Vehicle 1

Nissan Maxima

185 complaints · 4 recalls

VS

Vehicle 2

Honda Accord

1,441 complaints · 6 recalls

📊 Based on NHTSA owner complaint & recall data
Which Should I Buy?

Nissan Maxima vs Honda Accord: The Maxima has 185 complaints (18.5/year) and 4 recalls, while the Accord has 1441 complaints (144.1/year) and 6 recalls. The Accord's top issues are electrical system (333) and forward collision avoidance (244). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

Category Wins

Lower numbers are better for complaints, recalls, and crashes.

4
Nissan Maxima
wins all 4 categories
0
Honda Accord
no category wins
CategoryNissan MaximaHonda Accord
Total Complaints
All years combined
185
✓ lower
1,441
Safety Recalls
Federal campaigns
4
✓ lower
6
Crash Reports
Crash-related complaints
13
✓ lower
79
Avg / Year
Complaints per model year
18.5
✓ lower
144.1

Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records. Lower is better.

Top Problem Areas

Most frequently reported components across all model years.

Nissan Maxima

1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER43
2. STRUCTURE27
3. SERVICE BRAKES24
4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
5. AIR BAGS21

Honda Accord

1. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM333
2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER273
3. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE244
4. ENGINE210
5. SERVICE BRAKES203
🤖
AI Buyer Analysis
DeepSeek interpretation of NHTSA data · cached result
The Verdict

The Honda Accord has significantly more complaints per year (144.1) than the Nissan Maxima (18.5), suggesting the Maxima may have fewer reported issues. However, the Accord's higher complaint volume could reflect higher sales, so buyers should weigh the specific issues.

💡 Buyer Recommendation

If you prioritize fewer overall complaints and lower recall count, the Nissan Maxima appears less problematic. If you prefer a model with more data but higher complaint numbers, the Honda Accord may still be reliable if you check for electrical and collision avoidance system issues.

Key Differences
  • Nissan Maxima: 185 total complaints (18.5/year) vs Honda Accord: 1441 total complaints (144.1/year).
  • Nissan Maxima: 4 recalls vs Honda Accord: 6 recalls.
  • Nissan Maxima top issue: UNKNOWN OR OTHER (43) vs Honda Accord top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (333).
  • Honda Accord has 244 FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE complaints; Nissan Maxima has none listed.
⚠ Watch on Nissan Maxima
  • Watch for structure-related complaints (27) and air bag issues (21) on the Nissan Maxima.
  • Service brake complaints (24) are also notable.
⚠ Watch on Honda Accord
  • The Honda Accord has a high number of electrical system complaints (333) and forward collision avoidance issues (244).
  • Engine complaints (210) and service brake complaints (203) are also frequent.
✓ Before You Buy — Checklist
  • Check the vehicle's recall status and ensure all recalls have been performed.
  • Test the service brakes and listen for unusual noises or vibrations.
  • Inspect the electrical system, including lights, windows, and infotainment.
  • For the Accord, test the forward collision avoidance system on a safe road.
  • Review the vehicle's service history for any prior complaints or repairs.

Complaints by Model Year

Years available for both vehicles (lower is better).

Nissan MaximaHonda Accord
2026
0
1
2025
0
68
2024
0
0
2023
1
213
2022
5
0
2021
3
200
2020
21
330
2019
18
0
2018
36
111
2017
101
518
Nissan Maxima vs Honda Accord — comparison facts
Comparison
Nissan Maxima vs Honda Accord
Nissan Maxima total complaints
185
Honda Accord total complaints
1,441
Nissan Maxima total recalls
4
Honda Accord total recalls
6
Nissan Maxima avg complaints/year
18.5
Honda Accord avg complaints/year
144.1
More reliable overall
Nissan Maxima
Nissan Maxima top complaint area
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Honda Accord top complaint area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Full Reliability Reports

Full Report →

Nissan Maxima Reliability & Problems

185 complaints · All years · NHTSA data

Full Report →

Honda Accord Reliability & Problems

1,441 complaints · All years · NHTSA data

Buying a specific Nissan Maxima or Honda Accord?

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