Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet HHR vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet HHR 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 HHR vs Honda Accord: The HHR averages 596 complaints per year with 8 deaths, while the Accord averages 444 per year with 3 deaths. The HHR's top issues are steering and electrical, while the Accord's are engine and electrical. Both have recalls for critical systems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet HHR or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet HHR
The Chevrolet HHR is a compact wagon that, based on owner complaints, can be a headache to live with. It averages about 596 complaints per year, with steering and electrical problems dominating the list. Many owners report sudden loss of power steering assist and electrical glitches that affect multiple systems, which can make everyday driving stressful. Fuel leaks and air bag concerns also appear in the data, so a thorough inspection is essential before buying.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mid-size sedan with a lower complaint rate per year—about 444—but still has notable issues. Engine and electrical complaints are most common, along with problems with forward collision avoidance systems. Some owners report serious engine failures and electrical faults that can affect braking and other safety features. While the Accord has fewer complaints per year than the HHR, the types of problems can be just as serious.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet HHR | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,574 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 28 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 171 | 160 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 595.7 | 443.8 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 142 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 8 | 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 HHR
- 01STEERING1,562
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM750
- 03AIR BAGS332
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM316
- 05STRUCTURE261
Owners frequently report that the steering becomes very hard to turn, especially at low speeds, due to an electrical glitch in the computer. This can make parking and lane maintenance difficult and is a major safety concern.
Complaints describe electrical glitches causing fluctuating lights, warnings, and gauges, as well as ignition switch sticking. These issues can lead to unpredictable vehicle behavior and may be expensive to diagnose and fix.
Several owners report fuel line leaks, often due to corrosion where lines are encased in tape near the exhaust. This can result in a strong gas smell and puddles under the car, posing a fire risk.
Air bag complaints are often linked to the same electrical glitch that affects steering and other systems. This raises concerns that air bags may not deploy properly in a crash, though the exact failure mode is not detailed in the sample.
“There is a serious electrical glitch that's in the computer, that causes the car to perform poorly at a slow speed, which cases the steering to become very hard to turn, and maintain lanes while driving. All lights, warnings, and gauges fluctuate back and for…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and critical failure warnings that can cause the vehicle to lose speed unexpectedly. Some complaints involve new vehicles with low mileage, suggesting potential manufacturing defects.
Electrical issues include TPMS warnings, tire failures after service, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. These can lead to sudden tire blowouts or engine problems, and may be costly to repair.
Complaints describe intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams. These malfunctions can occur without warning and may reduce the effectiveness of driver-assist features.
Brake-related complaints include antilock/traction control issues and critical failure warnings. Some owners experience brake system alarms along with loss of speed, which could compromise stopping ability.
“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 HHR — 28 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: 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…
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…
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 HHR or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has fewer complaints per year (about 444) compared to the Chevrolet HHR (about 596), suggesting it may be less troublesome overall. However, the Accord's issues often involve complex engine and electrical systems, while the HHR's problems are more frequently related to steering and fuel leaks. In practice, the Accord might require fewer visits to the shop, but when problems occur, they can be serious and expensive.
Key differences
- The Chevrolet HHR has a much higher rate of steering complaints, often described as sudden loss of power steering assist, while the Honda Accord's top issue is engine problems that can cause loss of power.
- HHR owners frequently report fuel leaks from corroded lines, a safety risk not prominent in Accord complaints.
- The Accord has more complaints about forward collision avoidance systems failing intermittently, which can affect driver-assist features.
- The HHR has a higher complaint rate per year, but the Accord's complaints include serious engine and electrical failures even in newer models.
- During a test drive, check for heavy or unresponsive steering at low speeds, which could indicate the electrical glitch owners report.
- Inspect the fuel lines near the left rear wheel for signs of corrosion, leaks, or a strong gasoline smell, especially after the car has been driven.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and watch for warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent, as these may signal critical failures.
- Test all driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, to ensure they engage and disengage properly without intermittent errors.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially for the HHR's ignition switch and the Accord's fuel pump and brake issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the HHR's steering and fuel lines, and the Accord's engine and electrical systems.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or changes in steering and braking feel.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any recall repairs have been completed.
- Check the age and condition of tires, especially on the Accord, as some complaints involve tire failures after service.
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 HHR or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet HHR vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet HHR total complaints
- 3,574
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Chevrolet HHR total recalls
- 28
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet HHR avg complaints/year
- 595.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Honda Accord
- Chevrolet HHR top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE