Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet SS vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet SS 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 SS vs Honda Accord: The SS averages 24.8 complaints per year with 0 injuries and 0 deaths, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 146 injuries and 3 deaths. The SS has 23 recalls; the Accord has 38. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet SS or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet SS
The Chevrolet SS is a low-volume, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan, so you'll see far fewer of them on the road and in the shop. Over four model years, owners filed 99 complaints—about 25 per year—with steering problems dominating the list. Recalls are frequent (23), and several involve safety-critical systems like power steering and seat belts. Living with one means staying on top of open recalls and being ready for steering repairs that some dealers struggle to fix.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan and hybrid, so complaints pile up fast: 4,524 over ten years, or about 452 per year. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with 162 crash-related reports, 146 injuries, and 3 deaths. Recalls cover hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, and seat belt retractors. For a buyer, this means many Accords are affected by major recalls, and some owners report serious failures at highway speeds.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet SS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 99 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 23 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 24.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 SS
- 01STEERING62
- 02SEAT BELTS13
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
- 04AIR BAGS7
- 05SUSPENSION5
Owners report sudden loss of power steering, often tied to the electric power assist system or a steering rack recall. Some say their VIN isn't covered even though the symptom matches, leaving them to pay for repairs themselves.
Complaints describe seat belt tensioner cables that can rub against trim and fray or cut, which may stop the belt from restraining you in a crash. One owner said their car sat at the dealer for nearly a month waiting for a recall fix.
The MyLink infotainment system can glitch, especially with Bluetooth apps like Pandora, and water intrusion has been linked to failed detection systems. These issues are annoying but can also affect safety features if they disable warnings.
Owners report airbag warning lights coming on because of a faulty seatbelt tensioner cable or a passenger seat sensor. If the light is on, the airbag may not deploy correctly in a crash, so it's a must-fix before purchase.
“Collapsed lifter on cyl 6. Lifter tick / knock since 100,200 miles. Car has a warranty until 5/2026 or 171,000 miles and they refuse to honor it. Car has a steering issue. Two separate chevy dealerships unable to fix. vanderevere charged me 500-600 to fix NOT…”
“I OWN A 2016 CHEVROLET SS SEDAN, THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING RACK DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT RANDOM TIMES DUE TO THEIR CHOICE TO CUT COSTS IN THE INITIAL ASSEMBLY. MY VIN IS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL, MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN DEC…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe sudden power loss, multiple dashboard alarms (brake, hill descent, ABS), and rattling noises during acceleration. Some say the car jerks when switching between EV and gas modes, and Honda has not always fixed it under warranty.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, as well as TPMS warnings followed by tire failure. These are severe safety risks that can leave you without steering or brakes.
Owners report the system braking unexpectedly or failing to intervene when it should, sometimes under adaptive cruise control. This can cause near-collisions or sudden speed drops on the highway.
There are reports of fuel pump failures and hybrid power control issues that can stall the car. Recalls exist for fuel pumps and hybrid software, but not every vehicle may be covered.
“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 SS — 23 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS and Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicles (PPV) that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 16V-518. The repair may not have been performed properly. The driver's seat belt tensioner cable may be repeatedly bent over the seat…
The risk: If the tensioner cable separates, the driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to determine whether the new seat trim was installed and replace the trim as necessary. Dealers will also inspect and replace the pretensioner cable assembly, as necessary. Repai…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles (PPV) and SS vehicles. Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
The risk: A greater steering effort would be needed to control the vehicle if power steering is lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N192285350.
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS vehicles that previously received an inspect-only remedy under recall 17V-382. Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
The risk: A greater steering effort would be needed to control the vehicle if power steering is lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 27, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS vehicles that previously received an inspect-only remedy under recall 17V-382. Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
The risk: A greater steering effort would be needed to control the vehicle if power steering is lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 27, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's…
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 SS or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet SS has far fewer complaints per year (about 25 vs. 452 for the Accord), but it also sells in much smaller numbers. The Accord's higher volume means more reported problems overall, including 146 injuries and 3 deaths, while the SS shows 0 injuries and 0 deaths in the data. In practice, the SS may have fewer total issues, but the Accord's issues are more widespread and include severe safety failures.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Chevrolet SS averages about 25 complaints per year; Honda Accord averages about 452 per year.
- Crash/injury data: SS has 3 crash-related reports, 0 injuries, 0 deaths; Accord has 162 crash-related, 146 injuries, 3 deaths.
- Top failure areas: SS is dominated by steering (62 complaints) and seat belts (13); Accord is led by engine (1,006), electrical (895), and forward collision avoidance (837).
- Recall focus: SS recalls center on steering and seat belts; Accord recalls cover hybrid power control software, fuel pumps, and rear seat belt retractors.
- Check for power steering loss or warning lights—test drive at low and high speeds and listen for whining or stiffness.
- Inspect seat belts for fraying or cuts near the trim, and confirm the tensioner recall was performed.
- Test the electronic power steering and brakes at highway speed; any warning lights or sudden stiffness are a red flag.
- Ask for proof that hybrid power control software and fuel pump recalls were completed, and check for rotten-egg odors or rough EV-to-gas transitions.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific car.
- For the SS, test steering at various speeds and check seat belt condition and recall status.
- For the Accord, test drive on the highway to feel for braking or steering failures, and ask for hybrid software update records.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on the top complaint areas.
- Ask the seller for all repair and recall paperwork, and walk away if major safety recalls are still open.
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 SS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 7 | 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 SS 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 SS 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 SS vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet SS total complaints
- 99
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Chevrolet SS total recalls
- 23
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet SS avg complaints/year
- 24.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet SS
- Chevrolet SS top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE