Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet VOLT vs Honda Accord
How the Chevrolet VOLT 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 VOLT vs Honda Accord: The Volt averages about 207 complaints per year with 12 recalls, while the Accord averages about 444 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Accord also shows 160 crash-related reports and 3 deaths, versus 39 and 0 for the Volt. Both have serious reported issues, so a thorough inspection is key. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet VOLT or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet VOLT
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid that blends electric and gas power. Over nine years, owners filed 1,859 complaints—about 207 per year—with electrical, fuel/propulsion, and power train issues dominating. Many reports describe sudden power loss, reduced propulsion, and brake problems, though the Volt has only 12 recalls and no reported deaths in this data. For a used buyer, it means checking hybrid systems and brakes carefully.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan with gas and hybrid options. In ten years, it drew 4,438 complaints—roughly 444 per year—plus 38 recalls, 160 crash-related reports, 144 injuries, and 3 deaths. Engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance problems are most common, with some owners reporting stalling, warning lights, and automatic braking issues. That volume suggests more frequent visits to the shop for a used buyer to consider.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet VOLT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,859 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 39 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 206.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 37 Better | 144 |
| 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 VOLT
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM700
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM495
- 03POWER TRAIN429
- 04ENGINE366
- 05AIR BAGS310
Owners report braking that feels like 'braking on black ice' with little response, plus sudden 'Propulsion Power Reduced' messages that can cut power while driving. These electrical glitches can affect safety and leave you stranded.
Complaints include stalling even with gas and EV range left, and 'Service High Voltage Charging' warnings. Such failures can stop the car unexpectedly, so a pre-purchase hybrid battery check is wise.
Reports describe the car not starting when the EV battery is drained, and sudden stalls with 'Shift to Park' messages. These issues can require dealer repairs and may recur.
Some owners link engine warnings to brake problems, like limited brake power with check engine and traction control lights. This shows how interconnected the Volt's systems are, so any warning light deserves attention.
“Was approaching an intersection with a stoplight that was red. Another car stopped at light. Applied brakes, but car slowed down only slightly, no matter how hard the brake pedal was applied. It was like braking on black ice, even though the cars wheels were…”
“Mileage: 38523 Engine Not Available Service Soon Propulsion Power Is Reduced Fuel Range Low: 3/4 Tank full of gas [XXX] - I was driving Northbound on [XXX] South of Castlewood in Northern California. I was driving 70 mph when I suddenly received the error mes…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of speed, and multiple alarms like brake, hill descent, and ABS failures. These can appear during commutes and may indicate serious powertrain or sensor problems.
Complaints include tire pressure warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses in newer cars. Electrical gremlins can lead to safety risks and costly repairs.
Many report intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise, lane keeping, and automatic braking, sometimes with unexpected braking. This can be distracting and potentially dangerous if the system misreads the road.
Brake-related complaints appear in the top components, with some owners experiencing ABS or traction control issues. Brake problems are safety-critical, so a thorough brake inspection is essential.
“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 VOLT — 12 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insu…
The risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrole…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly pre…
The risk: If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet custom…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Volt vehicles manufactured August 25, 2010, to June 26, 2013. If the driver exits the vehicle without turning off the electrical system, the battery may drain low enough that the gasoline engine will automatically start itself to rec…
The risk: If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine management software to limit the time that the stationary vehicle can be left in the ON position, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet custo…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
The risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8…
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 VOLT or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Volt has far fewer complaints per year (about 207) than the Honda Accord (about 444), and fewer recalls (12 vs 38). In practice, that means a used Volt may need less frequent attention for reported issues, though both have serious safety-related complaints. The Accord's higher crash, injury, and death counts in this data suggest a higher risk profile, but individual car condition matters most.
Key differences
- The Volt averages about 207 complaints per year vs. the Accord's 444, meaning owners report fewer issues overall with the Volt.
- The Accord has 38 recalls and 3 deaths in this data, while the Volt has 12 recalls and 0 deaths, suggesting different safety profiles.
- Volt complaints often center on hybrid-specific stalling and brake feel, while Accord complaints include engine stalling and forward collision avoidance glitches.
- Both have electrical issues, but the Accord's higher crash and injury counts (160 vs 39 crashes, 144 vs 37 injuries) stand out as a bigger concern.
- Check for any 'Propulsion Power Reduced' or 'Service High Voltage Charging' warnings during a test drive; these can indicate hybrid system faults.
- Test the brakes carefully for a soft or unresponsive pedal, as owners report braking that feels like 'black ice' with little stopping power.
- Listen for engine noises and watch for multiple dashboard alarms (brake, ABS, hill descent) that may appear at highway speeds.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system, including adaptive cruise and lane keeping, for intermittent warnings or unexpected braking.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for hybrid or electrical systems.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the hybrid battery and charging system on the Volt, or the engine and transmission on the Accord.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or changes in braking and acceleration.
- Check tire condition and age, as the Accord has reports of tire failures and the Volt may have brake-related tire wear.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and specifically inquire about any past electrical, fuel, or brake repairs.
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 VOLT | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 34 | 677 |
| 2018 | 222 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 695 | 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 VOLT or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet VOLT vs Honda Accord
- Chevrolet VOLT total complaints
- 1,859
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Chevrolet VOLT total recalls
- 12
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chevrolet VOLT avg complaints/year
- 206.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet VOLT
- Chevrolet VOLT top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE