Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Impala vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet Impala 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 Impala vs Honda Accord: The Impala averages 229.7 complaints per year, while the Accord averages 443.8. The Impala has more steering and electrical issues, while the Accord has more engine and forward collision avoidance problems. Both have recalls, but the Accord has more. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Impala or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala, as a used car, shows a pattern of electrical and steering troubles that can surface even at low mileage. Owners report issues like sudden power loss, hard steering, and warning lights that dealers sometimes can't diagnose. While it has fewer complaints per year than the Accord, the nature of these failures—especially electrical ones that can cause stalling—makes it a vehicle that demands careful inspection and a solid warranty.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, while more popular and with a higher complaint count, also shows a concerning number of issues, particularly with the engine and forward collision avoidance systems. Owners describe sudden loss of power, alarming dashboard warnings, and problems with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping that can be intermittent. The Accord also has a higher rate of crashes and injuries reported, which may reflect its larger sales volume but still warrants attention.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Impala | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,297 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 23 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 112 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 229.7 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 97 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 Impala
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM589
- 02ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)430
- 03STEERING341
- 04ENGINE322
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER294
Owners report the check engine light coming on, followed by a complete loss of power and the car turning off while driving, as well as issues with the emissions system. This can be dangerous if it happens in traffic.
Hard steering is a common complaint, with some owners saying the dealer couldn't find a problem or get a reading. This can make the car difficult to control, especially at low speeds.
Some owners report a loud bang and subsequent inspection revealing a blown catalytic converter, along with issues in the fuel and electrical systems. This suggests potential for expensive repairs.
“I purchased this vehicle in a CHEVY DEALERSHIP in palatine, IL. [XXX]. 50k miles a chevy impala around 38k total with taxes and all. A month later I had to pay 200 for a diagnostic at the dealership to check an issue with the steering. They said nothing was w…”
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RECENTLY CAME ON, CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND TURNED OFF DURING AS I TURNED RIGHT AT A LIGHT, HAD ONSTAR RUN DIAGNOSTICS, CODE INVOLVED THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM, WAS ADVISED TO FILL UP WITH HIGH QUALITY FUEL, AND DRIVE WITH THE GAS CAP OFF TO…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report a noise that gets louder over time, and in some cases, a sudden loss of speed accompanied by warnings for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. This points to possible engine or drivetrain problems.
There are reports of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings that were 'fixed' but followed by a catastrophic tire failure, as well as rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can lead to various electrical issues.
The system can trigger warnings or interventions without any obstruction, and owners report intermittent problems with adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. This can be annoying and potentially dangerous if the system acts unexpectedly.
“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 Impala — 23 recalls
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 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: 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) is recalling certain…
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. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, a…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors custom…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured March 22, 2013, to May 22, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actuation arm may not fully retract causing the brake pads to stay partially engaged. Thus, these vehicl…
The risk: Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.
The fix: GM has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the electronic parking brake control module with new software, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number…
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 Impala or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Impala has fewer complaints per year (229.7) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), suggesting a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Impala's problems, particularly electrical and steering, can be serious and may lead to unexpected breakdowns. The Accord's higher count is partly due to its popularity, but the nature of its issues—especially with safety systems—should not be overlooked.
Key differences
- The Impala has more complaints about steering (341) and electronic stability control (430), while the Accord has more about engine (985) and forward collision avoidance (821).
- The Accord has a higher number of crash-related complaints (160 vs 112) and injuries (144 vs 97), but also more recalls (38 vs 23).
- Impala owners report sudden power loss and stalling, while Accord owners report intermittent issues with driver-assist features and engine warnings.
- The Accord has a higher average complaints per year (443.8) than the Impala (229.7), but this may be due to higher sales volume.
- Check for any history of electrical system repairs, especially related to stalling or power loss.
- Test the steering at various speeds and listen for unusual noises or resistance.
- Ask about any repairs to the forward collision avoidance system or adaptive cruise control, and test them on a safe road.
- Inspect the engine for any signs of oil leaks or unusual noises, and check for any pending recalls.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the electrical system and steering for the Impala, and the engine and driver-assist systems for the Accord.
- Test drive both vehicles on the highway and in stop-and-go traffic to feel for any hesitation or warning lights.
- Ask for service records and verify that any previous repairs were done by a qualified technician.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty or service contract to cover potential costly repairs.
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 Impala | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 15 | 355 |
| 2019 | 28 | 677 |
| 2018 | 59 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 116 | 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 Impala or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Impala vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Impala total complaints
- 2,297
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Chevrolet Impala total recalls
- 23
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet Impala avg complaints/year
- 229.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Impala
- Chevrolet Impala top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE