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 has fewer complaints per year (296.1) than the Accord (443.8), but its engine and electrical issues can cause no-start and power loss. The Accord's forward collision avoidance system is a frequent source of false alerts. Both have recalls, but the Accord's higher complaint rate includes many safety-tech glitches. 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, in ownership terms, is a mainstream midsize sedan that has been on the market for years, but its reliability record shows a pattern of recurring issues that could affect daily usability. Owners report problems with the engine not starting, losing power, and shifting harshly, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous in traffic. Electrical system complaints often tie into the same starting and power reduction issues, suggesting a systemic problem. While not every car will have these issues, the frequency and severity of reports indicate that a used Malibu may require careful inspection and potentially costly repairs.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan known for its reputation, but the data reveals a mix of advanced technology and traditional mechanical concerns. Owners report engine noises and sudden loss of power with warning lights, which could be related to electrical or braking systems. The forward collision avoidance system is a frequent source of complaints, with false activations or system errors that can be distracting or dangerous. Electrical issues, including tire pressure monitoring problems and rodent damage to wiring, also appear, but the overall pattern suggests a vehicle with complex systems that may need attention as it ages.
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 | 2,961 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 29 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 92 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 296.1 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 70 Better | 144 |
| 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
- 01ENGINE1,023
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM807
- 03POWER TRAIN673
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER646
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL443
Owners report intermittent no-start conditions when pressing the start button, often accompanied by 'Service ESC' and 'Engine Power is Reduced' messages. Others describe a loss of power and hard shifting, especially on cold starts, which can lead to dangerous situations when merging into traffic.
Electrical issues often manifest as the same starting and power reduction problems, but also include a faulty rearview camera that fails intermittently, covered by a recall. This can impair visibility and increase the risk of backing into something.
Transmission-related complaints include hard jerking shifts and a lack of power, with no diagnostic codes, making it difficult to pinpoint the issue. This can affect drivability and acceleration, posing a safety risk in traffic.
“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
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Some owners report unusual engine noises from early on, while others experience sudden loss of speed with multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) indicating a critical failure. These issues can lead to unexpected breakdowns or reduced control.
Electrical complaints include a TPMS warning that was repaired but led to a catastrophic tire failure hours later, and rodent damage to the camshaft position wiring harness, which can cause engine performance issues. These problems highlight potential vulnerabilities in the vehicle's electronics.
The forward collision avoidance system is a major source of complaints, with reports of false activations at highway speeds or intermittent system errors affecting adaptive cruise control and lane keeping. These malfunctions can be startling and may undermine driver trust in safety features.
“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 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 (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 Malibu or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has a higher average number of complaints per year (443.8) compared to the Chevrolet Malibu (296.1), but the Malibu's issues are more concentrated in engine and electrical systems that can leave you stranded. The Accord's complaints are spread across more areas, including advanced safety tech, which might be more manageable but still indicates potential problems. In practice, the Malibu may have fewer complaints but they could be more severe, while the Accord's higher count includes many false alarms from driver-assistance systems.
Key differences
- The Malibu's most common complaints are about engine starting and power loss, while the Accord's top issue is false activations of the forward collision avoidance system.
- The Accord has more complaints per year overall, but the Malibu has a higher proportion of engine-related complaints (1023 out of 2961) compared to the Accord (985 out of 4438).
- The Malibu has a recall for the rearview camera, while the Accord has recalls for hybrid power control unit software, spare tire, ABS control unit, occupant classification sensor, and fuel pump.
- The Accord's complaints include a sunroof glass explosion and rodent damage to wiring, which are not typical for the Malibu.
- Check for any hesitation or failure when starting the engine, especially with the push-button start, and look for 'Service ESC' or 'Engine Power is Reduced' messages.
- Inspect the rearview camera for intermittent failures, as this is a known recall issue that could affect visibility.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system on a safe road to ensure it doesn't activate without reason, and check for any warning lights related to adaptive cruise control or lane keeping.
- Look for signs of rodent damage under the hood, such as chewed wires, especially if the car is parked outdoors.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine and transmission for the Malibu, and on the electrical and braking systems for the Accord.
- Check the vehicle's recall status on the NHTSA website and ensure all recalls have been addressed.
- Test drive both vehicles, paying attention to starting behavior, shifting smoothness, and any warning lights that appear.
- Ask for service records to see if any of the common issues have already been repaired.
- Consider a vehicle history report to check for any reported accidents or previous complaints.
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 | 101 |
| 2024 | 39 | 214 |
| 2023 | 68 | 224 |
| 2022 | 94 | 238 |
| 2021 | 88 | 226 |
| 2020 | 195 | 355 |
| 2019 | 189 | 677 |
| 2018 | 694 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 723 | 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 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
- 2,961
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Chevrolet Malibu total recalls
- 29
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet Malibu avg complaints/year
- 296.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Chevrolet Malibu top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE