Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Spark vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet Spark 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 Spark vs Honda Accord: The Spark has 527 complaints over 10 years (about 53 per year) and 0 deaths, while the Accord has 4,524 complaints (about 452 per year) and 3 deaths. Both have recalls for air bags and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Spark or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Spark
The Chevrolet Spark is a subcompact car with a relatively low complaint volume—about 53 per year over a decade—but owners report serious issues in the power train, engine, and electrical systems. Many complaints describe transmission problems, engine failures, and electrical faults that can lead to breakdowns. Brake and air bag complaints also appear, including a recall for passenger-side air bag inflators. For a first-time buyer, this means the Spark can be affordable but may require careful inspection and maintenance.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mid-size car with a much higher complaint rate—about 452 per year—and a wide range of reported problems, especially in the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance. Owners describe sudden loss of power, electronic steering and braking failures, and unintended automatic braking. There are also recalls for hybrid software, fuel pumps, and seat belts. While the Accord is popular, the volume and severity of complaints suggest that some model years may have significant reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Spark | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 527 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 48 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 52.7 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 46 Better | 146 |
| 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 Spark
- 01POWER TRAIN127
- 02ENGINE112
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM100
- 04SERVICE BRAKES65
- 05AIR BAGS60
Owners report transmission issues, including rough shifting and indecision, with some saying the problems span multiple model years. These can lead to costly repairs and unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include severe mechanical and electrical problems discovered soon after purchase, and in one case the engine had to be replaced. This indicates potential premature engine failure.
Owners describe breakdowns and unusual responses after repairs, such as a car that broke down and needed an engine replacement. Electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and expensive to fix.
Reports include loud noises, a feeling that the car won't stop, and loss of vacuum assist making the brake pedal extremely hard to push. Brake failure is a critical safety concern.
“I lease a car through Carvana, and they informed me that the car was safe and properly inspected. In the first 2 weeks, I took the Chevrolet to a certified dealership for a routine inspection. I was informed that the vehicle has severe mechanical and electric…”
“I feel that there are issues with the transmissions on the 2017 Chevy spark. I noticed that there have been complaints in years such as 2014 and 2019. I find that my 2017 exhibits exact same transmission issues as years that came before or after. Lots of inde…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report sudden loss of power, alarms for brake and stability systems, and rattling noises during acceleration. These issues can leave drivers stranded or unable to maintain speed.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and tire failure after TPMS service. Such failures can cause loss of control.
Owners describe unintended automatic braking and adaptive cruise control malfunctions that occur without warning. These defects can cause sudden deceleration and increase crash risk.
There are complaints of rough transitions between EV and gas modes, jerking when the engine starts, and a recall for fuel pump issues. These can affect drivability and safety.
“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 Spark — 19 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
The risk: If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-22…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Spark vehicles. In the event of a crash, if a young child is seated improperly and not wearing a seat belt while in the front passenger seat, deployment of the front passenger air bag may injure the occupant's neck. As such, these veh…
The risk: In the event of a crash with a frontal air bag deployment, an unbelted child in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17199.
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Spark vehicles. In the event of a crash, if a young child is seated improperly and not wearing a seat belt while in the front passenger seat, deployment of the front passenger air bag may injure the occupant's neck. As such, these veh…
The risk: In the event of a crash with a frontal air bag deployment, an unbelted child in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17199.
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leave…
The risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
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 Spark or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Spark has far fewer complaints per year (about 53) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452), but both have serious safety-related issues. In practice, the Spark may have fewer overall problems, but the Accord's higher volume means more owners report failures, some of which are severe. Buyers should weigh the lower complaint rate against the specific types of failures reported.
Key differences
- The Spark averages about 53 complaints per year, while the Accord averages about 452 per year, a roughly eightfold difference.
- Spark owners frequently report transmission and engine problems, whereas Accord owners report sudden power loss and electronic steering/braking failures.
- The Accord has 3 reported deaths and 146 injuries in complaints, compared to 0 deaths and 46 injuries for the Spark.
- Both have air bag recalls, but the Accord also has recalls for hybrid software, fuel pumps, and seat belts.
- Check for transmission shuddering, delayed engagement, or rough shifting during a test drive, as owners report these symptoms.
- Listen for loud noises when braking and test the brake pedal for firmness; a hard pedal could indicate loss of vacuum assist.
- Test all electronic systems, including power steering and brakes, and watch for warning lights for brake, ABS, or hill descent systems.
- Ask if the forward collision avoidance system has ever activated unexpectedly, and check for any recalls related to fuel pump or hybrid software.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the transmission, engine, and electrical systems, focusing on the specific complaints for each model.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any unusual noises, warning lights, or hesitation in acceleration or braking.
- For the Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control if equipped.
- For the Spark, check the brake pedal feel and listen for transmission whines or clunks.
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 Spark | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 252 |
| 2021 | 6 | 234 |
| 2020 | 19 | 362 |
| 2019 | 14 | 691 |
| 2018 | 9 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 29 | 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 Spark or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
No VIN yet? Ask the seller.
A genuine seller should be happy to share it. Send this, then paste the VIN into the box above when it comes back.
Going to see one?
Get the Chevrolet Spark inspection checklist by email, so you know what to look for when you're standing next to it.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Spark vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Spark total complaints
- 527
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Chevrolet Spark total recalls
- 19
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet Spark avg complaints/year
- 52.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Spark
- Chevrolet Spark top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE