Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac ATS vs Honda Accord
How the Cadillac ATS and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Cadillac ATS vs Honda Accord: The ATS averaged 54.7 complaints per year over 7 years, while the Accord averaged 452.4 over 10 years. The ATS had 21 recalls and 0 deaths; the Accord had 38 recalls and 3 deaths. Both show electrical and powertrain issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac ATS or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac ATS
The Cadillac ATS is a compact luxury sedan that averaged about 55 complaints per year over seven years, with 21 recalls. Owners frequently report transmission shuddering, lurching, and hesitation, as well as power steering loss and electrical glitches like airbag lights. These issues can make daily driving feel unpredictable and may lead to costly repairs, especially after the warranty ends.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize sedan that averaged about 452 complaints per year over ten years, with 38 recalls. Common owner reports include engine stalling or losing speed, electronic power steering and braking failures, and forward collision avoidance system malfunctions. While the Accord has more total complaints, the higher sales volume means the rate per vehicle may be lower, but the reported issues can be serious and safety-related.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac ATS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 383 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 21 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 21 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 54.7 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 25 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Cadillac ATS
- 01POWER TRAIN102
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM77
- 03ENGINE72
- 04STEERING61
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER54
Owners report the transmission shudders at high speeds and hesitates or lurches at low speeds, sometimes requiring harder braking. A rear differential failure on the freeway left one owner barely able to move, creating a rear-end collision risk.
Airbag warning lights appear randomly and stay on, with dealerships quoting high repair costs for sensors. Another owner faced faulty power steering requiring a wire harness and steering gear replacement.
Some owners experienced jerking and failure to accelerate at highway speeds, with the vehicle becoming difficult to maneuver. This can leave a driver vulnerable in fast-moving traffic.
Intermittent loss of power steering functionality was reported, sometimes diagnosed as needing a new steering gear or wire harness. This makes steering suddenly heavy and hard to control, especially at low speeds.
“1. The transmission shudders at high speeds and at low speeds it either hesitates to shift gears or it lurches forward causing a rough shifting of gears. 2. I feel as though when I am braking and my car lurches forward, sometimes I have to brake even harder j…”
“My rear differential completely stopped on the freeway, not moving and saying over 100 mph and my car was barely rolling I am extremely lucky that I did not get rear ended because I was very close to that happening, a few cars had swerved to not crash. Luckil…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failures followed by loss of speed, as well as rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These symptoms can indicate serious powertrain issues that may strand a driver.
Electronic power steering and braking systems failed simultaneously at highway speeds in one report, causing a near-collision. Another owner had a tire catastrophically fail shortly after a TPMS warning repair.
The system has triggered unexpected braking or failed to resolve threats, with one owner experiencing repeated incidents under similar conditions. This can cause sudden deceleration or fail to prevent a crash.
Complaints include a persistent rotten-egg sulfur odor that remained after a filter replacement, and a potential safety defect where a foot slipped behind a plastic side panel. These issues affect comfort and driver control.
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
“Vehicle makes rattling noises while accelerating similar to a diesel engine also rough transitions between EV mode and Gas mode also when you press the charge button the engine makes a very noticeable jerk once it’s on ,Honda does not want to fix my issue and…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Cadillac ATS — 21 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, and 2017 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist system may fail.
The risk: Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. GM' number for this recall is N182182760.
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.
The risk: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The affected vehicles may experience the roof panel closing automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail…
The risk: Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall i…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac ATS and CTS vehicles. The affected vehicles have a bracket between the brake pedal assembly and the rod that actuates the brakes that may fracture during normal brake pedal operation.
The risk: If the bracket fractures, the driver would not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected bracket, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 153…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…
The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Cadillac ATS or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Cadillac ATS has far fewer complaints per year (about 55) than the Honda Accord (about 452), but the Accord's higher sales volume means the rate per vehicle may be lower. In practice, the ATS owner faces fewer reported problems overall, while the Accord owner may encounter more frequent but not necessarily more severe issues.
Key differences
- The Cadillac ATS has 383 complaints over 7 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 over 10 years, but the Accord sells in much higher volumes.
- Cadillac ATS owners frequently report transmission shuddering and power steering loss, whereas Honda Accord owners report engine stalling and electronic braking failures.
- The Honda Accord has 3 reported deaths and 146 injuries in its complaints, compared to 0 deaths and 25 injuries for the Cadillac ATS.
- Both vehicles have electrical system complaints, but the Accord's involve safety-critical systems like power steering and braking, while the ATS's often involve airbag sensors and warning lights.
- Check for transmission shuddering or lurching during test drives, especially at highway speeds and during low-speed shifting.
- Inspect the power steering system for any intermittent loss of assist or warning lights, and ask for service records related to the steering gear or wire harness.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems for any warning lights or unusual behavior, as simultaneous failures have been reported.
- Listen for engine rattling or rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and check for any lingering sulfur-like odors that could indicate fuel system issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Cadillac ATS's steering and the Honda Accord's fuel pump and electrical recalls.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the transmission and power steering on the Cadillac ATS, and the electronic braking and forward collision avoidance systems on the Honda Accord.
- During a test drive, simulate highway speeds and low-speed maneuvers to feel for transmission shuddering or steering hesitation.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for software updates or repairs related to the reported complaint areas.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been performed, as both vehicles have multiple recalls that could affect reliability and safety.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Cadillac ATS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 691 |
| 2018 | 21 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 32 | 537 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Cadillac ATS or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac ATS vs Honda Accord
- Cadillac ATS total complaints
- 383
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Cadillac ATS total recalls
- 21
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Cadillac ATS avg complaints/year
- 54.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac ATS
- Cadillac ATS top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE