Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Express vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet Express 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 Express vs Honda Accord: The Express averaged 44.5 complaints per year with 28 recalls, while the Accord had 443.8 complaints per year and 38 recalls. The Express's top issues are brakes and power train; the Accord's are engine and electrical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Express or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Express
The Chevrolet Express is a full-size van often used as a work vehicle or converted into a motorhome. Over 10 years, it has averaged about 44.5 complaints per year, with the most common issues involving service brakes, power train, and electrical system. Owners report problems like transmission clunking and brake performance issues, which can be costly and affect safety. With 28 recalls and 27 crash-related complaints, it's important to have any used Express thoroughly inspected.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with a much higher complaint volume: about 443.8 per year over the past decade. The most frequent complaints involve the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with some owners reporting serious issues like sudden power loss and unintended braking. There are also 38 recalls and 160 crash-related complaints, including 3 deaths. While many complaints may be resolved under warranty, the sheer number suggests that buyers should be vigilant about checking for outstanding recalls and known defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Express | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 445 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 28 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 44.5 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 20 Better | 144 |
| 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 Express
- 01SERVICE BRAKES152
- 02POWER TRAIN108
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM69
- 04AIR BAGS46
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE42
Owners of the Chevrolet Express report brake-related issues, including failure to accelerate while braking, as seen in a 2019 model complaint. This could indicate problems with the brake system that might affect stopping ability, so a buyer should have the brakes inspected by a mechanic.
A recurring transmission defect is reported, with symptoms like clunking sounds when slowing down, rough shifting, and check engine lights. This can lead to expensive repairs and potential breakdowns, so checking transmission service history is crucial.
Electrical problems include incidents where a parked van on a hill had issues with the rear passenger sliding door, as described in a rental van complaint. Such faults can cause doors to malfunction or not secure properly, posing a risk to occupants.
Air bag complaints often involve crashes where the air bags did not deploy as expected, such as a van being pushed into a barrier by a semi. This raises concerns about occupant protection in severe collisions, so buyers should verify if any air bag recalls apply.
“The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Express NAV. The motorhome is a 2020 Coachman Freelander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, during the night and in the rain, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the acce…”
“The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Express NAV. The motorhome is a 2020 Coachman Freelander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, during the night and in the rain, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the acce…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Honda Accord owners report engine noises and sudden power loss, with one complaint describing alarms and loss of speed at highway speeds. This can be dangerous and may require costly engine repairs, so a pre-purchase inspection should focus on engine performance.
Electrical issues include TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. These can lead to unexpected breakdowns and safety hazards, so checking for electrical faults and tire condition is advised.
Many complaints involve the forward collision avoidance system, with warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams, sometimes causing unintended braking. This can be distracting and potentially dangerous, so buyers should test these systems thoroughly.
Complaints in this category include sunroof glass exploding and tire failures after service. These unpredictable issues can be alarming and costly, so a thorough inspection of the sunroof and tires is recommended.
“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 Express — 28 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Express Cutaway, and 2025-2026 Savana Cutaway vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a tire with sidewall damage.
The risk: A tire with sidewall damage may experience sudden air loss or driver loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect all tire sidewalls and replace tires with sidewall damage, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 27, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. The gear shifter may provide inaccurate gear selection feedback to the driver due to an incorrectly manufactured steering column assembly.
The risk: Inaccurate gear selection may result in unexpected vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Until the remedy is performed, owners are advised to visually verify the shift position indicator each time a gear is selected and always use the parking brake when the vehicle is parked. Dealers will replace the transmission control on th…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Express, and 2025-2026 Savana vehicles. The steering gear assembly may have a nut that was not properly tightened.
The risk: A loose nut that separates from the steering gear assembly while driving can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering gear assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 20, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Express Cutaway, and 2025-2026 Savana Cutaway vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a tire with sidewall damage.
The risk: A tire with sidewall damage may experience sudden air loss or driver loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect all tire sidewalls and replace tires with sidewall damage, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 27, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service…
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 Express or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Express has far fewer complaints per year (about 44.5) compared to the Honda Accord (about 443.8), but the Accord's higher volume may reflect its greater popularity. In practice, the Express may have fewer reported issues overall, but both vehicles have significant safety-related complaints. Buyers should weigh the frequency and severity of problems against their needs.
Key differences
- The Chevrolet Express has about 44.5 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord has about 443.8, indicating a much higher complaint rate for the Accord.
- The Express's top issues are service brakes and power train, with reports of transmission clunking and brake performance problems.
- The Accord's top issues are engine and electrical system, with reports of sudden power loss and electrical failures like tire sensor issues.
- Both have forward collision avoidance complaints, but the Accord has many more (821 vs. 42), often involving false warnings and unintended braking.
- Check for transmission clunking or rough shifting during a test drive, as owners report these symptoms leading to check engine lights.
- Inspect the brakes for proper function and look for any signs of failure to accelerate while braking, as reported in some complaints.
- Listen for engine noises and be alert for any loss of power or warning alarms during a test drive, as these are common complaints.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system, including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, for intermittent warnings or unintended braking.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the transmission (Express) or engine and electrical systems (Accord).
- During a test drive, pay attention to any unusual noises, warning lights, or performance issues, especially related to brakes and transmission for the Express, and engine and safety systems for the Accord.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for transmission service on the Express and any electrical or engine repairs on the Accord.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been remedied, and if not, factor in the cost and time to have them addressed.
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 Express | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | 1 | 214 |
| 2023 | 2 | 224 |
| 2022 | 32 | 238 |
| 2021 | 67 | 226 |
| 2020 | 84 | 355 |
| 2019 | 48 | 677 |
| 2018 | 62 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 149 | 534 |
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 Express or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Express vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Express total complaints
- 445
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Chevrolet Express total recalls
- 28
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet Express avg complaints/year
- 44.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Express
- Chevrolet Express top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE