Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord
How the Toyota Camry 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
Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord: The Camry averages 209.9 complaints per year over 10 years, while the Accord has 392.9. The Camry has 26 recalls, the Accord 35. Both have serious reported issues, but the Camry shows fewer problems per year. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, over the past decade, has averaged about 210 complaints per year, with the most frequent issues reported in the power train, engine, and service brakes. Owners describe transmission grinding and replacement needs, sudden acceleration incidents, and brake failures, including a complete loss of braking on a hill. While these are serious, they are relatively rare compared to the total number of Camrys on the road, and the car still has a reputation for overall reliability, but these patterns suggest potential high-cost repairs and safety concerns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord has averaged nearly 393 complaints per year, with the top areas being engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Owners report engine noises and loss of power, electrical failures like black screens and rodent damage to wiring, and issues with the forward collision avoidance system, including unexpected braking and a crash related to loss of drive power. The higher complaint rate and more frequent recalls (35 vs 26) indicate a higher likelihood of encountering problems, especially with advanced safety and infotainment systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Camry | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,099 Better | 3,929 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 35 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 177 | 130 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 209.9 Better | 392.9 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 161 | 123 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN389
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER336
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report grinding noises from the front end upon acceleration, with dealerships confirming transmission issues that require replacement. This is a costly repair, and some mention recalls for the same issue, but not all VINs are covered.
There are reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration, leading to crashes and total loss of the vehicle. Additionally, some owners get a maintenance code (P268115) related to a coolant valve bypass recall, but their VIN is not included, leaving them with a potential safety risk.
Brake failure is reported, such as pressing the pedal with no response, especially on hills. This is a critical safety issue that could lead to accidents.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE902
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM759
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE756
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER625
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM547
Owners report unusual noises from the engine shortly after purchase, and in some cases, the vehicle loses power and displays multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) while driving at highway speeds, which can be dangerous.
There are reports of the infotainment screen going black and unresponsive, requiring a restart. Also, rodent damage to wiring harnesses, like the camshaft position sensor, has been reported even on low-mileage vehicles, leading to electrical failures.
The system can malfunction, causing unexpected braking or even a loss of drive power, which has been linked to a crash. Owners also mention that dealers have failed to resolve the issue, and some vehicles are held at dealerships due to open recalls.
“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.
Toyota Camry — 26 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner…
The risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charg…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
Honda Accord — 35 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 2023-2024 Accord and HR-V vehicles. The front seat belt pretensioners may be missing the rivet that secures the quick connector and wire plate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…
The risk: A seat belt pretensioner missing a rivet will not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt pretensioner assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for t…
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…
Buyer analysis
Toyota Camry or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (209.9 vs 392.9) and fewer recalls (26 vs 35), indicating a lower likelihood of encountering problems. In practice, this means a Camry buyer may face fewer visits to the shop, but both vehicles have serious reported issues that warrant careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Camry has about half the complaints per year compared to the Accord (209.9 vs 392.9).
- The Accord has more recalls (35 vs 26), with a focus on fuel pump and hybrid power control unit software.
- The Camry's top issues are transmission, engine sudden acceleration, and brake failure, while the Accord's are engine noise/power loss, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- The Accord has a higher number of crash-related complaints (130 vs 177) but also more injuries (123 vs 161) and deaths (3 vs 1), though these are small numbers.
- Inspect the transmission for any grinding noises during a test drive, especially when accelerating from a stop.
- Check for any signs of brake issues, such as a soft pedal or unusual behavior on slopes, and ask for service records related to brake repairs.
- Test the infotainment system for any black screens or unresponsiveness, and check for any warning lights related to the forward collision avoidance system.
- Look for any signs of rodent damage under the hood, such as chewed wires, and ask if the vehicle has had any electrical repairs.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for any open recalls and ensure they have been addressed.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission and brakes for the Camry, and the engine and electrical system for the Accord.
- During a test drive, simulate stop-and-go traffic and highway speeds to listen for unusual noises and check for any warning lights.
- Ask for all service records and verify that any reported issues have been resolved.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recalls for the specific model year you are considering.
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 | Toyota Camry | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 106 | 4 |
| 2025 | 141 | 97 |
| 2024 | 46 | 0 |
| 2023 | 60 | 221 |
| 2022 | 58 | 218 |
| 2021 | 154 | 217 |
| 2020 | 267 | 344 |
| 2019 | 388 | 500 |
| 2018 | 731 | 1828 |
| 2017 | 148 | 500 |
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 Toyota Camry or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,099
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 3,929
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 26
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 35
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 209.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 392.9
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE