Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac CT5 vs Honda Accord
How the Cadillac CT5 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 CT5 vs Honda Accord: The CT5 has 118 complaints over 7 years (about 17 per year) and 12 recalls, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints over 10 years (about 452 per year) and 38 recalls. The CT5's lower rate may mean fewer reported issues, but both have safety-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac CT5 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac CT5
The Cadillac CT5 is a luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume—118 over seven years, about 17 per year. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins, especially with door handles and rear doors, plus transmission shuddering and jerking. There are also concerns about forward collision avoidance and structural issues. While the overall rate is low, the severity of some problems, including one death, means a thorough inspection is wise.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume—4,524 over ten years, about 452 per year. Common trouble spots include engine and electrical system failures, often involving stalling, power loss, and hybrid system faults. Forward collision avoidance and fuel system issues also appear frequently. The higher volume suggests that while many Accords are reliable, a notable number experience serious problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac CT5 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 118 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.9 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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 CT5
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM27
- 02POWER TRAIN27
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE19
- 05STRUCTURE16
Owners report intermittent rear door failures and exterior door handles that stop working, sometimes trapping children inside. These issues can prevent normal entry and exit, posing a safety risk.
Complaints include transmission shuddering, jerking, and shaking at highway speeds, with some linked to a control valve failure under recall. This can affect drivability and may require costly repairs.
Some owners say the automatic emergency braking does not stop the car as expected, and others report incorrect speed limit displays. These flaws could reduce confidence in the system's ability to prevent collisions.
While fewer complaints, structural issues are noted, though specific details are limited. Any structural concern is serious because it can affect crash protection.
“We own a 2021 Cadillac CT5 that we bought used in 2024 from Sewell Cadillac in Houston, Texas. During our first year of ownership, and while still under warranty, we started having intermittent issues with the rear doors. At times, one or the other rear doors…”
“I have experienced a serious and recurring safety issue with the door handles on my Cadillac CT5 vehicles. The exterior door handles have stopped working, preventing the doors from being opened normally. On one occasion, I was trying to get my child out of th…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe sudden power loss, alarms for brake and stability systems, and rattling noises during acceleration. These symptoms can leave a driver stranded or unable to maintain speed.
Reports include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as tire pressure monitoring issues that may lead to tire failure. Such failures are immediate safety hazards.
Complaints involve the system failing to intervene or engaging unexpectedly, even under similar conditions. This inconsistency can make the feature unreliable in avoiding crashes.
Some owners report persistent rotten-egg odors and fuel delivery problems, which may indicate fuel pump or hybrid system faults. These can cause performance issues and costly repairs.
“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 CT5 — 12 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 CT5 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Cadillac CT5 has far fewer complaints per year (about 17) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452). In practice, this means a used CT5 is less likely to have a reported problem, but the Accord's higher volume still includes many trouble-free examples. Buyers should weigh the lower complaint rate against the specific types of failures reported.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Cadillac CT5 averages about 17 complaints per year; Honda Accord averages about 452 per year.
- Common failure types: CT5 owners often report door handle and transmission problems; Accord owners report engine stalling and electrical failures.
- Safety-related incidents: CT5 has 14 crash-related complaints and 1 death; Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths.
- Recalls: CT5 has 12 recalls; Accord has 38 recalls, covering more systems like air bags and fuel pumps.
- Test all exterior door handles, especially rear doors, for intermittent failure or sticking.
- During a test drive, accelerate to highway speeds and feel for transmission shuddering or jerking.
- Check for any warning lights related to brakes, stability control, or power steering, and test these systems at low and high speeds.
- Listen for engine rattling during acceleration and note any rough transitions between electric and gas modes in hybrids.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the transmission and electrical systems, including door handles and wiring.
- Test drive on highways and in stop-and-go traffic to replicate shuddering or power loss symptoms.
- For the Accord, specifically check the fuel system and hybrid components if applicable.
- Verify that forward collision avoidance and other driver-assist features function correctly during the test drive.
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 CT5 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 10 |
| 2025 | 9 | 109 |
| 2024 | 2 | 219 |
| 2023 | 13 | 226 |
| 2022 | 11 | 252 |
| 2021 | 29 | 234 |
| 2020 | 39 | 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 CT5 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac CT5 vs Honda Accord
- Cadillac CT5 total complaints
- 118
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Cadillac CT5 total recalls
- 12
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Cadillac CT5 avg complaints/year
- 16.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac CT5
- Cadillac CT5 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE