Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Maxima vs Honda Accord
How the Nissan Maxima 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 Maxima vs Honda Accord: The Maxima averages 49 complaints per year over 10 years, while the Accord averages 444. Maxima owners report stalling and airbag over-deployment; Accord owners face engine power loss and false collision warnings. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Maxima or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Maxima
The Nissan Maxima, a full-size sedan, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 49 per year over the past decade. Owners frequently report issues with the powertrain, including abnormal engine noises and stalling, as well as problems with air bags, electrical systems, and brakes. These reports suggest that while the car may offer a comfortable ride, owners have encountered significant mechanical and safety-related concerns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 440 per year, but this is partly due to its larger sales base. The complaints are dominated by engine issues, electrical problems, and forward collision avoidance system glitches. Owners report sudden power loss, warning light cascades, and false activations of safety features, which can be alarming and disruptive.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Maxima | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 486 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 34 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 48.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 30 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 Maxima
- 01POWER TRAIN95
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER88
- 03AIR BAGS75
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63
- 05SERVICE BRAKES52
Owners report abnormal engine noises, jerking, and stalling at speed, sometimes without warning lights. This can lead to unexpected breakdowns and potential safety hazards.
Some owners report the collision sensor system malfunctioning, causing unintended braking, and in one case, an air bag deployed with excessive force, breaking the windshield and injuring occupants.
Intermittent headlight failures and error messages are common, which can reduce visibility at night and cause driver distraction.
Issues like a drooping panoramic sunroof lining and rear noises have been reported, indicating potential build quality and trim problems.
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle jerked before stalling in the middle of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. The Police were calle…”
“I purchased my 2019 Nissan Maxima [XXX] from Hyundai of Pineville I'm Charlotte NC. Over the past months including after purchase which I made Hyundai aware. The vehicle has an ongoing noise coming from I side the front hood of the vehicle. It sounds as of a…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and sudden loss of power at highway speeds, accompanied by multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS). This can be frightening and may indicate serious engine or drivetrain issues.
Problems include TPMS warnings leading to tire failure and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause various malfunctions and safety concerns.
The system can activate unexpectedly or show intermittent error messages for adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, which may undermine driver trust and lead to sudden braking incidents.
Brake-related complaints are frequent, with some owners experiencing critical failures that contribute to loss of speed control.
“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 Maxima — 16 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
The risk: Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-60…
The risk: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer s…
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 Maxima or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Nissan Maxima has fewer complaints per year (about 49) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444), but the Maxima's issues are still significant. In practice, the Accord's higher complaint count may reflect its larger market presence, but the nature of its problems—especially with engine and safety systems—could be more concerning for buyers.
Key differences
- The Maxima has fewer complaints per year (49 vs 444), but its powertrain issues include stalling, which is a serious safety risk.
- The Accord has a much higher rate of forward collision avoidance complaints, with false activations and system errors, which can be annoying and potentially dangerous.
- Electrical problems are common in both, but the Accord's include tire failure after TPMS warning and rodent damage, while the Maxima's include headlight flickering.
- Air bag issues are more prominent in the Maxima, with reports of over-deployment causing injuries, whereas the Accord has fewer air bag complaints.
- Listen for abnormal engine noises and test for stalling, especially at low speeds.
- Check the airbag system for any warning lights and have the collision sensors inspected.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system for false activations and ensure all warning lights clear.
- Inspect the wiring harness for signs of rodent damage and check tire pressure monitoring system functionality.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the engine, transmission, and brakes.
- Test drive at various speeds to detect any unusual noises, vibrations, or warning lights.
- Check the operation of all safety features, including airbags, collision avoidance, and headlights.
- Review service records for any recurring issues or major repairs.
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 Maxima | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 224 |
| 2022 | 5 | 238 |
| 2021 | 3 | 226 |
| 2020 | 21 | 355 |
| 2019 | 18 | 677 |
| 2018 | 36 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 103 | 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 Maxima or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Maxima vs Honda Accord
- Nissan Maxima total complaints
- 486
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Nissan Maxima total recalls
- 16
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Maxima avg complaints/year
- 48.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Maxima
- Nissan Maxima top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE