Head-to-head reliability
Rivian R1S vs Honda Accord
How the Rivian R1S 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
Rivian R1S vs Honda Accord: The R1S averages 32.8 complaints per year with 44 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The R1S has fewer annual complaints but more severe reports like unintended acceleration. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Rivian R1S or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Rivian R1S
The Rivian R1S is an electric SUV with a relatively short five-year complaint history, averaging about 33 complaints per year. Owners frequently report serious issues like unintended acceleration, stuck accelerator pedals, and infotainment screens going black, which can disable speedometer and safety alerts. There are also complaints about repeated failed repairs at service centers. With 44 recalls and 24 crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection and a thorough test drive.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with a long ten-year complaint history, averaging about 452 complaints per year. Common owner reports include engine rattles, loss of power, electronic power steering and braking failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions. There are also complaints about persistent odors and tire failures after service. With 38 recalls and 162 crash-related complaints, it's a high-volume vehicle with a wide range of reported problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Rivian R1S | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 164 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 44 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 24 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 32.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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.
Rivian R1S
- 01AIR BAGS36
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER35
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE23
- 05SEATS17
Owners report unintended acceleration and brake pedal issues, such as a 2024 model accelerating while parking despite violent brake depression. Another complaint describes a black infotainment screen disabling airbag and seatbelt alerts. These failures could delay airbag deployment or prevent warning lights from functioning.
Complaints include sudden uncontrolled acceleration and deceleration while driving, with no warning. One owner reported the accelerator becoming stuck and regenerative braking unavailable. Such electrical glitches can lead to loss of control and increase crash risk.
Owners report rear-end collisions despite emergency braking being enabled. In one case, the vehicle initiated emergency braking but still collided. This suggests the system may not always prevent impacts in real-world traffic.
Multiple complaints describe repeated ineffective repair attempts at Rivian service centers, indicating persistent unresolved issues. This can mean ongoing inconvenience and safety concerns for buyers.
“The contact owns a 2024 Rivian R1S. The contact stated that while his wife was attempting to park in a parking space, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The brake pedal was violently depressed however the vehicle continued to accelerate. No warning lights…”
“While driving my Rivian R1S, 2025 at highway speeds, the infotainment screen went completely black, disabling the speedometer, blind spot monitoring, lane warnings, airbag/seatbelt alerts, and navigation. I had no access to critical safety information while t…”
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 jerking when the charge button is pressed. Some also experience loss of speed and multiple system alarms. These issues can affect drivability and may indicate costly repairs.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing near-collisions. Another owner had a tire fail catastrophically shortly after a TPMS repair. Such failures can be sudden and dangerous.
Owners report the system failing to prevent collisions, with incidents occurring under similar conditions. One complaint describes adaptive cruise control suddenly disengaging. This raises concerns about reliability of driver-assist features.
Complaints include persistent rotten-egg sulfur odors that remain after paid repairs. This can indicate fuel or emissions system issues and may be a nuisance or health concern.
“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.
Rivian R1S — 44 recalls
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2024 R1T and R1S vehicles. The dashboard air bag warning label may be missing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk: Without the dashboard label, operators may be unaware of the increased risks that an air bag poses to an infant or child in the front seat, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.
The fix: Rivian mailed owners the warning label information, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1429.
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC. (Rivian) is recalling certain 2023-2024 EDV, R1S, and R1T vehicles. The headlights may be improperly aimed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamp, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
The risk: Improperly aimed headlights can result in insufficient illumination of the road, decreasing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Rivian will inspect and adjust the headlight alignment as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 28, 2024. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4264. Rivian's number for this recall is FSA…
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2025-2026 R1S and R1T vehicles. One or both front turn signals may fail to illuminate and flash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices,…
The risk: Turn signals that do not function properly increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Rivian will inspect and replace the front turn signals as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall i…
The defect: Rivian Automotive, LLC (Rivian) is recalling certain 2022-2025 R1S and R1T vehicles that previously had service performed. The toe link may have been reassembled incorrectly during service procedures performed before March 10, 2025.
The risk: The toe link joint may separate, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Rivian will replace the rear toe link bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2026. Owners may contact Rivian customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian's number for this recall is FSAM-1794. Vehicle Iden…
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
Rivian R1S or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Rivian R1S has far fewer complaints per year (about 33) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Rivian's complaints often involve severe safety issues like unintended acceleration. The Honda's higher volume means more reported problems overall, but many are less immediately dangerous. In practice, the Rivian may have fewer issues but each could be more critical.
Key differences
- Rivian R1S averages about 33 complaints per year; Honda Accord averages about 452 per year, but the Accord's higher volume means more total reports.
- Rivian owners report unintended acceleration and stuck accelerator pedals; Honda owners report engine rattles and loss of power.
- Rivian has 44 recalls over 5 years; Honda has 38 recalls over 10 years, but Honda's recalls cover different systems like fuel pumps and air bag sensors.
- Rivian complaints include infotainment blackouts disabling safety alerts; Honda complaints include electronic power steering and braking failures.
- Test the accelerator and brake pedals for any sticking or unintended acceleration, especially at low speeds and during parking maneuvers.
- Check the infotainment screen for blackouts or flickering, as this can disable speedometer, blind spot monitoring, and airbag alerts.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes, which owners report.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds for any lock-up or failure, and check for persistent sulfur odors.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been repaired.
- Take an extended test drive covering highway speeds, parking maneuvers, and emergency braking.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the electrical system, brakes, and steering for both models.
- For the Rivian, specifically test the infotainment screen and accelerator pedal response.
- For the Honda, check for engine rattles, transmission smoothness, and any lingering odors.
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 | Rivian R1S | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 10 |
| 2025 | 54 | 109 |
| 2024 | 17 | 219 |
| 2023 | 75 | 226 |
| 2022 | 4 | 252 |
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 Rivian R1S or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Rivian R1S vs Honda Accord
- Rivian R1S total complaints
- 164
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Rivian R1S total recalls
- 44
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Rivian R1S avg complaints/year
- 32.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Rivian R1S
- Rivian R1S top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE