Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac ELR vs Honda Accord
How the Cadillac ELR 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 ELR vs Honda Accord: The ELR averages 5.3 complaints per year with 2 recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year with 38 recalls. ELR owners report sudden power loss and airbag failures, while Accord owners report engine and driver-assistance issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac ELR or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac ELR
The Cadillac ELR is a low-volume plug-in hybrid luxury coupe, and its complaint pattern suggests a car that can be rewarding but demanding. Owners report sudden loss of power and control while driving, electrical glitches that reset the gauge cluster, and persistent airbag warning lights. These are serious issues that could affect safety and reliability, and the low complaint count may reflect low sales volume rather than proven dependability.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume mainstream sedan with a much larger complaint base, reflecting its popularity. The most common issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance systems. Owners report engine noises, sudden loss of power with warning lights, and false or intermittent alerts from driver-assistance features. While many complaints are about annoyances, some involve safety-critical systems, and the sheer number of complaints and recalls suggests a higher absolute risk of encountering problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac ELR | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 21 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.3 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 144 |
| 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 ELR
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
- 03AIR BAGS5
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
- 05POWER TRAIN2
Owners report sudden loss of power and control while driving, sometimes accompanied by a loud pop, and gauge cluster resets. These can be alarming and potentially dangerous if they occur in traffic.
The airbag warning light illuminates, often due to a faulty Passenger Presence System (PPS) module or occupant sensor. Dealers sometimes struggle to fix it, leaving the airbag system in an unknown state.
Some owners experience the car failing to turn off, with a warning to 'Shift to Park' even when the shifter is in Park. This can leave the car in an unsafe state and drain the battery.
“Component Affected: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ AIR BAGS: FRONT: PASSENGER SIDE Description of Safety Defect: The Passenger Presence System (PPS) Module / Occupant Sensor Module failed on my 2014 Cadillac ELR, triggering diagnostic code U0170 ("Lost Communication with…”
“Loss of power and control: Twice over the past two months, the vehicle has died and lost all power and control functions while in motion. The first episode was while my spouse was driving during the day at about 30 MPH. She reports the vehicle made a loud "po…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises, sudden loss of power, and warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. These can occur at highway speeds and may indicate serious engine or drivetrain issues.
Problems include TPMS warnings leading to tire failures and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause electrical malfunctions. These issues can be costly to repair and may affect vehicle operation.
The system may trigger false alerts or show intermittent messages for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. This can be distracting and erode driver trust in safety features.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“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…”
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 ELR — 2 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Cadillac ELR vehicles not equipped with adaptive cruise control and manufactured September 26, 2013, through February 14, 2014, and equipped without adaptive cruise control. In these vehicles, the electronic stability control (ESC) system…
The risk: If the driver is not alerted to an ESC malfunction they may continue driving with a disabled ESC system which may result in loss of directional control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM), free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14087.
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the af…
The risk: A seat that does not stay secured increases the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat hook bracket assembly weld and replace the lower seat track, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-73…
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 (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
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 ELR or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Cadillac ELR has far fewer complaints per year (5.3 vs 443.8), but its issues are more severe, involving sudden power loss and airbag failures. The Honda Accord has a higher complaint rate but also a much larger owner base, so the per-vehicle risk may be lower. In practice, the ELR's problems are more likely to be safety-critical, while the Accord's are a mix of nuisances and serious issues.
Key differences
- The ELR has a much lower complaint volume, but its complaints are dominated by sudden loss of power and airbag system failures, which are safety-critical.
- The Accord's complaints are more numerous and varied, with engine and electrical issues being common, but many are about driver-assistance system glitches.
- The ELR has only 2 recalls, while the Accord has 38, indicating a higher absolute number of factory-identified defects for the Accord.
- The Accord has a higher number of crash-related complaints (160 vs 1) and injuries (144 vs 1), but this is partly due to its much larger sales volume.
- Check for any history of airbag warning lights or module replacements, as the PPS/occupant sensor is a known failure point.
- Ask about any incidents of sudden power loss or stalling, and verify that the dealer has addressed any related recalls or software updates.
- Inspect the engine for unusual noises and check for any warning lights related to ABS, brakes, or hill descent, as these can indicate serious issues.
- Test all forward collision avoidance features to ensure they don't produce false alerts, and check for any pending recalls related to the system.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on electrical systems and airbag diagnostics.
- Test drive at highway speeds to listen for unusual engine noises and check for any warning lights.
- For the ELR, specifically ask about any prior airbag or power loss repairs and verify they were completed correctly.
- For the Accord, check the condition of wiring harnesses for rodent damage and ensure the TPMS system is functioning properly.
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 ELR | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 534 |
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 ELR or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac ELR vs Honda Accord
- Cadillac ELR total complaints
- 21
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Cadillac ELR total recalls
- 2
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Cadillac ELR avg complaints/year
- 5.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac ELR
- Cadillac ELR top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE