Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen Touareg vs Honda Accord
How the Volkswagen Touareg 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
Volkswagen Touareg vs Honda Accord: The Touareg has 237 complaints and 16 recalls over 10 years, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints and 38 recalls. The Touareg averages about 24 complaints per year, the Accord about 452. Both have reported safety issues, but the Accord's higher volume means more frequent problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen Touareg or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volkswagen Touareg
The Volkswagen Touareg is a luxury SUV that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over 10 years, it has 237 complaints (about 24 per year) and 16 recalls, with 5 crash-related reports and 13 injuries. Owners frequently report engine and fuel system problems that can cause power loss or limp mode, making it a vehicle that demands careful maintenance.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular family sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 4,524 over 10 years (about 452 per year) and 38 recalls. Despite the numbers, many complaints involve advanced driver aids and electrical glitches, with 162 crash-related reports and 3 deaths. It's a mainstream car with a broad range of reported issues, especially in newer model years.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen Touareg | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 237 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 23.7 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 13 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Volkswagen Touareg
- 01ENGINE83
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM42
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER34
- 04STEERING29
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
Owners report coolant leaks (small puddles under the front right) and sudden limp-home mode at low speeds, sometimes with loss of braking power and a 'Hybrid Error' message. These can leave you stranded or in a dangerous situation.
Complaints describe losing power and being unable to accelerate at highway speeds, often with a warning light. This can happen without warning and increases the risk of a collision.
A common issue is dramatic steering wheel shake at highway speeds (60-75 mph) that persists even after tire replacements and balancing. This makes long drives tiring and may indicate underlying suspension or steering problems.
Owners report intermittent jerking and stalling, sometimes at high speeds, causing near-collisions. The unpredictable nature makes it hard to diagnose and repair.
“FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WE NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. WE ASSUMED IT WAS A CRACKED WASHER FLUID TANK. TOOK TO DEALER THEY FOUND NOTHING DURING SERVICE APPOINTMENT. TECHNICIAN MENTIONED NOTHING OF THE WATER IN THE FILTER ARE…”
“THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, AT LOW SPEEDS, CAR GOES INTO LIMP HOME MODE RANDOMLY AND CREAKS ALONG AT 8 MILES AN HOUR, MOST RECENTLY LOST BRAKING POWER AND MESSAGE COMES UP "HYBRID ERROR, PULL OVER IN A SAFE LOCATION." THEN WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF AND ON AG…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failures, followed by loss of speed. Also, rattling noises and rough transitions between electric and gas modes in hybrids, which Honda sometimes does not fix.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS warnings leading to tire failure. These are serious safety concerns that can occur suddenly.
Owners describe the system failing to prevent collisions or activating unexpectedly, even with adaptive cruise control set. This undermines a key safety feature and can cause driver distraction.
Issues range from persistent rotten-egg odors to a foot slipping behind a plastic panel, causing loss of control. These odd problems can be frustrating and potentially dangerous.
“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.
Volkswagen Touareg — 16 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period ma…
The risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer se…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Touareg vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a securing clip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
The risk: If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly to verify the presence of the securing clip and install any missing securing clips, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Vol…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requi…
The risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
The fix: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period ma…
The risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer se…
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
Volkswagen Touareg or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen Touareg has far fewer complaints per year (about 24 vs. 452 for the Honda Accord), but its issues often involve severe power loss and stalling. The Accord's higher volume means more frequent visits to the dealer, but many are for less critical electrical or driver-assist glitches. In practice, the Touareg may be more reliable overall but with higher stakes when problems occur.
Key differences
- The Touareg has 237 complaints over 10 years, while the Accord has 4,524—about 19 times more, but the Accord sells in much higher volumes.
- Touareg owners frequently report engine and fuel system failures causing power loss, while Accord complaints often involve electrical and forward collision avoidance systems.
- The Touareg has 16 recalls and 13 injuries; the Accord has 38 recalls and 146 injuries, with 3 deaths reported.
- Steering wheel shake at highway speeds is a common Touareg complaint, whereas Accord owners report electronic power steering and braking failures.
- Check for coolant leaks or puddles under the front right area, which could indicate a failing water pump or hybrid system component.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for steering wheel shake; if present, it may require more than just tire balancing to fix.
- Ask if the forward collision avoidance system has been updated or repaired; test it in a safe environment if possible.
- Inspect tires for uneven wear or damage, as TPMS warnings and tire failures have been reported.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- For the Touareg, specifically check for coolant leaks and test the hybrid system if equipped.
- For the Accord, verify that all software updates for driver-assist systems have been applied.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to replicate 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 | Volkswagen Touareg | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 24 | 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 Volkswagen Touareg or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen Touareg vs Honda Accord
- Volkswagen Touareg total complaints
- 237
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Volkswagen Touareg total recalls
- 16
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Volkswagen Touareg avg complaints/year
- 23.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen Touareg
- Volkswagen Touareg top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE