Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac CT4 vs Honda Accord
How the Cadillac CT4 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 CT4 vs Honda Accord: The CT4 averages 5 complaints per year over 7 years, while the Accord averages 452 per year over 10 years. The Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths; the CT4 has 2 crash-related and 1 injury. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac CT4 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac CT4
The Cadillac CT4 is a compact luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume—about 5 per year over seven years—but the reports that do exist describe serious, sudden failures. Owners frequently mention losing propulsion or brake assist without warning, often accompanied by a dashboard full of warning lights. With 11 recalls, including transmission and lighting software issues, living with a CT4 means staying on top of recall notices and being alert to any change in how the car drives.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint count—roughly 452 per year over ten years—and a broader range of reported problems. Many complaints involve engine and electrical glitches, forward collision avoidance false alarms, and fuel system issues. With 38 recalls and 3 deaths reported, the Accord's ownership experience includes more frequent trips to the dealer and a wider set of safety-related concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac CT4 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 35 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 CT4
- 01ENGINE10
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
- 03SERVICE BRAKES7
- 04POWER TRAIN6
- 05STEERING6
Owners report sudden loss of propulsion at highway speeds, with the transmission dropping out of gear as if in neutral. Another complaint describes power steering and power brakes failing while driving 60-65 MPH, with check engine and crash warning lights on. These failures can leave a driver unable to accelerate or steer normally in traffic.
Multiple dashboard warning lamps can illuminate at once, often with a brake-assist warning, and braking response may be affected. This suggests a software or sensor issue that could distract the driver and reduce confidence in the car's systems.
Some owners experience a sudden loss of brake pressure—the pedal goes to the floor—while all dashboard lights come on. The car may roll to a stop only after the driver pumps the brakes or restarts the vehicle, which is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include sudden downshifts at highway speed with the engine revving high, causing the car to slow abruptly. Others report hesitation and hard shifting linked to a transmission control valve that may stick or wear, leading to jerking and delayed engagement.
“While driving at highway speeds on the freeway in my 2021 Cadillac CT4-V, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of propulsion. Without warning, the transmission dropped out of gear as if it were in neutral. I completely lost the ability to accel…”
“The contact owns a 2022 Cadillac CT4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-65 MPH, the power steering and power brakes failed to operate as needed. The check engine and the crash warning lights were illuminated. The contact coasted to the si…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failures while driving, followed by loss of speed. Another complaint notes rattling noises during acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, with the engine jerking when the charge button is pressed.
Reports include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another owner had a tire catastrophically fail shortly after a TPMS warning was supposedly fixed, raising questions about service quality and sensor accuracy.
Owners report the system activating unexpectedly—sometimes with adaptive cruise control set—when no obstacle is present. This can cause sudden braking or steering inputs that startle the driver and increase crash risk.
Some complaints mention a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor that remains after filter replacement and odor treatment. This could indicate a fuel or emissions issue that is difficult to diagnose and may affect long-term reliability.
“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 CT4 — 11 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
The risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
The risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
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 CT4 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Cadillac CT4 has far fewer complaints per year (about 5) than the Honda Accord (about 452), but the CT4's reports often involve sudden loss of propulsion or braking. The Accord's higher volume means more frequent visits for a wider variety of issues, including forward collision false alarms and fuel odors. In practice, the CT4 may have fewer overall problems, but the ones reported are severe; the Accord may have more problems, but they are spread across more systems.
Key differences
- The Cadillac CT4 has about 5 complaints per year versus about 452 for the Honda Accord, but CT4 complaints often involve sudden loss of propulsion or brake assist.
- The Honda Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths reported, while the Cadillac CT4 has 2 crash-related and 1 injury, showing a much higher real-world crash involvement for the Accord.
- Cadillac CT4 recalls focus on transmission and lighting software, while Honda Accord recalls cover hybrid power control, tires, seat belts, air bag sensors, and fuel pumps.
- Honda Accord owners frequently report forward collision avoidance false activations, a category not prominent in Cadillac CT4 complaints.
- During a test drive, accelerate to highway speed and listen for sudden downshifts or engine revving without acceleration—this matches reports of transmission dropping out of gear.
- Check for any dashboard warning lights, especially brake or crash warnings, and test the brake pedal for firmness; some owners report the pedal going to the floor.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system by driving in conditions similar to your daily commute; watch for unexpected braking or alerts when no obstacle is present.
- Inspect for any rotten-egg or sulfur odor from the exhaust or cabin, and ask if the fuel pump or emissions components have been replaced under recall.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls have been performed, especially for the Cadillac CT4's transmission and lighting software and the Honda Accord's hybrid power control and fuel pump.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection that includes a road test at highway speeds to check for transmission slipping or sudden downshifts.
- For the Cadillac CT4, specifically ask the mechanic to check for stored diagnostic trouble codes related to the transmission control valve and brake assist.
- For the Honda Accord, test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems in real traffic to see if they false-activate.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether any complaints have been filed with NHTSA; repeated visits for the same issue can indicate a persistent defect.
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 CT4 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 10 |
| 2025 | 2 | 109 |
| 2024 | 7 | 219 |
| 2023 | 3 | 226 |
| 2022 | 6 | 252 |
| 2021 | 7 | 234 |
| 2020 | 8 | 362 |
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 CT4 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac CT4 vs Honda Accord
- Cadillac CT4 total complaints
- 35
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Cadillac CT4 total recalls
- 11
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Cadillac CT4 avg complaints/year
- 5.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac CT4
- Cadillac CT4 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE