Head-to-head reliability
Chrysler PT Cruiser vs Honda Accord
How the Chrysler PT Cruiser 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 PT Cruiser vs Honda Accord: The PT Cruiser averaged 261.8 complaints per year with 8 deaths, while the Accord averaged 452.4 complaints per year with 3 deaths. The PT Cruiser has fewer complaints but more severe outcomes. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chrysler PT Cruiser or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a compact car that averaged about 262 complaints per year over a 10-year span, with 25 recalls. Owners frequently report electrical problems like stalling and fires, plus suspension and air bag issues. With 219 injuries and 8 deaths in the data, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize car that averaged about 452 complaints per year over 10 years, with 38 recalls. Complaints often involve engine and electrical problems, including power steering and braking failures, and forward collision avoidance glitches. Despite more complaints, it has fewer reported deaths (3) and injuries (146) than the PT Cruiser.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chrysler PT Cruiser | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,618 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 25 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 199 | 162 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 261.8 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 219 | 146 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 8 | 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.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM580
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING259
- 03SUSPENSION240
- 04AIR BAGS234
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING229
Owners report stalling while driving, sometimes on highways, and electrical fires with smoke and flames from under the hood. These issues can leave you stranded or worse, so a thorough electrical check is critical.
Complaints include overheating and head gasket failures, often leading to costly repairs. A blown head gasket can ruin the engine if not caught early.
Front lower control arm bushings fail, requiring entire control arm replacement. This affects steering and stability, and can be expensive to fix.
Owners report air bags not deploying in crashes and air bag warning lights staying on. This is a serious safety concern that needs immediate attention.
“THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THEY MAY BE RELATED. STALLING WHILE DRIVING: THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS. FIRST TIME I WAS ON A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP SLOWING TO STOP. NOT SURE OF MY SPEED, BUT I NOTICED IT STALLED AS I WA…”
“I DROVE 15 MILES AN PULLED AT 55 MPH INTO OSKALOOSA IA REDUCED SPEED TO 35 DOWN TO 25 AN THOUGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE WIRES AN ANTIFREEZE ,BLACK SMOKE ROLLED OUT FROM UNDER NEATH MY HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE PUT IN PARK POPPED HOOD OPENED HOOD FLAMES…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden power loss with multiple warning lights. These can indicate hybrid system or engine management problems.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and TPMS issues leading to tire failure. These are severe safety risks.
Owners report the system braking unexpectedly or failing to respond, sometimes under identical conditions. This can cause near-collisions or loss of control.
Issues include fuel pump failures and propulsion problems, which can cause stalling or loss of power. This is especially concerning in hybrid models.
“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 PT Cruiser — 25 recalls
The defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS…
The risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE B…
The fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
The defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES…
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L NON-TURBOCHARGED ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, POTENTIALLY DAMAGING THE HOSE.
The risk: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RELOCATE, OR REPLACE AS NECESSARY, THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND CONFIRM TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-85…
The defect: FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS…
The risk: THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE B…
The fix: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
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 PT Cruiser or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chrysler PT Cruiser has fewer complaints per year (about 262 vs. 452 for the Honda Accord), but its complaints include more deaths and injuries relative to its totals. The Accord's higher complaint rate suggests more frequent issues, but many are under warranty or recalls. In practice, the PT Cruiser may have fewer reported problems, but the ones it has can be more severe.
Key differences
- The PT Cruiser has 8 deaths and 219 injuries in the data, while the Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries, despite the Accord having more complaints.
- PT Cruiser complaints often involve electrical fires and stalling, while Accord complaints include advanced driver-assist failures like forward collision avoidance.
- The Accord has more recalls (38 vs. 25), covering hybrid software, fuel pumps, and seat belts, indicating broader potential issues.
- PT Cruiser suspension issues require entire control arm replacement, while Accord engine issues often involve hybrid system transitions.
- Check for signs of electrical burning or smoke under the hood, and test all electrical components including lights and accessories.
- Inspect front suspension for worn control arm bushings, and ask if the head gasket has been replaced.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at low and high speeds, and check for any warning lights.
- Ask about forward collision avoidance system performance and any software updates or recalls related to it.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the electrical system, suspension, and engine for both models.
- For the PT Cruiser, specifically test for stalling and check air bag functionality.
- For the Accord, test drive at highway speeds to check for power steering/braking issues and adaptive cruise control behavior.
- Verify that all recall repairs have been completed, especially for the Accord's hybrid and fuel pump recalls.
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 PT Cruiser or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chrysler PT Cruiser vs Honda Accord
- Chrysler PT Cruiser total complaints
- 2,618
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Chrysler PT Cruiser total recalls
- 25
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chrysler PT Cruiser avg complaints/year
- 261.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Chrysler PT Cruiser
- Chrysler PT Cruiser top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE