Head-to-head reliability
Chrysler Sebring vs Honda Accord
How the Chrysler Sebring 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 Sebring vs Honda Accord: The Sebring averages 193.6 complaints per year with 53 recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Sebring has 7 deaths and 134 injuries; the Accord has 3 deaths and 144 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chrysler Sebring or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chrysler Sebring
The Chrysler Sebring is a mid-size car that can be affordable to buy but may come with frequent repair needs. Owners report stalling, electrical glitches, and air bag problems that can be scary. With 193.6 complaints per year and 53 recalls, it's a model where you should expect to deal with multiple issues. It may not be the best choice if you want low-stress ownership.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular mid-size car known for longevity, but recent models have generated many complaints. Owners report engine noises, electrical failures, and advanced safety systems that may act up. With 443.8 complaints per year and 38 recalls, it's not trouble-free, but the issues are often different. It may still be a better bet for reliability if you check for specific problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chrysler Sebring | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,936 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 53 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 143 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 193.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 134 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 7 | 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 Sebring
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM438
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING314
- 03AIR BAGS310
- 04POWER TRAIN227
- 05ENGINE164
Owners report dashboard lights flashing erratically, loss of power, and stalling while driving. One owner said the car stalled at 55 mph after all indicator lights flashed. This can be dangerous and may require costly electrical diagnostics.
Complaints include the engine stalling without warning, sometimes after braking. One owner reported the vehicle failed to stop and then stalled. Stalling can leave you stranded and may lead to crashes.
Owners report air bag warning lights staying on and air bags deploying without a crash. One owner said the air bag deployed independently at 70 mph. This is a serious safety concern and may be related to recalls.
Complaints include loss of power and stalling, often linked to electrical issues. One owner described the car losing power and stalling at 55 mph. Transmission or power train problems can be expensive to fix.
“MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2009 CHRYSLER SEBRING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ALL THE INDICATOR LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALL BEGAN TO FLASH ERRATICALLY. THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AND THEN STALLED WHILE SHE WAS TRYING TO REMAIN IN CONTROL. S…”
“I TOOK MY SEBRING IN FOR BRAKES AND THEY PUT NEW PADS ON. THEY ASK IF I WANTED AN OIL CHANGE. I DIDN'T NEED ONE SO THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHANGE THE COMPUTER TO TAKE THE REMINDER OFF. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALER, MY RADIO NO LONGER WORKED. I TOLD THEM I WOULD BRING…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises and loss of power, with alarms showing brake, hill descent, and ABS failures. One owner said the vehicle started losing speed and could not accelerate. Engine issues can be costly and may affect safety.
Complaints include tire pressure warnings, rodent damage to wiring, and tire failures after service. One owner reported a passenger-side tire catastrophically failed after a TPMS repair. Electrical gremlins can be frustrating and expensive.
Owners report adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beam problems. One owner said the system failed to resolve a threat. These features are meant to prevent crashes, so malfunctions are concerning.
Complaints include brake system warnings and potential failures. One owner reported brake, hill descent, and ABS alarms along with loss of speed. Brake issues are critical for safety and should be inspected.
“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 Sebring — 53 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus vehicles, equipped with beige interiors. The affected vehicles were previously repaired for a recall issue using an incorrect part. The incorrect part may not prevent the passen…
The risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
The fix: Chrysler will notify the affected owners. Dealers will install the correct tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2016, owners will be sent a second email when parts are available. Owners…
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 20…
The risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
The fix: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA custom…
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 20…
The risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
The fix: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA custom…
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 20…
The risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
The fix: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA custom…
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 Sebring or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Chrysler Sebring has fewer complaints per year (193.6) than the Honda Accord (443.8), but the Sebring's issues often involve stalling and air bag deployment, which can be severe. The Accord's higher complaint count includes many advanced safety system glitches. In practice, the Sebring may have fewer reported problems, but the Accord may have better overall reliability if you avoid specific trouble areas.
Key differences
- The Sebring has 193.6 complaints per year vs. the Accord's 443.8, but the Sebring's complaints often involve stalling and air bag deployment, which are immediate safety risks.
- The Accord has more recalls (38) than the Sebring (53), but the Sebring's recalls include multiple air bag inflator issues.
- Sebring owners frequently report electrical system failures causing stalling, while Accord owners report engine noises and advanced safety system malfunctions.
- The Accord has more crash-related complaints (160) than the Sebring (143), but the Sebring has more deaths (7 vs. 3) in the data.
- Check for any signs of electrical problems: flickering dashboard lights, radio malfunctions, or stalling. Test drive at highway speeds and watch for power loss.
- Inspect air bag warning lights and ask if the air bag recalls have been performed. Be wary if the light stays on or beeps.
- Listen for engine noises and check for loss of power or warning lights related to brakes, ABS, or hill descent. Test drive and accelerate to highway speeds.
- Check for electrical issues: tire pressure warnings, rodent damage to wiring, and ensure all safety systems (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) work properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the specific problem areas for each model.
- During the test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or stalling.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for electrical and engine repairs.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been completed, particularly air bag recalls on the Sebring and electrical/brake recalls on the Accord.
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 Sebring or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chrysler Sebring vs Honda Accord
- Chrysler Sebring total complaints
- 1,936
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Chrysler Sebring total recalls
- 53
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Chrysler Sebring avg complaints/year
- 193.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Chrysler Sebring
- Chrysler Sebring top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE