Head-to-head reliability
Tesla Model X vs Honda Accord
How the Tesla Model X 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
Tesla Model X vs Honda Accord: The Model X has 3,128 complaints (313/year) and 111 recalls, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints (452/year) and 38 recalls. Model X issues often involve suspension and electrical glitches; Accord issues include engine and forward collision avoidance. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Tesla Model X or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Tesla Model X
The Tesla Model X is an electric SUV with complex electronics and advanced driver-assistance features. Over 10 years, owners have filed 3,128 complaints, averaging about 313 per year, with 111 recalls. The most common trouble spots are suspension, electrical system, and steering, often involving sudden failures or software glitches. Living with a Model X means staying alert to potential issues with tires, touchscreen controls, and driver-assist behavior.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan and hybrid, known for practicality. It has 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 452 per year, with 38 recalls. The top complaint areas are engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with reports of stalling, braking problems, and false alerts. For a used-car buyer, the Accord's higher complaint rate suggests more frequent visits to the shop, though recalls are fewer.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Tesla Model X | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,128 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 111 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 383 | 162 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 312.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 417 | 146 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 260 | 3 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 Model X
- 01SUSPENSION719
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM699
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER684
- 04STEERING439
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE396
Owners report tire blowouts on the freeway without impact, often linked to faulty tire pressure monitoring (TPMS). Some also mention issues while using Full Self-Driving at highway speeds. These failures can cause loss of control and are a safety concern.
Complaints include unexpected stopping due to spilled liquids on the center console and delays in infotainment commands like opening a garage door. These glitches can distract the driver and lead to dangerous situations.
Reports describe simultaneous failures of ABS, stability control, traction control, steering assist, and automatic emergency braking, with dashboard warnings. Another owner said Full Self-Driving took a wrong path, ignoring navigation. Such failures can make the car hard to control.
This system is a top complaint area, though specific owner reports in the sample focus on steering and suspension. Buyers should be aware that advanced driver-assist features may not always perform as expected, requiring vigilance.
“The tire blow up on the freeway while driving with no impact, collision or any warning or any external factors, it’s very well documented all over the internet that Model X Tesla have serious Tire problems associated with faulty tire pressure system TPMS and…”
“Incident Description: I was driving on the highway using Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) / FSD Supervised at approximately 65+ mph. Traffic conditions were moderate, and weather and visibility conditions were clear. While FSD was actively engaged, my phone bega…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of power at highway speeds with alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failure. Others hear rattling noises while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause a crash.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing near-collisions. Another owner had a TPMS warning followed by a tire blowout shortly after service. Electrical faults can disable critical safety systems.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions on the same route. Adaptive cruise control sometimes behaves unexpectedly. These defects can reduce driver trust and increase crash risk.
A persistent rotten-egg/sulfur odor was reported, requiring filter replacement and odor treatment that did not fix the problem. This may indicate fuel or emissions issues that are hard to diagnose and repair.
“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.
Tesla Model X — 111 recalls
The defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles. The driver's air bag could tear during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 212, "Windsh…
The risk: A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Tesla service will replace the air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-20-001.
The defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standa…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, f…
The defect: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and 2021-2025 Model X vehicles. An air bag with the incorrect horn pad may have been installed, preventing the horn from sounding.
The risk: An inoperative horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for…
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.
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
Tesla Model X or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Tesla Model X has fewer complaints per year (about 313) than the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Model X has far more recalls (111 vs. 38). In practice, the Model X may need fewer owner-reported repairs but more recall visits, while the Accord may have more frequent complaints but fewer recalls. Both have serious safety-related reports, so neither is clearly better without a thorough inspection.
Key differences
- Tesla Model X has 3,128 complaints over 10 years (313/year) and 111 recalls; Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints (452/year) and 38 recalls.
- Model X top issues: suspension (tire blowouts, TPMS), electrical (infotainment glitches), steering (driver-assist failures); Accord top issues: engine (power loss, rattling), electrical (steering/braking failure), forward collision avoidance (false alerts).
- Model X reports include deaths (260) and injuries (417); Accord reports include deaths (3) and injuries (146).
- Model X recalls cover air bags, back over prevention software, electrical instrument cluster, and seat belt warnings; Accord recalls cover hybrid power control software, spare tire, seat belt retractor, occupant classification sensor, and fuel pump.
- Check tire condition and TPMS functionality; owners report blowouts without warning, so look for uneven wear or past TPMS issues.
- Test all driver-assist features (Full Self-Driving, automatic emergency braking) and listen for steering noises; multiple owners reported simultaneous failures of safety systems.
- Listen for engine rattling during acceleration and check for rough transitions between EV and gas modes; these are common complaints.
- Test electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds if possible; owners reported simultaneous failure, and also check for persistent sulfur odor from the fuel system.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Tesla's 111 recalls and the Accord's 38.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the Tesla's suspension, tires, and electrical system, including infotainment and driver-assist software.
- For the Honda Accord, inspect the engine for rattling, test the hybrid system's transitions, and verify electronic steering and braking function.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and any warranty work related to the reported complaint areas.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and, if possible, activate driver-assist features to check for warnings or failures.
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 | Tesla Model X | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 10 |
| 2025 | 15 | 109 |
| 2024 | 26 | 219 |
| 2023 | 199 | 226 |
| 2022 | 127 | 252 |
| 2021 | 123 | 234 |
| 2020 | 381 | 362 |
| 2019 | 365 | 691 |
| 2018 | 700 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 1185 | 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 Tesla Model X or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Tesla Model X vs Honda Accord
- Tesla Model X total complaints
- 3,128
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Tesla Model X total recalls
- 111
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Tesla Model X avg complaints/year
- 312.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Tesla Model X
- Tesla Model X top complaint area
- SUSPENSION
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE