Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac CT6 vs Honda Accord
How the Cadillac CT6 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 CT6 vs Honda Accord: The CT6 averages 15.4 complaints per year with 13 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The CT6's issues often involve the transmission and brakes, whereas the Accord's top areas are engine and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac CT6 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac CT6
The Cadillac CT6 is a luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume—77 over five years, or about 15 per year—but the complaints cluster around serious powertrain and brake issues. Owners frequently report hard shifting, hesitation, and even sudden loss of propulsion, often tied to the transmission. Recalls cover seat belts, seats, exterior lighting, and ABS warning lights, suggesting a range of safety-related fixes. For a used buyer, the CT6 can be appealing but demands a thorough inspection of the transmission and brake system.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint count—4,524 over ten years, averaging 452 per year—but that reflects its huge sales volume. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with owners reporting stalling, power steering and brake failures, and false automatic braking. Recalls address hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, seat belts, airbag sensors, and spare tires. Overall, the Accord's issues are more varied and frequent in absolute terms, but many are addressed by recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac CT6 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 77 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 15.4 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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 CT6
- 01POWER TRAIN47
- 02ENGINE8
- 03SERVICE BRAKES8
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE5
Owners report hard shifting during acceleration and deceleration, and some say the car hesitates or loses power. One complaint notes a recall with no adequate repair, leaving the car unusable. This matters because transmission problems can be expensive and may recur even after service.
Complaints include harsh jerking when the auto stop-start system restarts the engine, and in some cases a complete loss of propulsion at highway speeds. These symptoms can be frightening and point to underlying design defects in the gas/hybrid transmission system.
A owner reported the brake booster failed, causing the brake system to not engage while driving. Another noted squealing brakes that got louder over time. Brake failure is a critical safety concern that should be checked immediately.
Owners describe hesitation when pressing the accelerator and random gear changes that almost caused a wreck. These electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, leading to multiple dealer visits.
“On several separate occasions, my Cadillac CT 6 which has been under recall for months by General Motors does not have an adequate repair for the repair shops authorized by the manufacturer, namely GM franchised Cadillac dealer repair shops and hence I am una…”
“On July 22, 2025, at 20,245 miles, I brought my 2019 Cadillac CT6-V to an authorized dealer while still under factory warranty, reporting hard shifting during both acceleration and deceleration — the exact symptom described in GM Special Coverage Bulletin N24…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failure, followed by loss of speed. Others hear rattling noises while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can leave you stranded or cause costly repairs.
Complaints 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 repair. Electrical faults can disable critical safety systems without warning.
Owners report the system activating unexpectedly under clear conditions, sometimes with adaptive cruise control set, leading to sudden braking. This false activation can startle the driver and increase crash risk.
Some complain of persistent rotten-egg odors and a foot getting trapped behind a plastic side panel. These may seem minor but can indicate broader quality or design issues.
“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 CT6 — 13 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CT6 vehicles. The inboard child seat anchorage bars may have had excess structural adhesive applied during assembly, which can interfere with the installation of a child seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement…
The risk: If the child seat cannot be attached correctly to the anchorage bar, there is an increased the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, remove any excess adhesive, and apply anti-corrosion primer to the inboard child seat anchorage bars, free of charge. The recall began August 3, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer se…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Cadillac CT6 vehicles manufactured July 21, 2016, to July 22, 2016. The bolt that connects the front passenger seat belt webbing to the seat's anchor plate may be missing. Without the bolt, the seat belt webbing may detach from the seat a…
The risk: If the seat belt webbing detaches from the seat anchor, the seat belt may not properly restrain the front seat passenger in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing front passenger seat belt webbing anchor bolt, or install a bolt if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on September 24, 2016. Owners may contact Cadillac customer se…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Cadillac CT6 vehicles. The Park/Position lights may be excessively bright. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: The excessive brightness may affect the vision of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install right and left side in-line headlight jumper harnesses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this reca…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Cadillac CT6, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. Due to an Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) software error, the vehicle's Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Antilock Brake System (ABS) may become disabled. Furthermore,…
The risk: If the driver operates the vehicle unaware that ESC and ABS are not functioning, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or GMC customer se…
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 CT6 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Cadillac CT6 has far fewer complaints per year (15.4 vs. 452.4), but its issues often involve the transmission and brakes, which are costly and safety-critical. The Honda Accord's higher complaint count reflects its larger sales volume, and many problems are covered by recalls. In practice, the CT6 may need fewer visits but for more severe repairs, while the Accord may have more frequent but sometimes less catastrophic issues.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: CT6 averages 15.4 per year; Accord averages 452.4 per year, but Accord sells in much higher numbers.
- Top issues: CT6 complaints center on power train (47) and brakes; Accord complaints center on engine (1006) and electrical system (895).
- Safety outcomes: CT6 has 5 crash-related complaints, 2 injuries, 1 death; Accord has 162 crash-related, 146 injuries, 3 deaths—though these are raw counts not rates.
- Recalls: CT6 has 13 recalls covering seats, seat belts, lighting, and ABS; Accord has 38 recalls including hybrid software, fuel pump, and airbag sensors.
- Transmission behavior: test drive at various speeds and listen for hard shifts, hesitation, or jerking, especially during acceleration and deceleration.
- Brake system: check for squealing noises and ensure the brake booster is functioning—ask for service records related to brake repairs or recalls.
- Electrical and steering: during test drive, watch for warning lights (ABS, brake, hill descent) and any loss of power steering assist.
- Forward collision avoidance: verify that the system does not activate falsely; test adaptive cruise control if equipped, and check for related recalls.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the CT6's transmission and brake recalls and the Accord's fuel pump and hybrid software recalls.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the transmission on the CT6 and the electrical/steering systems on the Accord.
- Test drive both vehicles extensively, including highway speeds, to replicate reported symptoms like hard shifting or false braking.
- Check for any outstanding recalls by entering the VIN on the NHTSA website.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, focusing on transmission fluid changes for the CT6 and software updates for the Accord.
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 CT6 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 11 | 362 |
| 2019 | 17 | 691 |
| 2018 | 12 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 26 | 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 CT6 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac CT6 vs Honda Accord
- Cadillac CT6 total complaints
- 77
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Cadillac CT6 total recalls
- 13
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Cadillac CT6 avg complaints/year
- 15.4
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac CT6
- Cadillac CT6 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE