Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Avalanche vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet Avalanche 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
Chevrolet Avalanche vs Honda Accord: The Avalanche averages about 187 complaints per year with 0 deaths, while the Accord averages about 452 complaints per year with 3 deaths. The Avalanche's main issues are air bags and cracked dashboards; the Accord's are engine and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Avalanche or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Avalanche
The Chevrolet Avalanche is a full-size pickup with a unique midgate, and over 10 years it has averaged about 187 complaints per year. The most common owner complaints involve air bags, electrical issues, and structural problems like cracked dashboards. Many complaints center on recalls not covering the vehicle or parts failing prematurely. Buyers should expect to deal with aging interior materials and potential air bag recall complications.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a strong reputation, but it has averaged about 452 complaints per year over the same period. The most frequent complaints involve engine problems, electrical system failures, and forward collision avoidance issues. Some owners report serious safety concerns like power steering and braking failures. Buyers should be aware of these patterns, especially in newer models with advanced driver-assist systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Avalanche | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,868 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 35 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 56 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 186.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 70 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.
Chevrolet Avalanche
- 01AIR BAGS681
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER379
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM281
- 04STRUCTURE243
- 05SERVICE BRAKES139
Owners report air bag recall issues, including cases where the VIN was updated and no recall was shown, leaving the defect unrepaired. This matters because a faulty air bag may not deploy correctly in a crash.
Complaints include trailer brake warnings and ignition problems. These can affect towing safety and vehicle starting, leading to inconvenient and potentially dangerous situations.
Many owners report cracked dashboards, often near the passenger air bag or steering wheel. This is a cosmetic and safety concern because a cracked dash could interfere with air bag deployment.
Some owners experience brake issues, though fewer complaints than other areas. Brake problems can compromise stopping ability, so any signs of brake wear should be addressed immediately.
“The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was updated and now displayed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact mentioned that the vehic…”
“THE STEERING WHEEL IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OR CONTROL, WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP ALLEGEDLY FIX THE PROBLEM, WE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING (CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL) AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICL…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report engine rattling noises, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden loss of power with multiple warnings. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause a crash if power is lost at speed.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking systems failing simultaneously at highway speeds, as well as TPMS warnings and tire failures. Such failures can lead to loss of control and serious accidents.
Owners describe the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions. This undermines a key safety feature that is supposed to prevent collisions.
Some owners report fuel pump issues and hybrid system problems. These can cause stalling or failure to start, affecting reliability and safety.
“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.
Chevrolet Avalanche — 35 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS,…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters w…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, Californ…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters w…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, m…
The risk: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS,…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters w…
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
Chevrolet Avalanche or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Avalanche has far fewer complaints per year (about 187) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452). However, the Avalanche's complaints often involve older vehicles with aging components, while the Accord's complaints include serious safety issues in newer models. In practice, the Avalanche may have fewer overall issues, but the Accord's problems can be more severe when they occur.
Key differences
- The Avalanche has about 187 complaints per year, while the Accord has about 452, meaning the Accord has more than double the complaint rate.
- The Avalanche's top complaint is air bags, often related to recall coverage, while the Accord's top complaint is engine issues, including power loss and rough operation.
- The Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries reported, compared to 0 deaths and 70 injuries for the Avalanche, indicating more severe outcomes in Accord crashes.
- The Avalanche has structural complaints like cracked dashboards, while the Accord has forward collision avoidance failures, a modern safety system concern.
- Check the dashboard for cracks, especially near the passenger air bag and steering wheel, as this is a common complaint and may affect air bag function.
- Verify that all air bag recalls have been performed by checking the VIN with a dealer, as some owners reported recalls not showing up for their vehicle.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, as some owners reported simultaneous failure.
- Listen for engine rattling noises and feel for rough transitions between EV and gas modes during a test drive, as these are reported engine issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a mechanic inspect the air bag system and dashboard integrity on the Avalanche.
- For the Accord, scan for stored trouble codes and test all advanced driver-assist features like forward collision warning.
- Take a lengthy test drive that includes highway speeds to check for power loss or steering/braking issues.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for engine and electrical repairs on the Accord.
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 Chevrolet Avalanche or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Avalanche vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Avalanche total complaints
- 1,868
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Chevrolet Avalanche total recalls
- 35
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet Avalanche avg complaints/year
- 186.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Avalanche
- Chevrolet Avalanche top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE