Head-to-head reliability
Chrysler Crossfire vs Honda Accord
How the Chrysler Crossfire 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 Crossfire vs Honda Accord: The Crossfire averaged 142 complaints per year over 5 years, with top issues in structure and visibility. The Accord averaged 444 complaints per year over 10 years, with engine and electrical problems most common. The Accord has 38 recalls versus 2 for the Crossfire. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chrysler Crossfire or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chrysler Crossfire
The Chrysler Crossfire is a low-volume two-seat sports car, so you'll find fewer of them and parts can be tricky. Over five years, owners filed 708 complaints, averaging about 142 per year. The most common trouble spots are the structure and visibility areas, especially the convertible top and rear glass. Recalls are few (2), but the airbag inflator recall is serious and should be checked.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream family sedan with many more on the road, so complaint volume is higher: 4,438 over ten years, about 444 per year. Owners report a wide range of issues, from engine and electrical problems to advanced safety systems like forward collision avoidance. There are 38 recalls, including some for brakes, fuel pumps, and airbags. With 3 deaths and 144 injuries reported, it's important to check that all recall work is done.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chrysler Crossfire | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 708 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 141.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 14 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.
Chrysler Crossfire
- 01STRUCTURE227
- 02VISIBILITY176
- 03VISIBILITY/WIPER130
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM111
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER97
Owners of Crossfire convertibles report the rear glass falling out of the soft top, sometimes held only by the defogger cord. This can damage nearby electronics and is a major leak and security risk.
Complaints describe the rear window detaching or shattering, often while driving. This impairs rear visibility and can let water into the cabin, leading to electrical issues.
Similar to visibility, owners report the rear glass coming loose or falling in, sometimes with a scraping noise. It's a recurring problem that can be expensive to fix properly.
Some owners report airbag recall issues, where the failed part wasn't covered by the recall repair. This means the airbag may not work in a crash, so verify any recall work was completed correctly.
“I OWN TWO CROSSFIRE CONVERTIBLES; A 2005 AND 2007. IN 2010 MY GLASS FELL OUT OF MY REAR TOP IN THE 2005 CROSSFIRE AT THE AIRPORT . WHEN I GOT BACK IT HAD FALLEN COMPLETELY OUT EXCEPT FOR THE CORD CONNECTING THE DEFOGGER. THIS DAMAGED A COMPUTER PART WHICH COS…”
“I'M "COPYING/PASTING" SOMEONE ELSE'S WORDS AS THEY HAVE DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING! I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER, 2013 AND HAVE JUST NOW EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO DONE AN ONLINE SEARCH & CAME ACROSS THIS SITE W/OTHER COMP…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) appearing at highway speeds. This can lead to sudden speed loss and is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include TPMS warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on new cars. These can cause breakdowns and expensive repairs.
Owners say adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic braking systems fail intermittently, with dashboard warnings. This reduces driver assistance and could increase crash risk.
There are recalls for ABS control units, and owners report brake-related warnings and failures. Brake problems are critical for safety and should be addressed immediately.
“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.
Chrysler Crossfire — 2 recalls
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Mati…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Mercedes-Benz…
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Mati…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Mercedes-Benz…
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
Chrysler Crossfire or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chrysler Crossfire has far fewer complaints per year (about 142) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444). However, the Crossfire's issues are concentrated in structural and visibility problems that can be costly and dangerous. The Accord's higher volume means more overall problems, but many are covered by recalls or warranties. In practice, the Crossfire may need more specialized attention, while the Accord has more widespread but potentially more manageable issues.
Key differences
- The Crossfire's most common complaints are about the convertible top and rear glass falling out, while the Accord's are about engine and electrical failures.
- The Accord has many more recalls (38 vs 2), including for brakes, fuel pumps, and airbags, meaning more potential safety fixes but also more chances for unresolved issues.
- The Crossfire has 0 deaths and 14 injuries reported, while the Accord has 3 deaths and 144 injuries, though these numbers are affected by how many vehicles are on the road.
- The Accord's advanced safety systems (forward collision avoidance) are a frequent complaint area, while the Crossfire lacks such systems and instead suffers from basic structural failures.
- Inspect the convertible top and rear glass for any signs of separation, leaks, or previous repairs. Look for water damage around the rear electronics.
- Check that the airbag inflator recall has been performed and that the replacement part is correct. Ask for documentation.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or forward collision avoidance. Any intermittent warnings could mean expensive sensor or software issues.
- Check tire condition and TPMS operation, as some owners reported tire failure after TPMS warnings. Also inspect wiring for rodent damage, especially if the car was parked outside.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall site to see if all recalls are completed, especially the airbag recall on the Crossfire and the brake/fuel pump recalls on the Accord.
- For the Crossfire, have a mechanic inspect the convertible top mechanism and rear window seal, and check for water leaks in the trunk and cabin.
- For the Accord, ask for a pre-purchase inspection focusing on engine noises, transmission behavior, and the operation of all driver-assist features.
- Test drive both cars in various conditions (highway, stop-and-go) to reproduce any intermittent issues like warning lights or power loss.
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if the car has been in accidents or had repeated repairs for the same problem.
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 Crossfire or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chrysler Crossfire vs Honda Accord
- Chrysler Crossfire total complaints
- 708
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Chrysler Crossfire total recalls
- 2
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chrysler Crossfire avg complaints/year
- 141.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Chrysler Crossfire
- Chrysler Crossfire top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE