Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Pathfinder vs Honda Accord
How the Nissan Pathfinder 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 Pathfinder vs Honda Accord: The Pathfinder averages 77 complaints per year with 16 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord also has 162 crash-related reports versus 27 for the Pathfinder. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Pathfinder or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder is a three-row SUV that averages about 77 complaints per year over the past decade, with 16 recalls and 27 crash-related reports. Owners frequently describe engine running lean, brake system warnings, and electrical gremlins like stalling or doors locking unexpectedly. The pattern suggests a vehicle that can be serviceable but demands attention to engine sensors, brakes, and electronics.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year—and 38 recalls, including 162 crash-related reports and 3 deaths. Complaints cluster around engine stalling, electrical failures, and forward collision avoidance systems that may activate unexpectedly. This indicates a popular car with a wide range of reported issues that buyers should investigate carefully.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Pathfinder | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 774 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 77.4 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 22 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 Pathfinder
- 01ENGINE186
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER176
- 03SERVICE BRAKES142
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM128
- 05POWER TRAIN110
Owners report a 'running too lean' condition and oxygen sensor monitors that won't set, causing failed emissions tests. These can lead to rough running or stalling if not addressed, so a pre-purchase scan for pending codes is wise.
Complaints include repeated ABS, traction control, and forward collision warning lights, with some owners needing the ABS/AEB unit replaced more than once. This matters because brake assist features may not work when warnings are active.
Reports describe stalling in traffic, doors locking with the key fob inside, and sudden shutdowns. These electrical faults can leave you stranded or locked out, so testing all electronics and checking for recalls is important.
Owners mention jerking, shuddering, and shaking while accelerating, plus a panoramic sunroof that shattered without warning. These symptoms suggest transmission or structural issues that may be costly to diagnose and repair.
“On April 7, 2025, the dealership attempted to sell me a vehicle that was experiencing an engine condition running too lean. I declined that vehicle due to safety concerns. On April 8, 2025, the salesperson contacted me again and stated that a different vehicl…”
“I own a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder with approximately 55,000 miles. The vehicle repeatedly failed Indiana emissions testing because the oxygen sensor monitor would not set to “ready,” despite multiple complete drive cycles and no check‑engine light or stored faul…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Complaints include loss of speed with multiple dashboard alarms, rattling noises like a diesel, and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These can indicate hybrid system or engine management problems that may require dealer-level diagnostics.
Owners report simultaneous failure of power steering and braking at highway speeds, and tire failure after TPMS service. Such electrical and safety-system faults are serious because they can happen without warning and affect control.
Complaints describe the system activating unexpectedly under clear conditions, sometimes with adaptive cruise control engaged. This can cause sudden braking or loss of speed, increasing rear-end collision risk.
Reports include persistent sulfur/rotten-egg odors and fuel pump-related recalls. These issues can affect drivability and emissions, and may signal fuel delivery problems that are expensive 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 Pathfinder — 16 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Murano, Pathfinder, and INFINITI QX60 vehicles. One or both front brake caliper assemblies may have reduced strength and could break. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…
The risk: A broken front brake caliper can cause a loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake caliper assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or INFINITI's customer servi…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The lap belt pretensioner in the left-side front seat belt assembly may be improperly secured, due to a missing rivet. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor V…
The risk: An unsecured lap belt pretensioner will not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left-side front lap seat belt pretensioner assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. O…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Pathfinder vehicles. Insufficient welds may allow the secondary hood latch retainer bracket to detach from the front bumper assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…
The risk: A detached secondary hood latch may allow the hood to open if the primary hood latch is not engaged, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the secondary hood latch bracket as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 17, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for thi…
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-…
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 Pathfinder or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Nissan Pathfinder has far fewer complaints per year (about 77) than the Honda Accord (about 452), and fewer crash-related reports (27 vs 162). In practice, that means the Pathfinder may be less likely to generate frequent repair visits, but both have notable safety-related complaints. The Accord's higher volume suggests a broader range of issues that buyers should screen for.
Key differences
- The Pathfinder averages about 77 complaints per year; the Accord averages about 452, so the Accord has a much higher reported issue rate.
- Pathfinder complaints often center on engine lean conditions and brake warning lights; Accord complaints frequently involve electrical failures and forward collision avoidance false activations.
- The Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries in crash-related reports, while the Pathfinder has 0 deaths and 22 injuries, though these figures depend on many factors.
- Both have recalls, but the Accord has 38 versus 16 for the Pathfinder, including fuel pump and hybrid software recalls.
- Check for stored or pending engine codes related to lean conditions or oxygen sensor readiness, as owners report emissions test failures.
- Test the ABS, traction control, and forward collision warning systems; look for any warning lights that stay on or come back after reset.
- Inspect for any signs of electrical faults: test power steering, braking, and all dashboard warnings, especially after startup or at highway speeds.
- Verify that the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems do not activate unexpectedly; a test drive on open roads can help reveal false alerts.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all safety recalls have been performed.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on engine, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Scan for diagnostic trouble codes, even if no warning lights are on, to catch pending issues.
- Test drive on highways and in stop-and-go traffic to check for stalling, shuddering, or unexpected braking.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and hybrid mode transitions; for the Pathfinder, test the sunroof and door locks.
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 Pathfinder | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 10 |
| 2025 | 51 | 109 |
| 2024 | 82 | 219 |
| 2023 | 104 | 226 |
| 2022 | 135 | 252 |
| 2021 | 0 | 234 |
| 2020 | 53 | 362 |
| 2019 | 76 | 691 |
| 2018 | 77 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 186 | 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 Pathfinder or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Pathfinder vs Honda Accord
- Nissan Pathfinder total complaints
- 774
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Nissan Pathfinder total recalls
- 16
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Pathfinder avg complaints/year
- 77.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Nissan Pathfinder top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE