Used car safety, rank #137 of 181
Honda Accord Safety Rating (2018-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2018-20 Honda Accord, a midsize car, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2018-20 Honda Accord has an IIHS driver death rate of 46 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize cars average of 58.1, which is 21% below the class average. That places it #137 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 29.8/100.
What the Honda Accord death rate means
At 46 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Honda Accord beats the midsize cars average of 58.1 by 21%. The 95% confidence interval is 34 to 57, so even the pessimistic end of the range is no worse than the class average.
The other-driver death rate of 44 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Honda Accord. It is no higher than the Honda Accord's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used cars
The safest midsize cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Honda Accord highlighted. It ranks 4 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota Camry hybrid at a death rate of 19.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry hybrid | 2018-20 | 19 (0 to 38) | 58.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Fusion hybrid | 2019-20 | 25 (0 to 56) | 50.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Accord hybrid | 2018-20 | 45 (1 to 90) | 30.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda Accord (this page) | 2018-20 | 46 (34 to 57) | 29.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2019-20 | 47 (24 to 69) | 29.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Camry | 2018-20 | 48 (38 to 59) | 28.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Fusion | 2019-20 | 67 (30 to 104) | 16.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia Optima | 2019-20 | 80 (45 to 115) | 14.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2017-20 | 91 (73 to 108) | 13.0 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize cars: 58.1 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Honda Accord
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Honda Accord we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Honda Accord | TSP | 94.4 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 29.8 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Honda Accord
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
6 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering air bags, fuel system, gasoline, electrical system.
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
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Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021.
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Electrical system: propulsion system, dc/dc converter
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the power converter unit (PCU) software, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners can contact Honda custo
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Electrical system: body control module, software
Risk: Various system malfunctions such as inoperative windshield wipers, defroster, rearview camera, or exterior lighting can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the BCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 22, 2021.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Honda Accord: Common Questions
Is the Honda Accord a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 46 per million registered vehicle years for the 2018-20 Honda Accord, 21% below the class average (58.1 for midsize cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 29.8 out of 100 and rank #137 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Honda Accord driver death rate?
46 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 34 to 57. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Honda Accord died at a rate of 44 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2018-20 models.
How does the Honda Accord compare with other midsize cars?
The midsize cars class averages 58.1 driver deaths per million; the Honda Accord sits at 46. Among the 9 midsize cars compared above it ranks 4 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota Camry hybrid with a death rate of 19.