover that, in ownership terms, has a moderate complaint rate of about 68 per year. Owners report issues with forward collision avoidance systems, electrical gremlins, and engine stalling, which can affect daily drivability and safety. The sample complaints highlight sudden power loss, infotainment failures, and unexpected glass breakage, suggesting a need for careful inspection of these systems.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume, averaging about 444 per year, but this is partly due to its popularity and longer production run. Owners frequently report engine problems, electrical issues, and false activations of forward collision avoidance. The sample complaints include engine noise, sudden loss of power, and glass explosions, indicating potential reliability concerns that could impact safety and ownership satisfaction.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Kicks | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 475 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 67.9 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.
Nissan Kicks
- 01FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE131
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM111
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER103
- 04ENGINE93
- 05POWER TRAIN60
Owners report the automatic emergency braking warning light flashing randomly and the system activating without reason, which can be startling and potentially dangerous if it causes unexpected braking.
The infotainment screen can black out, disabling the backup camera and rear cross-traffic alerts, and the rear hatch glass has shattered spontaneously, posing a safety hazard.
The engine can lose power while driving, and in some cases the car stalls and cannot shift into drive, leaving owners stranded.
“I bought the car used and had no issues within the first three months. I have only had the car for four months now. The automatic emergency braking warning light started to randomly flash while driving and would come on and off. I took the car into the dealer…”
“The rear windshield shattered ~ while driving for no reason. I did have the rear defrost on, but it was 60 degrees out, so that should not have happened. I've used it in the winter when it was below zero and nothing happened then. Now I'm afraid to use it at…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report engine noises, sudden loss of power with warning lights, and in some cases the vehicle cannot maintain speed, which can be dangerous on highways.
Electrical issues include TPMS warnings followed by tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can lead to engine or sensor malfunctions.
The system can trigger false alerts or warnings for adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, which are intermittent and may distract the driver.
“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 Kicks — 6 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
The risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code, and replace the column, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
The risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's cus…
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 Kicks or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Nissan Kicks has fewer complaints per year (about 68) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444), but the Kicks' issues are more concentrated in safety-critical systems like forward collision avoidance and electrical failures. The Accord's higher volume may reflect its larger sales, but the nature of its engine and electrical problems suggests a need for thorough inspection.
Key differences
- The Kicks has a much lower complaint rate per year (67.9) than the Accord (443.8), but the Kicks' complaints are heavily weighted toward forward collision avoidance (131) and electrical (111), which are safety-related.
- The Accord's top issue is engine (985), with owners reporting power loss and stalling, while the Kicks' engine complaints (93) are less frequent but still include stalling.
- Both vehicles have glass breakage issues: the Kicks' rear hatch glass and the Accord's sunroof glass, which can be a safety hazard.
- The Accord has more recalls (38) than the Kicks (6), but the Kicks' recalls include air bag inflators and steering, which are critical.
- Check the forward collision avoidance system for any warning lights or false activations during a test drive.
- Inspect the rear hatch glass for any signs of stress or previous replacement, and test the infotainment screen to ensure it doesn't black out.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and test acceleration to ensure no power loss occurs.
- Check the electrical system, including TPMS and wiring, for any signs of damage or previous repairs.
Before you buy
- Test drive both vehicles and pay attention to any warning lights or unusual behavior from the forward collision avoidance systems.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine and transmission for any signs of stalling or power loss.
- Check the infotainment screen and backup camera on the Kicks, and the TPMS and wiring on the Accord.
- Review the recall history for both models and ensure all recalls have been addressed.
- Ask for service records to see if any of the common issues have already been repaired.
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 Kicks | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36 | 214 |
| 2023 | 31 | 224 |
| 2022 | 22 | 238 |
| 2021 | 75 | 226 |
| 2020 | 93 | 355 |
| 2019 | 134 | 677 |
| 2018 | 84 | 1864 |
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 Kicks or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Kicks vs Honda Accord
- Nissan Kicks total complaints
- 475
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Nissan Kicks total recalls
- 6
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Kicks avg complaints/year
- 67.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Kicks
- Nissan Kicks top complaint area
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE