Is the Honda Accord more reliable than the Nissan Altima?

Based on our data, the Nissan Altima is more reliable with an average score of 78/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Honda Accord or the Nissan Altima?

The Honda Accord has more recalls (46) compared to the Nissan Altima (20). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda Accord or the Nissan Altima?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Altima has a lower complaint rate at 1.6 per 10,000 sold versus 5.7 for the Honda Accord. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Accord or the Nissan Altima?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Accord is cheaper to maintain at $400/year versus $483/year for the Nissan Altima.

Is the Honda Accord or Nissan Altima safer?

Both the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Honda Accord vs Nissan Altima: Reliability Compared

Honda Accord

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Altima

Good

Choosing between the Honda Accord and the Nissan Altima? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize sedans.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Nissan Altima currently leads with an average score of 78/100 compared to 74/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima Generations Compare?

The Honda Accord is currently in its eleventh generation, redesigned in 2023. This places it early in its generation cycle, where new platforms can sometimes exhibit first-year issues. Meanwhile, the Nissan Altima is in its sixth generation, which began in 2019 and received a facelift in 2023. With the Altima being later in its generation cycle, it benefits from a more mature platform that is typically well-sorted, potentially offering better reliability. Both models have seen significant updates over the years, with the Accord's frequent facelifts indicating consistent refinement, while the Altima's recent refresh suggests ongoing improvements.

Verdict

The Nissan Altima is more reliable than the Honda Accord, scoring 78/100 vs 74/100.

The Honda Accord and Nissan Altima both offer reliable performance in the midsize sedan segment, but they differ in specific areas. The Accord scores slightly higher with an average reliability score of 86/100 compared to the Altima's 83/100. However, the Altima has a significantly lower owner complaint rate of 1.6 per 10,000 sold versus the Accord's 5.7, and also features fewer recalls with just 20 over nine years compared to the Accord's 46. Despite the Accord's lower estimated annual repair cost of $400 compared to the Altima's $483, the Altima's lower complaint rate and recall history suggest it may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience.

Key Differences

1Honda Accord costs $83 less per year to repair
2Nissan Altima has 26 fewer total recalls
3Nissan Altima has 4.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Honda Accord

—

3Nissan Altima

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Honda Accord vs Nissan Altima: Which Is More Reliable?

Honda Accord vs Nissan Altima at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Honda Accord	Nissan Altima
Reliability Score	74/100	78/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	46	20
Complaints per 10k Sold	5.7	1.6
Annual Repair Cost	$400/yr	$483/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	9%	12%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	2	6

What Are the Common Problems With the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima?

The Honda Accord exhibits a higher volume of complaints overall compared to the Nissan Altima, particularly in the electrical system and forward collision avoidance categories, with 527 and 406 complaints respectively. Notably, the Accord has significant crash-linked issues in service brakes and electrical systems, each with 18 incidents. Conversely, the Nissan Altima, while having fewer total complaints, shows a concentrated problem area with airbags, which account for 18 crash-linked incidents, a notable concern for safety. Both models have comparable issues with steering and power train, but the Altima's airbag-related complaints present a distinct safety concern not mirrored in the Accord's profile.

Honda Accord vs Nissan Altima common problem areas comparison
Component	Honda Accord	Nissan Altima
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.9Very Low	0.3Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.6Very Low	0.2Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.7Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	0.7Very Low	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.5Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	—None
POWER TRAIN	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Honda Accord or Nissan Altima?

Independent repair cost data indicates that the Honda Accord has an annual repair cost of $400, while the Nissan Altima costs $483 per year. Over five years, this results in a $415 savings with the Accord. Both models have a repair frequency of 0.3 visits per year, suggesting similar reliability in terms of minor issues. However, the risk of a major repair is lower with the Accord at 9%, compared to the Altima's 12%. For cost-conscious buyers, the Honda Accord offers better value due to its lower annual repair costs and reduced likelihood of major repairs, making it a more economical choice over time.

How Does Honda Accord vs Nissan Altima Reliability Compare by Year?

Honda Accord vs Nissan Altima year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Honda Accord	Nissan Altima	Edge
2025	84/1001R / 65C	78/1001R / 4C	Honda Accord
2024	76/1006R / 166C	82/1001R / 31C	Nissan Altima
2023	74/10010R / 199C	84/1000R / 24C	Nissan Altima
2022	77/1003R / 201C	83/1000R / 20C	Nissan Altima
2021	78/1005R / 215C	79/1002R / 53C	Nissan Altima
2020	73/1008R / 344C	71/1006R / 162C	Honda Accord
2019	70/1005R / 574C	72/1008R / 230C	Nissan Altima
2018	63/1008R / 1739C	76/1002R / 217C	Nissan Altima
2026(predicted)	78/100(predicted)	81/100(predicted)	Nissan Altima

Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Honda Accord scored 84/100 and the 2023 Nissan Altima scored 84/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Honda Accord vs the Nissan Altima?

If you prioritize long-term reliability and lower repair costs, the Honda Accord is your best bet. With a higher reliability score of 89/100 and an estimated annual repair cost of $400, it offers peace of mind and savings in the long run. The Accord's owner complaints rate is slightly higher at 5.7 per 10,000 sold, but its major repair risk is lower at 9%, making it a solid choice for those who value reliability despite its higher number of recalls. On the other hand, if minimizing potential issues and recalls is your main concern, consider the Nissan Altima. It has a lower number of total recalls at 20 and fewer owner complaints at 1.6 per 10,000 sold. However, it comes with a higher estimated annual repair cost of $483 and a 12% major repair risk. This option might suit you if you prefer fewer initial issues and can manage slightly higher maintenance expenses.

Honda Accord vs Nissan Altima: Common Questions

Is the Honda Accord more reliable than the Nissan Altima?: Based on our data, the Nissan Altima is more reliable with an average score of 78/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Honda Accord or the Nissan Altima?: The Honda Accord has more recalls (46) compared to the Nissan Altima (20). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Honda Accord or the Nissan Altima?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Altima has a lower complaint rate at 1.6 per 10,000 sold versus 5.7 for the Honda Accord. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Honda Accord or the Nissan Altima?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Honda Accord is cheaper to maintain at $400/year versus $483/year for the Nissan Altima.
Is the Honda Accord or Nissan Altima safer?: Both the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

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More Nissan Altima comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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