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: Over 10 years, the Camry has 2,143 complaints (214/yr) versus the Accord's 4,438 (444/yr). Camry issues center on transmission and brakes, while Accord problems span engine, electrical, and safety systems. 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 last decade, has been a popular midsize sedan, but owner complaints reveal a pattern of powertrain and engine issues, including transmission failures and sudden acceleration reports. Brake problems, such as loss of response, also appear, along with electrical gremlins. While not universally problematic, these reports suggest that some Camrys may require significant repairs, especially as they age.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, also a top-selling midsize sedan, shows a higher complaint volume, with engine and electrical system issues dominating. Owners report engine noises, loss of power, and warning light cascades, as well as electrical failures like tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) malfunctions and wiring damage. Forward collision avoidance system glitches are also common, indicating potential issues with advanced safety tech. These reports point to a vehicle that may have more frequent and varied problems, particularly with electronics and engine management.
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 | 2,143 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 31 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 181 | 160 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 214.3 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 163 | 144 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 TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end upon acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission issues and recommending replacement. Some also describe sudden unintended acceleration, leading to crashes. This suggests potential transmission defects and throttle control problems that are safety-critical.
Engine complaints include sudden acceleration incidents and a specific code (P268115) related to a coolant valve bypass, which may not be covered by recall for all VINs. This indicates possible engine control or cooling system faults that could affect performance and safety.
Brake complaints describe a complete lack of response when pressing the pedal, especially on slopes, and instances where increased force is needed. This suggests potential brake system failures that could lead to collisions.
“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
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Engine issues include unusual noises from new vehicles and sudden loss of power accompanied by warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. This points to possible engine or drivetrain malfunctions that can leave drivers stranded or without power.
Electrical problems range from TPMS warnings leading to tire failures to rodent damage on wiring harnesses. These issues can cause warning lights, system malfunctions, and even catastrophic tire failures, affecting reliability and safety.
Owners report the system activating unnecessarily or showing intermittent errors for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. This indicates potential sensor or software glitches that could lead to unexpected braking or system unavailability.
“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 — 31 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 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…
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 (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
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 fewer complaints per year (214.3) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. In practice, this means Camry owners may experience fewer problems overall, but both vehicles have significant safety-related complaints that warrant careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Camry has about half the complaints per year as the Accord, suggesting a lower likelihood of encountering problems.
- Camry complaints focus on powertrain and brakes, while Accord issues are more spread across engine, electrical, and driver-assistance systems.
- Accord owners report problems with forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control, which are not prominent in Camry complaints.
- Both have recalls, but the Accord has more recalls (38 vs 31) and a higher number of complaints overall.
- Inspect the transmission for any signs of grinding or slipping, and check for any open recalls related to powertrain.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on slopes, to ensure there is no loss of response or unusual pedal feel.
- Check the electrical system, including the TPMS and wiring harnesses, for any signs of damage or malfunction.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems to ensure they operate correctly without false activations.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the specific VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission and brakes for the Camry, and engine and electrical systems for the Accord.
- Test drive both vehicles, paying attention to any unusual noises, warning lights, or erratic behavior of driver-assistance features.
- Ask for service records to see if any major repairs have been performed, especially for the issues mentioned in complaints.
- Consider the age and mileage of the vehicle, as older models may be more prone to the reported issues.
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 | 119 | 5 |
| 2025 | 153 | 101 |
| 2024 | 48 | 214 |
| 2023 | 62 | 224 |
| 2022 | 59 | 238 |
| 2021 | 155 | 226 |
| 2020 | 270 | 355 |
| 2019 | 393 | 677 |
| 2018 | 736 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 148 | 534 |
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
- 2,143
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE