Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet BOLT vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet BOLT 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 BOLT vs Honda Accord: The Bolt has 1029 complaints over 10 years (about 103 per year) and 38 recalls, while the Accord has 4524 complaints (about 452 per year) and 38 recalls. The Bolt's main issues are battery fire risk and steering loss; the Accord's include engine and electrical failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet BOLT or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet BOLT
The Chevrolet BOLT is an electric hatchback that has been on the road for about a decade. Its complaint pattern is dominated by battery-related fire risk, which led to multiple recalls and owner advisories to limit charging and parking outside. Power steering failures also appear repeatedly, sometimes causing sudden loss of assist. Overall, the Bolt's issues are serious but relatively few per year compared to the Accord.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much higher annual complaint rate. Owners report a wide range of problems, from engine and electrical failures to forward collision avoidance glitches and fuel system issues. Some complaints involve sudden loss of power or braking, and there are a few reported deaths. The volume of complaints suggests that while many Accords are trouble-free, a notable number develop significant faults.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet BOLT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,029 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 38 | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 48 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 102.9 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 21 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 BOLT
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM428
- 02STEERING220
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM197
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER125
- 05POWER TRAIN94
Owners report battery defects that can lead to fires, prompting recalls and advice not to charge above 90% or park indoors. This is a serious safety concern that affects daily charging habits and peace of mind.
Power steering can intermittently shut off, leaving the driver with no assist, often right after start-up or while driving. Some also report the steering rack binding on curves, requiring forceful correction.
Complaints here also center on the battery fire risk, with owners frustrated by inadequate remedies and the need to park outside. This overlaps with the electrical issues and underscores the same underlying defect.
Some owners report poor radio reception that worsens over time, a minor but annoying issue. Others reiterate the battery recall and the inconvenience of limited charging and range.
“The battery system has a defect that GM admits could lead to a fire. Since November 2020, they advised me to not charge the car above 90% of capacity. They now are also advising not to discharge below 30%, to not charge overnight, and to park outside once cha…”
““I own a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt which is part of the recall announced by GM. This is the second recall in less than a year for the same battery-related issue. It was supposed to have been fixed with a software update that I had completed in June. This software w…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe sudden loss of power, alarms for brake and stability systems, and rattling noises during acceleration. These can leave the car unable to maintain highway speeds, creating a safety risk.
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 can be catastrophic if they occur while driving.
Owners report the system failing to prevent collisions or activating unexpectedly, sometimes under consistent conditions. This undermines a key safety feature that many buyers rely on.
Complaints include fuel pump problems and rough transitions between electric and gas modes in hybrids. These can cause stalling or jerking, affecting drivability 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 BOLT — 38 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 20V-701. The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
The risk: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Activate either the Hill Top Reserve (2017 and 2018 models) or Target Charge Level (2019 models) feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, charge their vehicle more f…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling all 2017-2018 and certain 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
The risk: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: This recall has been superseded by recall number 21V-560. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-701 will still need to have the new remedy under recall 21V-560. GM will notify owners, and as an interim repair, beginning on November 17, 20…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insu…
The risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrole…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.
The risk: A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust, and install a pretensioner cover as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between January 23, 2023 and April 25, 2023. Owners may cont…
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 BOLT or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet BOLT has far fewer complaints per year (about 103) than the Honda Accord (about 452). However, the Bolt's issues are concentrated in high-severity battery fire and steering failures, while the Accord's are more varied but include some severe engine and electrical faults. In practice, the Bolt may have fewer problems overall, but the ones it has can be very serious.
Key differences
- The Bolt's top complaint is battery fire risk leading to recalls and charging restrictions, while the Accord's top complaint is engine problems including sudden power loss.
- Bolt owners report intermittent power steering failure; Accord owners report simultaneous power steering and braking failure at speed.
- The Accord has a much higher annual complaint rate (452 vs 103) and more crash-related reports (162 vs 48).
- The Bolt has zero reported deaths in the data, while the Accord has three, though these are raw counts and not rates.
- Check if the battery recall remedy has been applied and whether the car still has charging limitations; ask for documentation.
- Test the power steering at start-up and during low-speed turns for any intermittent assist loss or binding.
- Listen for rattling noises during acceleration and check for rough transitions between EV and gas modes on hybrids.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system and ensure no warning lights for steering, braking, or tire pressure are present.
Before you buy
- Obtain the full recall history and confirm all open recalls are fixed, especially the Bolt's battery recall.
- Take a lengthy test drive that includes highway speeds, stop-and-go traffic, and parking maneuvers to feel for steering or power issues.
- Have a mechanic inspect the battery health on the Bolt and the engine/transmission on the Accord.
- Check for any aftermarket modifications or software updates that might affect safety systems.
- Review the owner's manual for any specific charging or maintenance requirements, especially for the Bolt.
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 BOLT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 109 |
| 2024 | 0 | 219 |
| 2023 | 179 | 226 |
| 2022 | 85 | 252 |
| 2021 | 67 | 234 |
| 2020 | 173 | 362 |
| 2019 | 178 | 691 |
| 2018 | 68 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 279 | 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 Chevrolet BOLT or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet BOLT vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet BOLT total complaints
- 1,029
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Chevrolet BOLT total recalls
- 38
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet BOLT avg complaints/year
- 102.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet BOLT
- Chevrolet BOLT top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE