Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Malibu vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet Malibu 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 Malibu vs Honda Accord: The Malibu averages 298 complaints per year with 29 recalls, while the Accord averages 452 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs 94) and injuries (146 vs 71). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Malibu or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-size sedan that has averaged about 298 complaints per year over the past decade, with 29 recalls. Owners frequently report engine and electrical problems, including no-start conditions and reduced power. The complaint pattern suggests that living with a Malibu often involves dealing with intermittent starting issues and transmission jerking, which can be frustrating and potentially risky in traffic.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular mid-size sedan with about 452 complaints per year and 38 recalls over the same period. Complaints often involve engine and electrical issues, such as power steering and braking failures, as well as forward collision avoidance problems. These reports indicate that while the Accord is generally well-regarded, some owners experience serious safety-related defects that require attention.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Malibu | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,982 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 29 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 94 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 298.2 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 71 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 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 Malibu
- 01ENGINE1,027
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM812
- 03POWER TRAIN678
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER648
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL445
Owners report that the Malibu sometimes will not start when pressing the start button and brake, with dashboard warnings like 'Service ESC' and 'Engine Power is Reduced.' Others describe lost power and hard shifting, especially on cold starts, which can cause the car to hesitate when pulling into traffic.
Complaints include the same no-start condition with 'Service ESC' and 'Engine Power is Reduced' messages, as well as intermittent rearview camera failure. These electrical glitches can leave drivers stranded or without a key safety feature.
Owners report that the vehicle may not start, and when it does, it may lose power and shift improperly, jerking hard on cold starts. This can make merging or accelerating feel unpredictable and unsafe.
Although specific complaints are not detailed in the sample, this component ranks high in complaint counts. Issues here could involve unintended acceleration or cruise control problems, which are serious safety concerns.
“My vehicle sometimes will not start when I press the Start Button and press the brakes at the same time. The dashboard will light up with a message that says “Service ESC” followed by “Engine Power is Reduced”. When it does start, I can drive the vehicle for…”
“My 2024 Chevy Malibu has lost power and is not shifting properly yet it’s not displaying any codes. It shifts and jerks very hard when on a cold start but also will not get up and go when I pull into traffic. This has caused me to almost get hit numerous time…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure, with the vehicle losing speed and unable to accelerate. Another complaint mentions rattling noises while accelerating and rough transitions between EV and gas modes, with noticeable jerks.
Reports include electronic power steering and braking systems failing and locking up at highway speeds, causing near-collisions. Another complaint involves a TPMS warning that led to a tire failure after service, indicating potential electrical or sensor-related safety issues.
Owners report that the system fails to resolve threats, with incidents occurring under similar conditions, such as adaptive cruise control suddenly braking or not reacting. This can lead to unexpected braking or failure to avoid collisions.
Specific complaints are not detailed in the sample, but this component ranks high. Issues could include fuel pump failures or propulsion problems, which may cause stalling or loss of power.
“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 Malibu — 29 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.
The risk: A rearview image that does not display correctly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2026. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N2625…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.
The risk: A rearview image that does not display correctly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2026. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N2625…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.
The risk: A rearview image that does not display correctly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2026. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N2625…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Cadillac XT4 and Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The vehicles may have the wrong owner's manual in the glove box. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorag…
The risk: The wrong owner's manual may contain inaccurate information about vehicle functions and other safety relevant information, which could lead to improper operation of the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will provide owners with the correct manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 26, 2024. Owners may contact Cadillac's customer service at 1-800-458-8006 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.…
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 Malibu or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Malibu has fewer complaints per year (about 298) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), suggesting the Malibu may have fewer reported issues overall. However, the Accord's complaints include more crash-related incidents and injuries, indicating that when problems occur, they may be more severe. In practice, the Malibu might require less frequent attention, but the Accord's issues could be more dangerous.
Key differences
- The Malibu has about 298 complaints per year, while the Accord has about 452, meaning the Accord has more frequent owner-reported issues.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (162 vs 94) and injuries (146 vs 71), suggesting its reported defects may lead to more severe outcomes.
- Malibu owners frequently report no-start conditions and transmission jerking, while Accord owners report power steering and braking failures at speed.
- Both have engine and electrical complaints, but the Accord also has notable forward collision avoidance issues, which the Malibu does not list as a top component.
- Check for intermittent no-start conditions: try starting the car multiple times, especially when pressing the brake, and look for 'Service ESC' or 'Engine Power is Reduced' warnings.
- Test the rearview camera for intermittent failure, as this is a known issue and may be covered under recall; ensure it works consistently.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible; look for any warning lights or loss of assist.
- Check for forward collision avoidance system functionality: ensure adaptive cruise control and automatic braking work without sudden or unexpected behavior.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Malibu's rearview camera and the Accord's fuel pump and electrical recalls.
- During a test drive, pay attention to transmission shifting, engine power delivery, and any warning lights on the dashboard.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including battery, alternator, and sensors, as both cars have high electrical complaint counts.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems if equipped.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether any recurring issues like no-start or power loss have been 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 Malibu | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 109 |
| 2024 | 42 | 219 |
| 2023 | 70 | 226 |
| 2022 | 98 | 252 |
| 2021 | 89 | 234 |
| 2020 | 198 | 362 |
| 2019 | 191 | 691 |
| 2018 | 698 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 724 | 537 |
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 Malibu or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Malibu vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Malibu total complaints
- 2,982
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Chevrolet Malibu total recalls
- 29
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet Malibu avg complaints/year
- 298.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Chevrolet Malibu top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE