Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Trailblazer vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet Trailblazer 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 Trailblazer vs Honda Accord: The Trailblazer averages 277 complaints per year with 18 deaths, while the Accord averages 444 complaints per year with 3 deaths. Fuel system issues dominate Trailblazer reports, whereas Accord complaints focus on engine and forward collision avoidance. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Trailblazer or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Trailblazer
The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a compact SUV that has been on the road for about a decade. Over that time, owners have filed 2,773 complaints, averaging 277 per year, with fuel system and gasoline issues dominating the list. Electrical problems are also common, often leading to sudden loss of safety systems or battery warnings. While the Trailblazer has fewer complaints per year than some rivals, the high number of fuel-related reports and 18 deaths in crash data suggest serious safety concerns that buyers should investigate.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a long-standing reputation for reliability, but NHTSA data shows 4,438 complaints over 10 years, or about 444 per year. Engine and electrical system complaints are most frequent, with many owners reporting noises, stalling, or warning lights. Forward collision avoidance issues also appear often, sometimes with intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control and lane keeping. Despite these numbers, the Accord has only 3 deaths in crash data, far fewer than the Trailblazer.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Trailblazer | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,773 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 86 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 277.3 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 93 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 18 | 3 Better |
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 Trailblazer
- 01FUEL SYSTEM952
- 02GASOLINE773
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM703
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING336
- 05POWER TRAIN182
Owners report fuel system problems, including gasoline odors and potential leaks, which can be a fire hazard. With 952 complaints, this is the most common issue and a major safety concern.
Many complaints describe sudden loss of critical safety systems, battery not charging warnings, and flickering lights. These electrical glitches can leave drivers stranded or without essential functions.
Owners report that LED headlights are so bright they cause oncoming drivers to flash high beams, and some experience battery warnings that lead to stalling. This affects nighttime driving safety and can be a daily annoyance.
While less common, power train complaints include transmission issues and loss of power. These can be expensive to repair and may affect vehicle dependability.
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report engine noises, loss of power, and stalling, sometimes with multiple warning lights. These issues can occur at low mileage and may require major repairs.
Complaints include TPMS warnings, tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, leading to repeated dealer visits.
Many owners experience intermittent failures of adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams. These safety features may not work when needed, increasing crash risk.
Brake-related complaints include premature wear and failure of ABS or traction control systems. Brake problems can compromise stopping ability and are costly to fix.
“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 Trailblazer — 18 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Buick Encore GX and 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The emergency jack, if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner's manual, can fracture while in use.
The risk: A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the jack, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owner of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 26, 2021. A second notice will be mailed once remedy parts become available. Owners may con…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.
The risk: If an occupied front seat is missing the rear attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles factory-equipped with optional 17-inch sport terrain tires. The certification label on these vehicles does not provide the tire size and cold tire pressure information for front and rear tires, as required. As such, th…
The risk: If drivers are uninformed and overinflate or underinflate their tires, this may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and will mail corrected labels for customers to apply, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A202304070.
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles. Sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may cause an interruption of communication between the sensor…
The risk: If communication with the sensor is interrupted, the electronic brake boost assist could be lost. Extra pedal force will be required to slow and stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4…
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 Trailblazer or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Trailblazer has fewer complaints per year (277 vs. 444), but its complaints often involve fuel system and electrical failures that can be life-threatening. The Honda Accord has more complaints but fewer deaths in crash data, suggesting that while issues are frequent, they may be less severe. In practice, the Trailblazer may require more urgent safety attention, while the Accord may demand more frequent repairs.
Key differences
- The Trailblazer has 952 fuel system complaints, while the Accord has none in its top five, indicating a potential fire risk in the Chevy.
- The Accord has 821 forward collision avoidance complaints, a common issue with advanced driver aids, whereas the Trailblazer's top issues are fuel and electrical.
- The Trailblazer has 18 deaths in crash data compared to 3 for the Accord, despite the Accord having more total complaints.
- The Accord has 38 recalls versus 18 for the Trailblazer, suggesting more frequent manufacturer fixes for the Honda.
- Check for fuel odors or leaks around the fuel tank and lines, as fuel system complaints are the most common.
- Test all electrical functions, including battery charging, lights, and infotainment, for intermittent failures.
- Listen for engine noises or rattles, especially at startup or during acceleration, as engine complaints are frequent.
- Verify that forward collision avoidance systems (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) engage properly and don't show intermittent warnings.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the fuel system and electrical components on the Trailblazer.
- For the Accord, test drive at highway speeds to check for engine noises and ADAS functionality.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for oil changes and software updates.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection from a dealer specializing in the respective brand.
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 Trailblazer | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 5 |
| 2025 | 20 | 101 |
| 2024 | 32 | 214 |
| 2023 | 66 | 224 |
| 2022 | 108 | 238 |
| 2021 | 191 | 226 |
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 Trailblazer or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Trailblazer vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet Trailblazer total complaints
- 2,773
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Chevrolet Trailblazer total recalls
- 18
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet Trailblazer avg complaints/year
- 277.3
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Trailblazer
- Chevrolet Trailblazer top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE