Head-to-head reliability
Chrysler 200 vs Honda Accord
How the Chrysler 200 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
Chrysler 200 vs Honda Accord: The Chrysler 200 averaged 596 complaints per year over 7 years, while the Honda Accord averaged 452 per year over 10 years. Both have serious reported issues, but the Accord's lower annual rate may mean fewer problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chrysler 200 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chrysler 200
The Chrysler 200 is a mid-size sedan that demands careful attention from used-car buyers. Over seven years, it averaged 596 complaints per year, with electrical and engine problems dominating. Owners frequently report stalling, sudden shutdowns, and transmission issues, making it a potentially frustrating car to live with. The high rate of complaints suggests that many examples may have unresolved or recurring faults.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular mid-size sedan with a generally better reliability reputation, but it is not without issues. Over ten years, it averaged 452 complaints per year, with engine and electrical problems being the most common. Some owners report advanced driver-assist features like forward collision avoidance malfunctioning. While the Accord has more recalls, the lower annual complaint rate suggests fewer problems per vehicle on average.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chrysler 200 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,172 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 204 | 162 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 596.0 | 452.4 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 173 | 146 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Chrysler 200
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,222
- 02ENGINE1,208
- 03POWER TRAIN936
- 04AIR BAGS843
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER544
Owners report frequent jump-starts, random shutdowns while driving, and warning lights. These issues can leave you stranded and are often hard to diagnose, leading to repeated repair visits.
Complaints include the engine shutting off unexpectedly, sometimes due to low oil or safety features. This can cause dangerous situations in traffic and may require costly repairs.
Reports of unintended acceleration, loss of power, and transmission problems. These can affect vehicle control and lead to expensive transmission work.
Airbag warning lights come on due to defective wiring harnesses under the seats. This can mean airbags may not deploy in a crash, and repairs can cost over $1,000.
“The car is constantly needs a jump start , and the pedal will not accelerate. I have had multiple diagnosis and they don’t know what it is- the cruise control component comes on at the beginning of the jump start until the car runs. Auto Zone and Midas has ch…”
“The contact owns a 2014 Chrysler 200. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered before shutting off independently on several occasions. The contact was able to pull to…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises, rough transitions between electric and gas modes, and sudden power loss with multiple warning lights. These can indicate hybrid system or engine issues that are costly to fix.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking, and TPMS warnings leading to tire failure. These are serious safety concerns that can occur at highway speeds.
The system may activate unexpectedly or fail to work, with owners reporting near-collisions. This undermines a key safety feature and can be distracting or dangerous.
Issues like persistent sulfur odors and interior trim problems that can trap feet. These are less severe but annoying and may indicate other hidden defects.
“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.
Chrysler 200 — 24 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysle…
The risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-8…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Chrysler 200, 2010 Chrysler Sebring, 2010-2012 Dodge Caliber and 2010-2014 Jeep Patriot, Compass and Dodge Avenger vehicles. The Occupant Restraint Control (OCR) module may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags, seat belt pret…
The risk: If the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side air bags are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the OCR, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners that parts are not available yet were mailed on October 26, 2016. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Chrys…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysle…
The risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-8…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee and 2015 Chrysler 200, Jeep Renegade, RAM ProMaster, and 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles equipped with 9-speed automatic transmissions. The transmission sensor clusters may have insufficient crimps in the transmission wire harnes…
The risk: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module and the Transmission Control Module and if necessary replace the transaxle range sensor wire harness, free of charge. The recall began on November 7, 2016. O…
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
Chrysler 200 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has fewer complaints per year (452 vs. 596), suggesting it may be less troublesome overall. However, both vehicles have serious reported issues, so the difference means the Accord might require fewer repair visits, but neither is immune to problems.
Key differences
- The Chrysler 200 has a higher annual complaint rate (596 vs. 452), indicating more frequent owner-reported issues.
- Electrical and engine problems dominate Chrysler 200 complaints, often causing stalling or shutdowns, while Honda Accord complaints are more varied, including advanced safety system glitches.
- The Honda Accord has more recalls (38 vs. 24), but recalls are not necessarily bad if they address safety defects.
- Chrysler 200 owners report airbag wiring defects, while Honda Accord owners report forward collision avoidance malfunctions.
- Check for any signs of electrical gremlins: test all lights, radio, and ensure the car starts reliably without needing jumps.
- Inspect the airbag warning light and ask if the passenger seat wiring harness has been replaced; if not, budget for a potential repair.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems during a test drive to ensure they don't activate unexpectedly.
- Listen for rattling noises from the engine and feel for rough transitions between electric and gas modes in hybrid models.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to check for recurring electrical or engine repairs.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model's common issues.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for stalling, power loss, or warning lights.
- Verify that all recalls have been performed, especially for electrical and airbag systems.
- For the Honda Accord, specifically test the forward collision avoidance and braking systems.
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 | Chrysler 200 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 43 | 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 Chrysler 200 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chrysler 200 vs Honda Accord
- Chrysler 200 total complaints
- 4,172
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Chrysler 200 total recalls
- 24
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chrysler 200 avg complaints/year
- 596.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Honda Accord
- Chrysler 200 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE