Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Rogue Sport vs Honda Accord
How the Nissan Rogue Sport 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 Rogue Sport vs Honda Accord: The Rogue Sport has 370 complaints over 6 years (61.7/yr) and 10 recalls, while the Accord has 4438 over 10 years (443.8/yr) and 38 recalls. Owners report steering/brake lockup on the Rogue Sport and phantom braking on the Accord. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Rogue Sport or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Rogue Sport
The Nissan Rogue Sport, a compact crossover, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 62 per year over six years. Owners report a mix of engine and electrical issues, including intermittent air conditioning and more serious incidents of steering and brake lockup. There are also numerous complaints about forward collision avoidance systems and service brakes, suggesting potential safety concerns. While no deaths are reported, the pattern of sudden loss of control and system malfunctions is worrying for a used-car buyer.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging about 444 per year over ten years, but this is partly due to its longer sales history and larger owner base. Complaints are dominated by engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance issues, with reports of sudden power loss, warning lights, and phantom braking. The Accord also has more crash-related complaints and injuries, but the higher numbers should be weighed against its popularity and model years covered.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Rogue Sport | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 370 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 28 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 61.7 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 28 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 Rogue Sport
- 01ENGINE86
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM75
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER73
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE67
- 05SERVICE BRAKES56
Owners report intermittent air conditioning and, more critically, instances where the steering wheel and brake pedal locked, causing loss of control and crashes. This suggests potential issues with the engine or related systems that can affect drivability and safety.
Electrical complaints include air conditioning cutting out and bizarre reports of hacking or unauthorized access to vehicle systems, leading to loss of control. While some claims may be unverified, they point to possible vulnerabilities in the vehicle's electronics.
Several owners describe the vehicle suddenly veering or braking on its own, even with cruise control off, which can be alarming and dangerous. This suggests the system may malfunction and interfere with normal driving.
Brake-related complaints often accompany the engine and electrical issues, with reports of the brake pedal locking or becoming unresponsive. This is a critical safety concern that could lead to accidents.
“The vehicle’s air conditioning began turning on and off intermittently while driving. I initially had the issue inspected by an independent mechanic, who checked the refrigerant and confirmed that the freon level was normal. After further inspection, the mech…”
“The steering wheel and brake peddle locked (unable to steer or pump brakes) causing me to lose control of the car. I ended up sideswiping a tree and rear-ending a parked pickup truck, totaling my car. This malfunction was an ongoing issue that I initially rep…”
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 warning lights for brakes and other systems. This can be a serious safety issue if the vehicle unexpectedly slows down in traffic.
Electrical issues include tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) failures leading to tire blowouts and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause various malfunctions. These problems may be costly to repair and affect reliability.
Many complaints involve the system falsely triggering or malfunctioning, causing the car to brake unexpectedly or display warning messages. This can be unnerving and potentially lead to rear-end collisions if the system behaves erratically.
Brake complaints often relate to the antilock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control, with reports of the system activating without cause or failing to engage properly. This can compromise stopping ability in emergencies.
“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 Rogue Sport — 10 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Rogue and 2017-2022 Rogue Sport vehicles equipped with a jackknife style ignition key. The jackknife key may collapse into a folded position while driving.
The risk: Driver contact with a key in the collapsed position could inadvertently shut off the vehicle while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the vehicle shuts off while driving, the air bags may not deploy in a crash as int…
The fix: Dealers will insert a spacer into the key slot of the jackknife key, free of charge. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed March 29, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 3…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue Sport vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, reducing the protection offered to an installed child seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A seat belt retractor that does not function as intended can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt and as necessary both outer rear seat belts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 14, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nis…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue Sport vehicles. The liftgate hinges can separate from the vehicle during a rear end crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 206, "Door Locks and Door Reten…
The risk: Separated hinges compromise the protection offered by the liftgate, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left and right liftgate hinges, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 7, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R21A7.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Rogue and 2017-2022 Rogue Sport vehicles equipped with a jackknife style ignition key. The jackknife key may collapse into a folded position while driving.
The risk: Driver contact with a key in the collapsed position could inadvertently shut off the vehicle while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the vehicle shuts off while driving, the air bags may not deploy in a crash as int…
The fix: Dealers will insert a spacer into the key slot of the jackknife key, free of charge. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed March 29, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 3…
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 Rogue Sport or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Nissan Rogue Sport has significantly fewer complaints per year (about 62) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444), but the Accord's numbers are inflated by a longer production run and higher sales volume. In practice, the Rogue Sport's issues, such as steering and brake lockup, may be more alarming, while the Accord's higher volume reflects a broader range of problems but also a larger owner base. Neither vehicle is without risk, but the Rogue Sport's lower complaint rate suggests it may have fewer reported issues per vehicle sold.
Key differences
- The Rogue Sport has a higher proportion of complaints related to sudden loss of control (steering/brake lockup) and potential cybersecurity concerns, while the Accord's complaints are more about system glitches and false activations.
- The Accord has a much higher total number of complaints and recalls, but also a longer sales history and more vehicles on the road, so the per-year rate is not directly comparable.
- The Rogue Sport's forward collision avoidance issues often involve unintended veering, whereas the Accord's involve phantom braking and warning lights.
- The Accord has more reported injuries and crashes, but this could be due to higher sales volume and longer exposure.
- Inspect the steering and braking systems for any signs of intermittent lockup or unusual behavior, as owners have reported sudden loss of control.
- Check the electrical system for any aftermarket modifications or signs of tampering, given the unusual hacking complaints.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe area to ensure it does not activate without reason, as many owners report phantom braking.
- Check the wiring harnesses for rodent damage, especially if the vehicle is parked outdoors, as this has been a reported issue.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Test drive at highway speeds to see if any warning lights or unexpected behaviors occur.
- Ask the seller for service records, especially for any repairs related to the complaints mentioned.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty if available, given the potential for costly 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 Rogue Sport | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12 | 238 |
| 2021 | 35 | 226 |
| 2020 | 58 | 355 |
| 2019 | 99 | 677 |
| 2018 | 93 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 73 | 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 Rogue Sport or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Rogue Sport vs Honda Accord
- Nissan Rogue Sport total complaints
- 370
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Nissan Rogue Sport total recalls
- 10
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Nissan Rogue Sport avg complaints/year
- 61.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Rogue Sport
- Nissan Rogue Sport top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE