Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Cruze Limited vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet Cruze Limited 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 Cruze Limited vs Honda Accord: The Cruze Limited has 240 complaints per year and no recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord also has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, versus 19 and 0 for the Cruze Limited. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Cruze Limited or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Cruze Limited
The Chevrolet Cruze Limited is a compact car that, based on owner complaints, can be demanding to own as it ages. In just one year, it accumulated 240 complaints, with engine and electrical problems dominating. Owners frequently report recurring engine codes, water leaks, and stalling, often requiring multiple dealer visits. With no recalls on record, these issues are not part of a formal safety campaign, so buyers should budget for potential repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize car with a much larger complaint volume—4,524 over ten years—but that reflects its popularity and longer production run. The average of 452 complaints per year is higher than the Cruze Limited's, yet the Accord has 38 recalls, showing that many issues are addressed through official safety campaigns. Owners report serious problems like sudden loss of power, electronic steering and braking failures, and forward collision avoidance malfunctions. While the Accord has more reported crashes and injuries, these numbers must be considered alongside its far greater number of vehicles on the road.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Cruze Limited | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 240 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 19 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 240.0 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 14 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 Cruze Limited
- 01ENGINE98
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM57
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER40
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM32
- 05POWER TRAIN31
Owners report engine trouble codes like P0011, which can lead to needing a new cylinder head or even a full engine replacement. One owner was told by two dealerships that the engine needed to be replaced, indicating a potentially costly repair.
Electrical gremlins include the radio randomly turning off and on, especially in cold or wet weather, and water leaks in the trunk that persist even after recall work. These issues can be frustrating and may affect other systems.
Some owners experience transmission problems where the car shifts harshly and gets stuck in gear, even after multiple recall repairs. This can make the car feel unpredictable and unsafe to drive.
Complaints include stalling and sputtering after start-up, with the car cutting off while driving. Owners have replaced sensors without solving the problem, suggesting a difficult-to-diagnose issue.
“Around 150,000 miles I had the code p0011 the dealership did work but code kept coming back on. So I was told I needed a cylinder head. I wanted a 2nd opinion so I took it to another dealership and was told I need to replace the engine. So July of 2021 engine…”
“At first, and only on cold/rainy/snowy weather, while driving the radio would randomly turn off and turn itself back on (i have videos of this). Sometimes it would last a few seconds, sometimes a few minutes. While this was happening, the blinker sounds would…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of power at highway speeds, with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) illuminating. Another complaint describes rattling noises and rough transitions between electric and gas modes in hybrid models.
There are reports of electronic power steering and braking systems failing simultaneously at highway speeds, causing a near-collision. Another owner had a tire fail catastrophically shortly after a TPMS warning was supposedly fixed.
Owners describe the system braking unexpectedly or failing to respond, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. These incidents occurred repeatedly under similar conditions, raising concerns about reliability.
Fuel pump issues are noted in recalls, and some owners report persistent odors and other fuel-related problems. These can lead to stalling or difficulty starting.
“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 Cruze Limited
No recalls on record.
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 Cruze Limited or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Cruze Limited has fewer complaints per year (240) compared to the Honda Accord (452.4), but the Accord has many recalls that address safety defects. In practice, the Cruze Limited may have fewer reported issues overall, but the Accord's problems tend to be more severe and are often subject to official recalls.
Key differences
- The Chevrolet Cruze Limited has 240 complaints in one year with no recalls, while the Honda Accord has 4,524 complaints over ten years and 38 recalls, meaning many Accord issues are covered by safety campaigns.
- Cruze Limited owners frequently report engine codes and water leaks, whereas Accord owners describe sudden loss of power and electronic steering/braking failures.
- The Accord has 162 crash-related complaints and 3 deaths, compared to 19 crash-related and 0 deaths for the Cruze Limited, though these figures are not adjusted for sales volume.
- Forward collision avoidance problems are a top complaint for the Accord but not listed for the Cruze Limited, indicating a different set of safety concerns.
- Check for engine trouble codes, especially P0011, and listen for unusual noises; a history of cylinder head or engine replacement is a major red flag.
- Inspect the trunk for water leaks and test all electrical components, including the radio and blinkers, as owners report persistent leaks and random electrical glitches.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, and watch for any warning lights; sudden failure has been reported.
- Verify that any forward collision avoidance or adaptive cruise control recalls have been performed, and test the system for unexpected braking or failure to respond.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially for the Honda Accord.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on engine, electrical, and transmission issues.
- For the Cruze Limited, ask for maintenance records related to engine codes and water leak repairs.
- For the Accord, confirm that all recall work, especially for electrical and fuel system issues, has been completed.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds and cold starts, to observe any symptoms.
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 Cruze Limited or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Cruze Limited vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Cruze Limited total complaints
- 240
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Chevrolet Cruze Limited total recalls
- 0
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet Cruze Limited avg complaints/year
- 240.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Cruze Limited
- Chevrolet Cruze Limited top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE