CarOutlay

2003 Honda Accord vs 2018 Honda Accord

Same-model NHTSA complaint comparison: raw complaints, recalls, top component families, and reported harm mentions.

Pending review: this curated compare page is generated from two real NHTSA rows and excluded from the sitemap until sampled. Data through 2026; reviewed June 2026.

2003 Honda Accord

Full vehicle record
NHTSA source
Complaints
2,383
rank #49 of 4,194
Recalls
11
campaigns on record
Top component
Power Train
915 complaints (38%)
Reported harm
188 crashes / 185 injuries
2 deaths; 23 fires

2018 Honda Accord

Full vehicle record
NHTSA source
Complaints
2,779
rank #30 of 4,194
Recalls
6
campaigns on record
Top component
Engine
480 complaints (17%)
Reported harm
66 crashes / 61 injuries
0 deaths; 5 fires

Largest differences in this pair

Complaint gap

396

2003 Honda Accord has the lower raw complaint count

Recall gap

5

2018 Honda Accord vs 2003 Honda Accord

Top component overlap

Different families

Power Train vs Engine

2003 Honda Accord problem mix

  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 576
  • POWER TRAIN 339
  • AIR BAGS 252
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 82
  • STEERING 80

2018 Honda Accord problem mix

  • ENGINE 480
  • FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 285
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 261
  • SERVICE BRAKES 243
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER 234

Frequently asked questions

Which has fewer NHTSA complaints, the 2003 Honda Accord or 2018 Honda Accord?

2003 Honda Accord has fewer raw NHTSA consumer complaints in this dataset (2,383 vs 2,779). This is not a defect rate and is not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Does this mean the 2003 Honda Accord is more reliable?

No. These are unverified consumer reports and recall campaigns, not production-normalized reliability scores. Use the comparison as one research signal and check a specific vehicle's history before buying.

These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle, and not financial, safety, or purchasing advice. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).