Head-to-head reliability
Chrysler LHS vs Honda Accord
How the Chrysler LHS 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 LHS vs Honda Accord: The LHS averages 61 complaints per year, while the Accord averages 443.8. The LHS shows dashboard cracks and airbag clock spring failures, while the Accord has engine and forward collision issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chrysler LHS or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chrysler LHS
The Chrysler LHS is an older full-size sedan that owners report developing dashboard cracks, steering issues, and airbag clock spring failures. These problems tend to surface as the car ages, and the dashboard cracks are often near the passenger airbag, raising concerns about deployment. With 122 complaints over two years, it shows a pattern of interior and steering wear that buyers should inspect carefully.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume (4438 over 10 years), but that reflects its larger sales base and newer model years. Owners report engine issues, electrical glitches, and false forward collision warnings, which can be annoying and sometimes alarming. Despite the higher count, many complaints involve modern tech features rather than fundamental mechanical failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chrysler LHS | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 122 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 61.0 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 8 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 LHS
- 01STRUCTURE25
- 02STEERING24
- 03AIR BAGS17
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
Owners report the dashboard cracking and splitting, often starting as a hairline and growing larger. The cracks are frequently located above the passenger airbag, which could affect airbag deployment in a crash.
Complaints include a popping sound when turning the wheel and a speedometer sensor failure that put the car into a limp mode limited to 25 mph. These issues point to steering column and sensor problems that can affect control and drivability.
The airbag clock spring is a common failure, which can disable the driver's airbag and cause the horn or steering wheel controls to malfunction. Owners express concern about airbag non-deployment in an accident.
Electrical failures often tie into the speedometer sensor and clock spring issues, leading to warning lights and safety mode activation. These can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
“ONE CRACK STARTED OUT AS 2" LONG HAIRLINE, BUT HAVE GOTTEN BIGGER AND NOW IT IS ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD. AND RIGHT BELOW IS SUPPOSE TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY AIRBAG. HAVE CALLED SEVERAL PLACES TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET IT FIXED/ REPLACED - TH…”
“SPLITTING DASHBOARD I NOTICED THAT IS WAS A SLIGHT SLIT IN THE DASHBOARD THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER IT STARTED GETTING BIGGER, AS TIME WENT ON IT HAS GOTTEN ALMOST HALF FOOT LONG. I PAID TO HAVE IT REPAIRED IT CRACKED AGAIN IN THE SAME SPOT, I TRIED TO REPAIR IT M…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and loss of power, sometimes accompanied by warning lights for brakes and hill descent. Some incidents occur at highway speeds, causing the vehicle to slow unexpectedly, which is a safety concern.
Issues include TPMS warnings and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can lead to engine or sensor failures. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and frustrating to trace.
Many complaints involve false alerts or system malfunctions, such as the car braking unexpectedly or warning messages appearing intermittently. This can be startling and may undermine driver trust in safety systems.
Brake-related complaints include the ABS and stability control activating without reason, and in some cases, a catastrophic tire failure that may be linked to brake or sensor issues. Braking performance is critical for safety.
“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 LHS — 8 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
The risk: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD C…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
The risk: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD C…
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES (NON-SUNROOF ONLY) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT."
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IF THE OCCUPANT'S HEAD WERE TO CONTACT THE B-PILLAR.
The fix: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A STORAGE BIN ACCESSORY UNIT THAT CAN BE ATTACHED TO THE B-PILLAR ALONG WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, IF AN OWNER WISHES, THE DEALER CAN PERFORM THE INSTALLATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 17, 2001. O…
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES (NON-SUNROOF ONLY) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT."
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IF THE OCCUPANT'S HEAD WERE TO CONTACT THE B-PILLAR.
The fix: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A STORAGE BIN ACCESSORY UNIT THAT CAN BE ATTACHED TO THE B-PILLAR ALONG WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, IF AN OWNER WISHES, THE DEALER CAN PERFORM THE INSTALLATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 17, 2001. 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 (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 LHS or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chrysler LHS has far fewer complaints per year (61) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the LHS's issues are more concentrated in older, safety-critical areas like airbags and steering. The Accord's higher volume reflects its popularity and newer tech, but many complaints are about driver-assist glitches rather than mechanical breakdowns. In practice, the LHS may require more immediate repairs, while the Accord might have more warranty-covered fixes.
Key differences
- The LHS has dashboard cracks near the passenger airbag, while the Accord has sunroof glass explosions and TPMS issues.
- The LHS suffers from airbag clock spring failures, whereas the Accord has false forward collision warnings and adaptive cruise control glitches.
- The LHS's steering issues include popping sounds and speed sensor failures, while the Accord's engine problems involve power loss and warning lights.
- The Accord has a much higher complaint volume, but many are for modern electronics, not basic reliability.
- Inspect the dashboard for cracks, especially near the passenger airbag, and check if the airbag light is on.
- Test the steering for popping noises and ensure the speedometer works correctly without triggering limp mode.
- Check for any warning lights related to forward collision or braking systems, and test the adaptive cruise control if equipped.
- Look for signs of rodent damage under the hood, such as chewed wires, and verify the TPMS is functioning properly.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the airbag system and clock spring on the LHS.
- On the Accord, test all driver-assist features and check for any stored trouble codes.
- For the LHS, examine the dashboard for any cracks or repairs.
- For the Accord, ask about the vehicle's service history for recalls and software updates.
- Take both cars for a test drive and listen for unusual noises or warning chimes.
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 LHS or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chrysler LHS vs Honda Accord
- Chrysler LHS total complaints
- 122
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Chrysler LHS total recalls
- 8
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chrysler LHS avg complaints/year
- 61.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Chrysler LHS
- Chrysler LHS top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE