Is the Honda Accord more reliable than the Hyundai Sonata?

Yes, the Accord has a clear edge overall. Its repair-cost data shows low yearly costs and few unscheduled shop visits, and the Sonata has no such figures here. The Sonata does draw fewer complaints per car sold, so the gap rests on cost rather than on fewer problems.

Which has more recalls, the Accord or the Sonata?

The Accord has more. Federal recall records show 46 across nine model years for the Accord and 20 for the Sonata. A higher count does not always mean a worse car, but it is worth checking any car's VIN for open recall work before you buy.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Accord or the Sonata?

Only the Accord has repair-cost data here. Independent figures put it at about $400 a year, with 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year and a 9% chance a repair is major. Without Sonata figures, a direct cost comparison cannot be made.

What are the most common Honda Accord problems?

Electrical trouble leads, with 531 complaints, mainly a touchscreen that registers ghost touches while driving. Next come automatic emergency braking that stops the car with nothing ahead, head gasket and cylinder head failures, brake complaints, and fuel pump problems.

Do Sonata fuel injector problems come back after repair?

Often, according to owners. Several had injectors replaced more than once under warranty, and some had all four replaced. Symptoms include misfires, shaking, a gasoline smell, power loss, and sometimes a stall on the highway. Ask for the repair history before you buy a Sonata.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Honda Accord vs Hyundai Sonata: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Honda Accord

Good

Hyundai Sonata

Good

On reliability, the Honda Accord beats the Hyundai Sonata by a clear margin. Independent repair-cost data backs the Accord with low yearly costs, while the Sonata has none here. The Accord also draws more complaints and recalls, so its touchscreen and braking quirks deserve a close look.

How Do the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata Generations Compare?

Most used Accords you will see belong to the tenth generation, which covered model years 2018 to 2022 and got a facelift for 2020. The eleventh generation arrived for 2023. Budget shoppers will mostly land in the tenth generation, which includes the weak 2018 and 2019 years. The Sonata's seventh generation ran through 2020 and had a facelift for 2017. The eighth generation began in 2020 and received a facelift for 2023. That run also contains 2023, one of the Sonata's weakest years, so check the model year carefully.

Verdict

The Honda Accord is more reliable than the Hyundai Sonata, scoring 76/100 vs 68/100.

A clear edge goes to the Honda Accord, and the deciding reason is cost. Independent repair-cost data shows low yearly spending, few unscheduled shop visits, and a small chance any repair is major. No comparable figures exist for the Sonata on this page. The Accord does draw more complaints and recalls, and some of its problems are serious. Even so, its cost record and good standing make it the safer pick on the evidence given.

Key Differences

1Hyundai Sonata has 26 fewer total recalls
2Honda Accord scores 8 points higher in reliability
3Hyundai Sonata has 2.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

1Honda Accord

—

2Hyundai Sonata

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Honda Accord vs Hyundai Sonata: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda Accord vs Hyundai Sonata at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda Accord	Hyundai Sonata
Reliability Score	76/100	68/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	46	20
Complaints per 10k Sold	5.7	3.7
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	8	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata?

Electronics and safety systems dominate the Accord's complaints. Owners describe a touchscreen that ghost-touches while driving, automatic emergency braking that slams on with nothing ahead, and head gasket failures. Both the electrical and service brake areas have 18 crash-linked reports, including brakes that failed to respond. Mechanical trouble dominates the Sonata's list. Fuel injectors fail and come back after replacement, the engine jerks or cuts out at highway speed, and the hybrid's 12-volt battery dies after sitting. Its power train area has 7 crash-linked reports, tied to sudden loss of drive power.

Honda Accord vs Hyundai Sonata common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda Accord	Hyundai Sonata
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.9Very Low	0.6Very Low
ENGINE	0.6Very Low	0.8Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.7Very Low	—None
POWER TRAIN	0.3Very Low	0.4Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.2Very Low	0.4Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.5Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Honda Accord vs Hyundai Sonata Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda Accord vs Hyundai Sonata year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda Accord	Hyundai Sonata	Edge
2026	87/1000R / 0C	75/1002R / 0C	Honda Accord
2025	84/1001R / 65C	76/1000R / 16C	Honda Accord
2024	76/1006R / 166C	73/1001R / 41C	Honda Accord
2023	74/10010R / 199C	62/1002R / 87C	Honda Accord
2022	77/1003R / 201C	65/1003R / 95C	Honda Accord
2021	78/1005R / 215C	64/1004R / 151C	Honda Accord
2020	73/1008R / 344C	62/1005R / 163C	Honda Accord
2019	70/1005R / 574C	71/1000R / 144C	Hyundai Sonata
2018	63/1008R / 1739C	61/1003R / 353C	Honda Accord

Best years to cross-shop: The 2021 Honda Accord scored 78/100 and the 2024 Hyundai Sonata scored 73/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Honda Accord vs the Hyundai Sonata?

Pick the Accord if you want the lower expected repair bill and can live with a few known quirks. Test the touchscreen and the automatic braking on a long drive, and ask whether the fuel pump work was done. Avoid 2018 and 2019, the weakest years. The 2025 and 2026 cars look cleanest, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so treat that as unproven rather than a promise. Pick the Sonata if you want fewer owner complaints per car sold and are willing to inspect the car carefully. Ask for injector replacement records and any transmission or recall paperwork. If you are looking at the hybrid, find out how the 12-volt battery has behaved. Avoid 2018 and 2023, the weakest years. Skip any car with repeated injector work, since owners report the jerking and poor fuel economy returning.

Honda Accord vs Hyundai Sonata: Common Questions

Is the Honda Accord more reliable than the Hyundai Sonata?: Yes, the Accord has a clear edge overall. Its repair-cost data shows low yearly costs and few unscheduled shop visits, and the Sonata has no such figures here. The Sonata does draw fewer complaints per car sold, so the gap rests on cost rather than on fewer problems.
Which has more recalls, the Accord or the Sonata?: The Accord has more. Federal recall records show 46 across nine model years for the Accord and 20 for the Sonata. A higher count does not always mean a worse car, but it is worth checking any car's VIN for open recall work before you buy.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Accord or the Sonata?: Only the Accord has repair-cost data here. Independent figures put it at about $400 a year, with 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year and a 9% chance a repair is major. Without Sonata figures, a direct cost comparison cannot be made.
What are the most common Honda Accord problems?: Electrical trouble leads, with 531 complaints, mainly a touchscreen that registers ghost touches while driving. Next come automatic emergency braking that stops the car with nothing ahead, head gasket and cylinder head failures, brake complaints, and fuel pump problems.
Do Sonata fuel injector problems come back after repair?: Often, according to owners. Several had injectors replaced more than once under warranty, and some had all four replaced. Symptoms include misfires, shaking, a gasoline smell, power loss, and sometimes a stall on the highway. Ask for the repair history before you buy a Sonata.

More Honda Accord comparisons

Honda Accord vs Ford Fusion reliability Honda Accord vs Kia Optima reliability Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry reliability Honda Accord vs Subaru Legacy reliability Honda Accord reliability by year Honda Accord years to avoid

More Hyundai Sonata comparisons

Hyundai Sonata vs Kia Optima reliability Hyundai Sonata vs Toyota Camry reliability Hyundai Sonata vs Nissan Altima reliability Hyundai Sonata vs Subaru Legacy reliability Hyundai Sonata reliability by year Hyundai Sonata years to avoid

Decided between Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

See incorrect data? Report an issue