We compare used Honda Accords to used Toyota Camry cars in model years 2017, 2013, and 2010 to see which owners report as being the most reliable. Here are the results.
Follow us today...
In the used midsized sedan market, there are two notable leaders. Both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are legendary for their top sales positions and many awards. But do they offer a used car shopper equal reliability?
To find out, we looked at what actual owners of these vehicles report. Rather than rely on one opinion from a neighbor, or from within our family (we own Accords), we turned to big data for the answers.
Watch why rich people drive used Honda Accord and Toyota Camry and click to subscribe to Torque News Youtube for daily automotive news reports.
Not having our own database of owner reports, we turn to two respected sources. The first is CarComplaints.com. This is a publication that gathers customer complaints and catalogs them for shoppers. This site also offers stamps of approval or disapproval on some models. We feel this site does a great job of finding repeated issues to watch out for.
Next up, Consumer Reports. This consumer advocacy publication is fiercely independent. We know the folks there and we join them at media events. They are so independent they won't even accept a free cup of coffee. Nor will they accept a free test vehicle. Consumer Reports is a subscriber-based publication and you can get access for a very reasonable fee at the group's landing page. All of the data from Consumer Reports we will reference is owner data, not an editorial opinion by the CR staff.
Related Story: Here Are the Real-World Maintenance Costs of a Honda Accord Over 100K Miles
Used Honda Accord vs. Used Toyota Camry 2017 Model Year
The 20017 model year used Honda Accords and used Toyota Camry cars are now about three years old. At this point, they have already gone through the steepest part of their depreciation curve and they are likely still under the manufacturer's warranty for the drivetrain. The good news is that both the Accord and Camry have no major complaints by owners for this model year. Consumer Reports' owner data gives the Camry an edge with a 5/5 Reliability Ratings vs. the Accord's 3/5. The Camry is also a "Recommended" car from Consumer Reports in this model year.
Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys from 2013 are now about seven years old. In many ways, these cars are in their "prime of life." With around 100K miles, they are affordable used car buys and many families on a budget can buy one. They also make relaible transportation for college and high school kids. At this age, the data shows the Camry and Accord are not equally reliable.
At CarComplaints, the Accord is marked with the site's stamp of "Beware of the Clunker." The Accord has hundreds of reports of electrical glitches. Starter problems are the most common Accord complaints from owners and they report an average cost to repair of $620. One owner reports, "This is the second time I replaced my starter in less than a year!" At Consumer Reports, the 2013 Accord has a 5/5 reliability rating.
The 2013 Toyota Camry earns CarComplaints "Seal of Awesome," and it earns a 5/5 reliability rating at Consumer Reports. It seems the Camry has an edge for the model year 2013.
Used 2010 Camry and Accord cars are closing in on the end of their useful life. With around 150K miles, they are still decent cars for sure. However, their infotainment, safety, and fuel economy numbers are no longer close to that which a modern version offers. Here again, the Accord is labeled with a disapproving stamp at CarComplaints and the Camry earns a stamp of approval. We looked at the 2011 and 2012 model years to see if the Accord just had one bad year, but all three have stamps of disapproval from CarComplaints. The Accord is rated 4/5 by Consumer Reports owners and the Camry 5/5 by owners. Clearly, the Camry has an edge in this regard for the model year 2010.
Used Honda Accord vs. Used Toyota Camry - The Verdict
We feel that used Honda Accords and used Camry cars are better than the average for all of the model years we explored. However, the data show that the Camry has an edge in the 2013 and 2010 model years. The two appear to be equal in the 2017 model year in terms of reliability. If you have one of these vehicles, please tell us in the comments below what your experience has been. Your comments may help a shopper looking for a good used car.
John Goreham is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John's focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of a team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of battery thermal control designer. For 20 years he applied his engineering and sales talents in the high tech world and published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career and dedicated himself to chasing his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin.
Follow us today...
My 2008 Honda Accord V6 EXL
My 2008 Honda Accord V6 EXL has been headache to me.
The engine is now weak and the gear slips.
I keep repairing the A/C system since 2011 till now! 2020
I have leased for three years
I have leased for three years an Accord Exl with nav and all is perfect just oil changes. Now that the lessee is you I'm buying the vehicle i enjoy it that much and consider it very reliable. Btw. It has a 4cyl with a cvt transmission.
Enjoyed the review about
Enjoyed the review about reliability of used Accords and Camry's. But I think I beat them both! I have a '91 Accord and I am just changing the starter after 300,000 miles
I have 2 - 2007 Accords which
I have 2 - 2007 Accords which have been nothing but reliable. I used to have a 1986 Camry which was also very reliable. Before purchasing the 07 Accords o test drove Camry's also. Overall, I like the stiffer ride of the Accord vs the softer ride of the Camry.
My daughter bought her first
My daughter bought her first car 2 years ago 1992 Honda Accord lol. We are doing a tune-up on it this weekend I have to say it's been a good car
I can top that... I had a
I can top that... I had a 1991 accord and drove.... drum roll.. 500,000 Miles and all I did was oil change every 10000 to 12000 miles! I love love honda. Now I have a 2013 exl v6 3.5L 278 horses and have 236000+ kms on it. But one problem with Honda is rust... they just cant fix that
I can top that... I had a
I can top that... I had a 1991 accord and drove.... drum roll.. 500,000 Miles and all I did was oil change every 10000 to 12000 miles! I love love honda. Now I have a 2013 exl v6 3.5L 278 horses and have 236000+ kms on it. But one problem with Honda is rust... they just cant fix that
You mentioned you have great
You mentioned you have great lucky with a 1991 Accord.
Take a good look at many early 1990's vehicles. They were generally quite reliable. Honda is no exception.
I think the quality of parts was just much better - parts lasted longer.
2003 Camry finally died. 515
2003 Camry finally died. 515,000 miles on the clock. Seriously, almost no issues other than normal maintenance items. I now own 3 Toyotas.
I am lucky my mom passed away
I am lucky my mom passed away left me a 2010 Honda Accord with 15,000 miles that’s a 10 year old car , I changed the oil& filter . New Brakes . 4 new tires , new Battery . Air & cabin filter. Buffed our the head light. So now they look new Car runs 100%. All done by Me . $600. I now have a almost new car I can drive for many more years Only problem is paint peeling. And all rubber parts around windows . Rubber under Crome is all dried up . Car was in the state of Florida.
Sorry about your mom. We
Sorry about your mom. We have family cars passed down that were Florida cars too. The rubber does take a beating. Nice that your year engine has a timing chain (if it's a 4). That thing could run well for ten more years.
We bought back in 2016 a 2011
We bought back in 2016 a 2011 Camry XLE, no complaints. Just had to replace a front bearing and the brakes because of the normal wear.
2014 Lexus ES300h. Based on
2014 Lexus ES300h. Based on Toyota Avalon
183,000 repair free miles. ...and 40 mpg
I have a 2012 Honda Accord
I have a 2012 Honda Accord 175k miles; bought it used at 10k. I do most of my own maintenance (oil, spark plugs, transmission fluid, radiator flush, etc) and have had no major issues. I did have an issue with my car not wanting to start with a realatively new battery; it read 13V with my multi meter so I decided to clean the terminals and it works fine (there was no visible corrosion). Before taking it into a shop, give it some cleaning and love and see if she works for you.
My 2013 Camry has ~85k miles.
My 2013 Camry has ~85k miles. It's been great. The automatic door locks recently stopped working, but I think it's related to the aftermarket remote start that's also not working. But, alas, I grew up in the 80's and I just manually lock the doors when necessary. Maybe one day I'll have them repaired. Great car. Still looks nice too! Backseat trashed by children.
This is what I find highly
This is what I find highly annoying.
Look at your 2013 Honda Accord comparison:
1. CarComplaints - Beware of the clunker
2. Consumer Reports - 5/5 reliability
So - what is the average (me) consumer supposed to take away from this conflicting information?
This is not the first time I've taken issue with Consumer Reports. Lets look at their full on seal of approval for Subaru products, was it last year, or this year?
I don't recall, yet Subaru has had multiple lawsuits and continual windshield cracking issues over the years. Yet, Consumer Reports does not mention either of those extremely important issues.
I was very interested in a Subaru Outback or Forester, but was absolutely turned off by the multiple reports of randomly cracking windshields and inconsistent quality control. Meanwhile, what do I see right on the front cover of a Consumer Reports issue? A Forester...
I have had a Consumer Reports subscription for longer than I can remember and I absolutely take their vehicle recommendations with a grain of salt, because they just don't make sense at all lately.
I've even called them out on it and written letters. They essentially tell me that they've experienced no such issues on their purchased vehicles and sometimes don't test them long enough to discover said problems.
I think what we need here is 3, if not 4 'reliable' sources. Not just 2. In my eyes - Consumer Reports is no longer the holy grail of reliable information.
----------------
I have a 2007 Honda Accord - and I used Consumer Reports at the time, to decide on a car purchase.
The car has been reliable - not inexpensive to maintain/repair, but mostly reliable.
----------------
You'd wonder why we ask our neighbors, friends, read magazines, websites, reviews etc. because it's very confusing out their with conflicting information.
i used to be a Ford man
i used to be a Ford man
i ended up buying a 2005 Honda Accord i was very surpised on how well they handled and fuel wise was great the a few weeks ago a hail storm hit the insurance wrote it off.I now have a 2008 model with 88,000 ks gotit cheap for 7 grand .there is noway i will ever go back to Ford Honda make a brilliant car
My 2010 Camry LE is now just
My 2010 Camry LE is now just approaching the 100k mark and still rides as nice as the day I drove out of the dealership!.
Other than basic oil maintenance, brake replacement etc I look forward to another 100k on this puppy!
I have a 2011 Camry LE with
I have a 2011 Camry LE with 220,500 miles on it. Still have not put rear brakes and have had no major problems. I am on my 4th battery and had it tuned up a few times. It is the most reliable car I can't get rid of it. Every one in the family makes fun of it, but then ask me to borrow it when their car is in for repair. HaHa. Change oil every 10,000 miles as it is on synthetic oil. I love Camry so much I purchased a new 2019 with all the bells and whistles XSE ( my 3rd Camry). It is like driving a Mercedes without the high maintenance.
I have a 2011 Camry LE with
I have a 2011 Camry LE with 220,500 miles on it. Still have not put rear brakes and have had no major problems. I am on my 4th battery and had it tuned up a few times. It is the most reliable car I can't get rid of it. Every one in the family makes fun of it, but then ask me to borrow it when their car is in for repair. HaHa. Change oil every 10,000 miles as it is on synthetic oil. I love Camry so much I purchased a new 2019 with all the bells and whistles XSE ( my 3rd Camry). It is like driving a Mercedes without the high maintenance.
Had a 2010 Camry that was
Had a 2010 Camry that was probably my fifth. Every one was better than the previous Camry. I sold it with 180,000 miles only bc I was tired of getting in and out of a sedan. I never tuned it up or got a wheel alignment and was getting 25-27 mpg
I bought a 2017 Rav4 and love it. Toyota's have never disappointed me.
Have 2010 Camry V6... Changed
Have 2010 Camry V6... Changed the alternator last year ($200 for parts and $120 Labor)... It is reliable for over 12 years now...
So I'm in the market for a
So I'm in the market for a car and this thread has had me chuckling. But there's only one issue I take with it...none of you said where you live. If you're in a high altitude OR generally normal temp region, you might not have the issues of, say, a Phoenix or North Texas resident whose experiencing 95°+ temps for MONTHS of the year. Temperatures change everything when it comes to maintaining a vehicle. A normal accord OR camry's average time between oil changes, for example, will decrease. I had an uber driver who owned a toyota and he changed his oil every 3k miles just to keep the powertrain healthy bc it just gets SO hot where I live. So...if anyone who commented can expound and include where they drove their cars (or the site admins could make it a mandatory q to answer when commenting), that'd be great.
Otherwise, these comments were quite informative. I'll think on them for sure!
I live in Atlanta from June
I live in Atlanta from June to December and South FL from January to May each year. I get synthetic oil changes every 10,000 miles and have had no problems. I have 222,000 miles and still have not replaced front brakes. Went through 3 batteries and I think I am on my 5th set of Michelin tires. I also purchased a 2019 Camry with all the bells and whistles and it feels like a Mercedes without all the expensive maintenance. I have had 2 Mercedes and they are a money pit. GO TOYOTA!!!
I don’t know about Honda’s
I don’t know about Honda’s but my 2011 Camry has 223,000 miles and no major issues. I still did not get rear brakes yet. What a car!!!
I have two 07 accords. A 4L
I have two 07 accords. A 4L and a V6. I absolutely love them. They around 130-140k miles. No issues except for regular maintenance items. I like the accords because they ride more sporty than Camrys.
I currently reside in coastal
I currently reside in coastal Northeast (Connecticut) region, where cold and snow is a given. I purchased my 2007 Honda Accord new and after less than 5k miles, continuously had rear break issues, to the point where I sued Honda through the lemon law and won. It was discovered (eventually) that rear brake issues were common issues for that year (water would get in the brake line and on cold days, would freeze.) After remedying that problem, I NEVER owned a more reliable car which in fact, still own to this day! My Husband wants to put me in a new car because the body looks a little weathered but in sheer honesty, the drive train and mechanial soundness of this vehicle (other than the brake hiccup), is unmatched. At 250k current miles and a former uber driver for 2 years using this vehicle, I'm curious to see just how long this car will continue. To date, no mechanical problems. Note: I have always used premium gas in her.
My 09 accord was a great car
My 09 accord was a great car from a driving standpoint. My issues were brakes, and the 3 cyl engine. At 110k it started using oil, and I found the 08's through 12 4 cyl used in accord and crv have ring issues. At 122k, Honda replaced my pistons and rings gratis. At 200k I traded it for a 2016 accord sport with 35k. I've had it for 30 months and it's been perfect.
I have a 2000 camrywith 147
I have a 2000 camrywith 147,000 miles on it. This is the best car I ever owned. My past 3 Carroll's were also fantastic in reliability. Also two tacomas, great reliability..