Head-to-head reliability

Tesla Cybertruck vs Honda Accord

How the Tesla Cybertruck and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Tesla Cybertruck196 complaints · 16 recalls Fewer issues per year
Honda Accord4,173 complaints · 35 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Tesla Cybertruck averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Tesla Cybertruck has 196 complaints and 16 recalls on record; Honda Accord has 4,173 complaints and 35 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryTesla CybertruckHonda Accord
Total complaintsAll model years combined196 Better4,173
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns16 Better35
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints25 Better146
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years65.3 Better417.3
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints21 Better135
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints63 Better

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.

Tesla Cybertruck

  1. 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM61
  2. 02STRUCTURE39
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER33
  4. 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE25
  5. 05STEERING20
In owners' words — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On XXX at approximately 5:15 AM, I was driving my 2024 Tesla Cybertruck (VIN [XXX], ~47,300 miles) on an interstate trip to [XXX] with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged. I heard a loud pop from the front of the vehicle, immediately followed by an alert s…

All vehicle cameras failed simultaneously on May 12, 2026 at approximately 4:41 PM. Tesla app displayed "Cameras Unavailable — Please try again later." All camera-dependent systems were completely inoperable: Autopilot, FSD, Sentry Mode, dashcam/TeslaCam. Com…

Honda Accord

  1. 01ENGINE940
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM812
  3. 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE784
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER677
  5. 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM567
In owners' words — ENGINE

2021 Honda Accord EX-L, 1.5T turbocharged engine. Within 8 months of purchase at approximately 21,900 miles, I experienced three separate incidents of sudden complete engine power loss at highway speeds. During each incident the vehicle would not exceed 2,000…

I am filing a complaint regarding the premature head gasket failure on my 2021 Honda Accord, which failed on May 28, 2026, with only 89,000 miles on the vehicle. A head gasket is a critical engine component that should last well beyond 89,000 miles under norm…

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.

Tesla Cybertruck — 16 recalls

Electrical System — Instrument Cluster/Panel
#24V051000

The defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles…

The risk: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.

Vehicle Speed Control — Accelerator Pedal
#24V276000

The defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. The accelerator pedal pad may dislodge and cause the pedal to become trapped by the interior trim.

The risk: A trapped accelerator pedal can cause the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Tesla service will replace or repair the accelerator pedal assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24…

Structure — Body
#24V457000

The defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. The trunk bed trim sail applique could have been improperly adhered and can loosen.

The risk: A loose applique can detach from the vehicle, creating a road hazard for following motorists and increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Tesla service will apply adhesion promoter and pressure sensitive tape or replace missing applique as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798…

Visibility — Windshield Wiper/Washer — Motor
#24V456000

The defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. Excessive electrical current can cause the front windshield wiper motor controller to fail.

The risk: Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Tesla service will replace the wiper motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 1, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-17-006.

Honda Accord — 35 recalls

Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Retractor
#21V900000

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.

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#24V064000Jan 2024

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…

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump
#23V858000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…

The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#26V332000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…

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.

YearTesla CybertruckHonda Accord
202665
20252298
20241680
Years to scrutinize: the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck drew the most complaints (168); the 2018 Honda Accord drew the most (1,846). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Tesla Cybertruck or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Tesla Cybertruck vs Honda Accord — comparison facts
Comparison
Tesla Cybertruck vs Honda Accord
Tesla Cybertruck total complaints
196
Honda Accord total complaints
4,173
Tesla Cybertruck total recalls
16
Honda Accord total recalls
35
Tesla Cybertruck avg complaints/year
65.3
Honda Accord avg complaints/year
417.3
More reliable overall
Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla Cybertruck top complaint area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Honda Accord top complaint area
ENGINE