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 206 complaints per year with 31 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord has more reports of severe electrical and forward collision issues, while the Camry's problems are often less critical. 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 shows about 206 complaints per year over the last decade, with power train, engine, and brake issues being the most common. Owners report symptoms like a stuck ignition key, delayed acceleration, and electronic parking brake failure. With 31 recalls and one death reported, it's a mainstream sedan that generally has fewer complaints per year than some rivals, but still has notable patterns to check.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord has roughly 452 complaints per year, more than double the Camry's rate, with engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance problems leading the list. Owners describe alarming events like simultaneous power steering and brake failure, unintended automatic braking, and engine rattles. There are 38 recalls and three deaths reported, suggesting a higher frequency of serious complaints.
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 | 2,056 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 31 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 171 | 162 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 205.6 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 158 | 146 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 TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with the check engine light on.
A common complaint is a several-second delay when pressing the gas pedal, making the car feel unresponsive when trying to accelerate. This can be a safety concern when merging or pulling out into traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, leaving the car stuck and needing a tow. Owners also hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which dealers say comes from the ABS system.
Multiple driver-assist features like stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping can malfunction at once. This can be disorienting and reduce confidence in the car's safety systems.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of speed with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) and a rattling noise while accelerating, similar to a diesel. These issues can leave the car underpowered and may be hard to diagnose.
There are reports of electronic power steering and braking failing simultaneously at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another owner had a tire fail catastrophically shortly after a TPMS repair, raising questions about service quality.
The system can unexpectedly apply brakes or fail to respond, even with no obstacles, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. This has happened repeatedly on the same route, suggesting a software or sensor flaw.
Some owners notice a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur smell, which can indicate fuel or emissions problems. In hybrids, rough transitions between EV and gas mode and jerking when the engine starts are also reported.
“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.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
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…
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 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…
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
Toyota Camry or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has about 206 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord has about 452 per year, so the Camry has fewer reported issues annually. In practice, that means you're less likely to encounter frequent problems with the Camry, but the Accord's issues tend to be more severe, like sudden brake or steering failure.
Key differences
- The Camry averages about 206 complaints per year, while the Accord averages about 452, so the Accord has more than double the complaint rate.
- The Accord's top issues include forward collision avoidance and electrical failures that can cause sudden braking or loss of steering, which are potentially more dangerous than the Camry's stuck key or delayed acceleration.
- The Camry has 31 recalls and 1 death reported, while the Accord has 38 recalls and 3 deaths, indicating a higher number of serious outcomes for the Accord.
- Both have engine and electrical complaints, but the Accord's engine issues often involve loss of power and warning lights, while the Camry's are more about hesitation and shuddering.
- Check for a stuck ignition key that won't release even in Park, and test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages properly.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which may indicate ABS issues, and test acceleration for any delay or hesitation.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system by driving at highway speeds to see if it unexpectedly brakes or fails to alert, and check for any warning lights related to power steering or brakes.
- Inspect for a rotten-egg smell from the exhaust or cabin, and listen for rattling noises during acceleration, especially in hybrid models.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds, stop-and-go traffic, and parking maneuvers to check for hesitation, brake noises, and electronic parking brake function.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the electrical system, brakes, and engine for any stored trouble codes or pending issues.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control, and for the Camry, test the key removal and acceleration response.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for software updates or repairs related to the complaints listed above.
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 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 163 | 109 |
| 2024 | 50 | 219 |
| 2023 | 64 | 226 |
| 2022 | 61 | 252 |
| 2021 | 157 | 234 |
| 2020 | 274 | 362 |
| 2019 | 395 | 691 |
| 2018 | 744 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 148 | 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 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
- 2,056
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE