Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Blazer vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet Blazer 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 Blazer vs Honda Accord: The Blazer has 782 complaints and 12 recalls over 10 years, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints and 38 recalls. The Blazer averages 78 complaints per year versus 452 for the Accord, but the Accord sells in higher volumes. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Blazer or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Blazer
The Chevrolet Blazer is a mid-size SUV that has averaged about 78 complaints per year over the past decade, with electrical and power train issues being the most common. Owners frequently report serious problems like unexpected rolling when parked, infotainment blackouts, and engine shutdowns while driving. With 12 recalls and 37 injuries reported, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 452 per year—but this reflects its larger sales base. The most common issues involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with reports of power loss, steering and braking failures, and unintended automatic braking. There are 38 recalls and 3 deaths reported, so while many complaints exist, the severity varies.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Blazer | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 782 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 32 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 78.2 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 37 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 Blazer
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM227
- 02POWER TRAIN189
- 03ENGINE185
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER163
- 05STEERING103
Owners report infotainment blackouts, flickering screens, and unexpected rolling when parked, which can lead to crashes or injuries. The electrical issues often affect multiple subsystems, making the vehicle unpredictable.
Complaints include engine cooling system failures (like radiator problems) and knocking noises that may indicate internal engine damage. These issues can cause loss of power and expensive repairs.
Several owners describe the engine shutting off completely while driving, with no warning lights, leaving them unable to restart or unlock doors. This is a serious safety risk that could strand you in traffic.
Steering problems are among the top complaints, though specific details are limited in the sample. Any steering issue is critical because it directly affects your ability to control the vehicle.
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? On September 12, 2026, while parked at the top level of a parking garage, the vehicle unexpectedly began rolling forward after being parked and exited. The vehi…”
“The infotainment system of a brand new 2025 Blazer EV is doing blackouts, flickers, and changing commands and requests. While this may sound trivial - and if this system just did the radio - I would agree. However it controls most all the sub-systems of the c…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises during acceleration, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden power loss with multiple dashboard alarms. These symptoms can indicate hybrid system or engine management failures.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as tire pressure monitoring system issues that may lead to tire failure. These are high-risk defects that can cause loss of control.
Drivers describe the system unexpectedly activating or failing to prevent collisions, sometimes with adaptive cruise control engaged. This can cause sudden braking or failure to brake when needed, increasing crash risk.
Issues include fuel pump problems and persistent sulfur odors, which may indicate fuel delivery or emissions system faults. These can lead to stalling or 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.
Chevrolet Blazer — 12 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025 Chevrolet Blazer, Blazer EV, and Equinox vehicles. The door strikers were not properly heat-treated, which can cause them to break.
The risk: A broken door striker can cause the door to open unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace all four side door strikers and attachment bolts, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still in dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters are expected to be mailed. Owners may call Chevrolet…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, Blazer EV, Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The door strikers may fracture, resulting in the door opening unexpectedly.
The risk: A door opening while the vehicle is being driven can increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace all four door strikers and attaching bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse vehicles. The left-side half-shaft assemblies may be missing a retaining ring.
The risk: A missing retaining ring on the half-shaft can cause half-shaft inner joint separation, resulting in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left-side half-shaft assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222390180.
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.
The risk: A half-shaft disengaging from the transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevro…
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 Blazer or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Blazer has far fewer complaints per year (78 vs. 452), but the Honda Accord's higher volume is partly due to its much larger sales. In practice, the Blazer's issues tend to be more severe and safety-critical, while the Accord's problems are more widespread but not necessarily more dangerous. Buyers should weigh frequency against severity.
Key differences
- The Blazer has 782 complaints over 10 years, while the Accord has 4,524—but the Accord sells in much higher numbers, so per-vehicle rates may be closer.
- Blazer owners report unexpected rolling when parked and engine shutdowns, while Accord owners report simultaneous steering and braking failures and unintended automatic braking.
- The Blazer has 12 recalls and 37 injuries; the Accord has 38 recalls and 146 injuries, with 3 deaths reported.
- Top Blazer issues are electrical and power train; top Accord issues are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance.
- Check for any signs of electrical gremlins: infotainment blackouts, flickering screens, or error messages. Test all electronic functions, including door locks and windows.
- Listen for knocking noises from the engine and check for coolant leaks or radiator issues. Also test that the vehicle does not roll when parked on an incline.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at low and high speeds; any warning lights or unusual feel could indicate a pending failure.
- Check for rattling noises during acceleration and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. Also verify that the forward collision avoidance system does not falsely activate.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway speeds, parking on an incline, and using all electronic features like infotainment and driver-assist systems.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the Blazer for electrical faults, engine noises, and transmission issues; for the Accord, focus on hybrid system components, brakes, and steering.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for software updates and recall repairs, as both vehicles have had software-related recalls.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a dealer specializing in that brand to check for model-specific issues like the Blazer's power train or the Accord's fuel pump.
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 | Chevrolet Blazer | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 10 |
| 2025 | 32 | 109 |
| 2024 | 48 | 219 |
| 2023 | 43 | 226 |
| 2022 | 51 | 252 |
| 2021 | 136 | 234 |
| 2020 | 220 | 362 |
| 2019 | 186 | 691 |
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 Blazer or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Blazer vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Blazer total complaints
- 782
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Chevrolet Blazer total recalls
- 12
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet Blazer avg complaints/year
- 78.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Blazer
- Chevrolet Blazer top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE