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: Over 10 years, the Maxima had 488 complaints (about 49 per year) and 16 recalls, while the Accord had 4,524 complaints (about 452 per year) and 38 recalls. The Maxima also reported 32 injuries and 0 deaths; the Accord reported 146 injuries and 3 deaths. 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 is a large sedan that, over the past decade, has generated about 49 owner complaints per year. The most common trouble spots are the power train, air bags, and electrical system, with owners describing stalling, shifter problems, and air bags that fail to deploy. There are also reports of sunroofs shattering and instrument panels dimming. With 16 recalls and 32 injuries reported, it's a car that demands a careful pre-purchase inspection.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan that has racked up roughly 452 complaints per year over the last decade—about nine times the Maxima's rate. The biggest categories are engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with owners reporting loss of power, braking failures, and false automatic braking. There are also complaints about fuel odors and tire failures. With 38 recalls and 3 deaths reported, it's a vehicle with a high volume of reported issues.
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 | 488 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 35 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 48.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 32 Better | 146 |
| 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 TRAIN97
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER88
- 03AIR BAGS75
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63
- 05SERVICE BRAKES53
Owners report abnormal engine noises, jerking, and stalling while driving, sometimes with no warning lights. One complaint describes a gear shifter that failed to shift into park and a vehicle that suddenly accelerated. These issues can leave you stranded or cause a crash.
Several owners say their air bags did not deploy in a crash, including one where the driver's face hit the steering wheel. Another complaint mentions a collision sensor that caused the car to brake on its own while reversing. Non-deploying air bags increase injury risk in a collision.
Complaints include an instrument panel that dims intermittently and electrical glitches that accompany stalling. These problems can make it hard to see critical gauges and may point to deeper wiring issues.
There are 53 brake-related complaints, and recalls cover antilock/traction control issues. Owners may experience reduced braking performance or unexpected brake activation, which affects stopping confidence.
“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…”
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while her husband was attempting to park and turn off the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to shift into park, the STOP button failed to respond, and the vehicle suddenly accelerated, crashed into…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises while accelerating, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden loss of power with multiple dashboard alarms. One complaint describes the vehicle losing speed and unable to maintain highway speeds. These issues can be dangerous in traffic.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as tire pressure monitor warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can cause loss of control and near-collisions.
Owners say the system can brake unexpectedly on open roads or with adaptive cruise control engaged, sometimes twice on the same route. This false activation can startle the driver and lead to rear-end collisions.
There are 602 fuel/propulsion complaints, including a persistent rotten-egg odor that required a filter replacement but persisted. Fuel system issues can indicate leaks or emissions problems that are costly to fix.
“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…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
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 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 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 (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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 far fewer complaints per year (about 49) than the Honda Accord (about 452), but both have serious reported safety issues. The Maxima's problems cluster around power train, air bags, and electrical, while the Accord's are spread across engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems. In practice, the Maxima may have fewer overall complaints, but the Accord's higher volume means more reported incidents and recalls.
Key differences
- The Nissan Maxima averages about 49 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord averages about 452—roughly nine times more.
- Maxima owners frequently report stalling, shifter failure, and air bags not deploying; Accord owners report engine power loss, electronic steering/braking failure, and false automatic braking.
- The Maxima has 16 recalls and 32 injuries; the Accord has 38 recalls and 146 injuries, plus 3 deaths.
- Accord complaints include fuel odors and tire failures, while Maxima complaints include sunroof shattering and instrument panel dimming.
- During a test drive, listen for abnormal engine noises, feel for jerking or stalling, and check that the gear shifter engages park properly.
- Ask for proof that air bag recalls were performed and check for any warning lights related to the air bag or collision sensor system.
- Test the electronic power steering and brakes at low and highway speeds; any warning lights or unusual noises should be investigated.
- Check for a rotten-egg or sulfur smell from the fuel system and verify that any fuel pump or emissions recalls have been completed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are repaired before purchase.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the power train, electrical system, and air bags for the Maxima, or engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems for the Accord.
- During the test drive, specifically test the brakes, steering, and any advanced safety features like automatic braking or adaptive cruise control.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission, fuel system, and software updates.
- Check the NHTSA website for any additional complaints or recalls specific to the model year you are considering.
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 | 226 |
| 2022 | 5 | 252 |
| 2021 | 3 | 234 |
| 2020 | 22 | 362 |
| 2019 | 18 | 691 |
| 2018 | 36 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 103 | 537 |
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
- 488
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Nissan Maxima total recalls
- 16
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Maxima avg complaints/year
- 48.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Maxima
- Nissan Maxima top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE