Head-to-head reliability
Nissan LEAF vs Honda Accord
How the Nissan LEAF 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 LEAF vs Honda Accord: The LEAF averages 78 complaints per year with 30 recalls, while the Accord averages 444 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The LEAF's main issues are battery-related, including fire risk and charging limits; the Accord's are engine and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan LEAF or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan LEAF
The Nissan LEAF is an electric hatchback with a relatively low complaint rate of about 78 per year over the past decade. Most owner complaints center on the high-voltage battery, including fires, rapid heating during fast charging, and software limits that restrict DC fast charging. Recalls address battery defects, speed control, and seat belt issues. For a used EV buyer, the LEAF's main concern is battery health and charging limitations.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint rate of about 444 per year. Owners report a wide range of issues, especially with the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance features. Some complaints involve serious safety risks like sudden power loss, brake failures, and unintended acceleration. Recalls cover hybrid software, tires, brakes, air bags, and fuel pumps. For a used car buyer, the Accord's higher complaint volume suggests more frequent visits to the shop.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan LEAF | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 782 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 37 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 78.2 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 16 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 LEAF
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM478
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER166
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM132
- 04POWER TRAIN57
- 05SERVICE BRAKES53
Owners report high-voltage battery failures that can lead to fires, as well as unintended acceleration where the car continues to accelerate after the pedal is released. These issues are serious and can affect safety and reliability.
Complaints describe battery degradation and recall 25V655, which restricts DC fast charging due to fire risk. This limits the car's usability for long trips and may require battery replacement.
Owners mention traction control problems and momentary loss of traction during acceleration, which could lead to loss of control in traffic. This is a safety concern that needs attention.
Some complaints involve brake issues, though fewer than electrical problems. Brake performance is critical, so any signs of trouble should be checked immediately.
“*High Voltage Battery defect/failure - this is what was believed to be the issue when it was towed to the dealership. What is left of it is available for inspection at the dealership for now, however the insurance may take it to a salvage yard since the fire…”
“On Saturday, June 20, I was driving my son to soccer. We stopped at a stoplight. When the light turned green, I pressed the accelerator and we went forward. However, when I took my foot off the accelerator, the car continued to accelerate. Luckily it slowed d…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, sudden power loss, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) that can cause the vehicle to lose speed. These issues can leave you stranded and are costly to repair.
Complaints include TPMS warnings leading to tire failure, rodent damage to wiring, and other electrical glitches. These can cause unexpected breakdowns and expensive fixes.
Many owners report intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, with dashboard warnings. This undermines driver-assist safety features.
Brake-related complaints include ABS and traction control issues, which can affect stopping ability. Brake problems are a major safety concern.
“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 LEAF — 30 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect, and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal…
The risk: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nis…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.
The risk: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The outer rear seat belt automatic locking retractors (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent a child restraint system (CRS) from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fed…
The risk: An improperly secured child restraint system may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear outboard seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in Dece…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
The risk: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to use Level 3 quick charging until the remedy is completed. Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 16, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's Customer Service at 1-800-86…
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 LEAF or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Nissan LEAF has far fewer complaints per year (about 78) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444). In practice, this means you are likely to encounter fewer reported problems with the LEAF, but its battery issues can be severe and expensive. The Accord's higher complaint rate suggests more frequent repairs across a wider range of systems.
Key differences
- The LEAF's complaints are heavily concentrated in the electrical system (478 complaints), often tied to high-voltage battery fires and charging restrictions, while the Accord's top issue is the engine (985 complaints) with reports of power loss and warning lights.
- The Accord has 160 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, versus the LEAF's 37 crash-related complaints and 0 deaths, indicating a higher reported rate of severe incidents for the Accord.
- The LEAF has 30 recalls, including battery-related recalls that limit fast charging; the Accord has 38 recalls covering hybrid software, tires, brakes, air bags, and fuel pumps.
- Owner complaints for the LEAF often mention unintended acceleration and battery degradation, while Accord owners report forward collision avoidance failures and electrical glitches like TPMS issues.
- Check the high-voltage battery health and whether recall 25V655 has been addressed, as it can restrict DC fast charging and pose a fire risk.
- Test for unintended acceleration by driving at low speeds and ensuring the car decelerates properly when you lift off the accelerator.
- Listen for engine noises and watch for warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent, which could indicate sudden power loss issues.
- Test the forward collision avoidance systems (adaptive cruise control, lane keeping) for intermittent failures or dashboard warnings.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially battery recalls for the LEAF and hybrid/brake recalls for the Accord.
- For the LEAF, have a certified mechanic check the battery's state of health and capacity, and verify that fast charging works without restrictions.
- For the Accord, scan for stored error codes and test all driver-assist features during a test drive, including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to check for acceleration, braking, and transmission issues.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and check if the car has been regularly serviced, as both models have known recurring 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 | Nissan LEAF | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 5 |
| 2025 | 14 | 101 |
| 2024 | 10 | 214 |
| 2023 | 19 | 224 |
| 2022 | 184 | 238 |
| 2021 | 54 | 226 |
| 2020 | 164 | 355 |
| 2019 | 253 | 677 |
| 2018 | 66 | 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 LEAF or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan LEAF vs Honda Accord
- Nissan LEAF total complaints
- 782
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Nissan LEAF total recalls
- 30
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan LEAF avg complaints/year
- 78.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Nissan LEAF
- Nissan LEAF top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE