Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Cobalt vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet Cobalt 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 Cobalt vs Honda Accord: The Cobalt has 7,966 complaints over 6 years (1,328/yr) with frequent power steering failures, while the Accord has 4,438 over 10 years (444/yr) with more electronic glitches. The Accord shows fewer issues per year, but both have safety concerns. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Cobalt or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Cobalt
The Chevrolet Cobalt, a compact sedan from the mid-2000s, shows a serious reliability pattern centered on sudden loss of power steering assist, often at highway speeds, which can make the car difficult to control. Owners also report fuel system issues like gas leaks and repeated fuel pump failures, as well as airbags that fail to deploy in crashes. With an average of over 1,300 complaints per year and multiple recalls for ignition and steering, this car demands careful inspection and a cautious approach to ownership.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a midsize sedan, presents a more modern set of issues, with the highest complaint counts in engine performance, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance systems that can trigger false alerts or malfunctions. While the overall complaint rate is lower (about 444 per year), owners still report serious problems like sudden loss of power and sunroof glass explosions, though these are less frequent. The Accord's recalls focus on software updates and component replacements, suggesting a vehicle that is generally more reliable but not without its own quirks.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Cobalt | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7,966 | 4,438 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 35 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 566 | 160 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1327.7 | 443.8 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 545 | 144 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 49 | 3 Better |
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 Cobalt
- 01STEERING3,894
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,474
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1,116
- 04AIR BAGS622
- 05FUEL SYSTEM494
Owners report sudden loss of power steering assist, often while driving at speed, requiring extra effort to steer. This can be dangerous, especially in emergency maneuvers, and is a leading cause of complaints.
Electrical failures often accompany steering issues, with reports of power steering and brakes becoming inoperable simultaneously. Other electrical problems include faulty fuel gauges and warning lights.
Fuel pump failures are common, with some owners experiencing multiple replacements. Gas leaks near the fuel tank or lines are also reported, posing a fire risk and causing a strong fuel smell.
There are reports of airbags failing to deploy in crashes, including fatal ones. This is a critical safety concern, as airbags are expected to protect occupants in collisions.
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the power steering and brakes became inoperable. The driver was able to coast to the side of the road. The check engine warning light was illuminated after the failure. The veh…”
“The contact's daughter owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, extra effort was needed to steer t…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Engine issues include unusual noises and, in some cases, sudden loss of power while driving, accompanied by multiple warning lights. This can be alarming and may indicate serious mechanical problems.
Electrical problems range from tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings to rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause various malfunctions. Some issues lead to catastrophic tire failures.
The forward collision avoidance system can trigger false alerts or malfunction, sometimes causing the vehicle to brake unexpectedly or display warnings for adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. This can be distracting and potentially dangerous.
Brake system complaints include issues with the antilock braking system (ABS) and traction control, with some owners reporting a loss of braking power or warning lights. This is a critical safety component.
“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.
Chevrolet Cobalt — 35 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignitio…
The risk: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission…
The fix: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cu…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power…
The risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to co…
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later v…
The defect: UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year…
The risk: If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.
The fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should 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 (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
Chevrolet Cobalt or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has fewer complaints per year (about 444) compared to the Chevrolet Cobalt (about 1,328), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. In practice, this means the Accord is likely to be more reliable, but both vehicles have their own sets of problems that require attention.
Key differences
- The Cobalt has a much higher complaint rate (1,328 per year) than the Accord (444 per year), indicating more frequent problems.
- Cobalt owners frequently report sudden loss of power steering, a serious safety issue, while Accord owners more often deal with false alerts from driver assistance systems.
- The Cobalt has multiple recalls for ignition and airbag issues, while the Accord's recalls are mostly software updates and component replacements.
- Fuel system problems, including gas leaks and fuel pump failures, are prominent in the Cobalt, whereas the Accord's engine issues are more varied and less frequent.
- Inspect the power steering system for any signs of failure, such as intermittent loss of assist or warning lights, and check for open recalls related to steering.
- Look for fuel smells or signs of leaks under the car, and ask about the history of fuel pump replacements.
- Check the forward collision avoidance system for any warning lights or previous repairs, and ensure it functions properly during a test drive.
- Ask about any electrical issues, such as TPMS warnings or wiring problems, and verify that all recalls have been addressed.
Before you buy
- Check for open recalls on both vehicles using the VIN and ensure they have been completed.
- Test drive the Cobalt at highway speeds to feel for any steering hesitation or loss of assist.
- For the Accord, test the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist to ensure they do not trigger false alerts.
- Inspect the Cobalt's fuel system for leaks and ask for maintenance records of fuel pump replacements.
- For the Accord, ask about any engine or electrical issues and check the condition of the wiring harnesses for rodent damage.
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 Cobalt or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Cobalt vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Cobalt total complaints
- 7,966
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Chevrolet Cobalt total recalls
- 35
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet Cobalt avg complaints/year
- 1327.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Cobalt top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE