Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Challenger vs Honda Accord
How the Dodge Challenger 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
Dodge Challenger vs Honda Accord: The Challenger has 622 complaints over 10 years (62.2/yr) with 30 recalls, while the Accord has 4438 complaints (443.8/yr) with 38 recalls. The Challenger's issues often involve sudden steering or power loss, whereas the Accord's are more electronic and sensor-related. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Challenger or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger is a performance-oriented coupe that, in ownership terms, shows a pattern of electrical gremlins and sudden power-related failures. Owners report dashboard warning lights flashing simultaneously, electric steering racks failing without warning, and engines momentarily shutting off while driving. These issues can be alarming and potentially dangerous, especially when they occur at speed. While the total complaint count is lower than the Accord's, the nature of the failures—such as loss of steering or power—makes them particularly concerning for a buyer.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream sedan that, despite higher overall complaint numbers, shows a pattern of issues concentrated in modern driver-assistance and engine systems. Owners frequently report problems with forward collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist, often with intermittent warning messages. Engine issues include sudden loss of power and warning lights, and there are reports of tire failures and even a sunroof exploding. The higher complaint volume reflects its larger sales base, but the types of issues are more electronic and sensor-related than catastrophic mechanical failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Challenger | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 622 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 69 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 62.2 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 60 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.
Dodge Challenger
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM179
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER115
- 03ENGINE103
- 04POWER TRAIN84
- 05AIR BAGS60
Owners report the instrument cluster lighting up all warning lights at once while accelerating, causing jerking and even a minor accident. Another serious issue is the electric power steering rack failing without warning, making the car impossible to steer.
There are reports of catastrophic fuel pump failure within the first 1,000 miles, causing the car to lose power and become undrivable. Another owner experienced the engine momentarily powering off while driving at 30 mph, then suddenly restarting.
Some complaints involve undisclosed prior damage and mechanical issues from used purchases, but one owner describes the driveshaft being out of alignment right after leaving the dealership, nearly causing an accident.
“The cars light notifications on instrument cluster panel turned on all of them at the same time while accelerating jerking the car on freeway I have video of that happening and can provide it upon request it did caused a minor accident but I settled the accid…”
“While operating my vehicle at road speed the electric steering rack failed. This rendered the steering inoperative. It was impossible to steer the vehicle. Not only is this situation extremely dangerous and deadly, there was no advanced warning. I received no…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report a noise from the engine that worsens over time, and another experienced a sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights (brake, ABS, hill descent) while driving at highway speeds.
There are reports of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings that lead to catastrophic tire failure shortly after service. Another owner had rodent damage to the camshaft position wiring harness, causing electrical issues.
The system can malfunction, causing the car to brake unexpectedly or display intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams. One owner reported the system failing to work properly despite multiple service attempts.
“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.
Dodge Challenger — 30 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor battery may fail prematurely and cause the sensor to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fede…
The risk: Inoperative TPMS sensors will not alert the driver to low tire pressure. In addition, a TPMS warning light that is already illuminated from a failed battery sensor will mask an actual tire pressure failure issue. Either of these scenarios…
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the TPMS sensors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z68.
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor battery may fail prematurely and cause the sensor to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fede…
The risk: Inoperative TPMS sensors will not alert the driver to low tire pressure. In addition, a TPMS warning light that is already illuminated from a failed battery sensor will mask an actual tire pressure failure issue. Either of these scenarios…
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the TPMS sensors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 10, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZB5. This…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of…
The risk: A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will remove and replace the front windshield urethane sealant, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for thi…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Challenger vehicles. The affected vehicles do not illuminate their safety system status indicators sufficiently in both daylight and nighttime driving conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Veh…
The risk: Without visible safety system indicators, a driver may not receive information regarding vehicle safety, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: Dealers will re-program instrument clusters with the correct software version, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 5, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-140. FCA US LLC's number…
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
Dodge Challenger or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Dodge Challenger has far fewer complaints per year (62.2) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the Challenger's issues are more likely to involve sudden loss of control or power. The Accord's higher volume is partly due to its popularity, but its problems are more often related to driver-assistance electronics and sensors. In practice, the Challenger may present more immediate safety risks, while the Accord's issues are more annoying and costly to fix.
Key differences
- The Challenger has a higher rate of sudden, safety-critical failures like steering rack failure and engine shutdown, while the Accord's issues are more often intermittent electronic glitches.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance system is a frequent source of complaints, with unexpected braking or system warnings, which can be startling but not always dangerous.
- The Challenger's electrical system problems can cause all dashboard lights to illuminate and jerking, which may lead to accidents, whereas the Accord's electrical issues often involve TPMS and wiring damage.
- The Accord has more recalls (38) than the Challenger (30), but the Challenger's recalls include tire pressure monitoring and windshield visibility, while the Accord's include hybrid power control unit software and fuel pump.
- Inspect the electric power steering system for any signs of failure, such as unusual noises or intermittent loss of assist, as owners report sudden rack failure.
- Check the fuel pump and engine for any signs of stalling or power loss, especially if the car has low mileage, as there are reports of catastrophic fuel pump failure.
- Test the forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems thoroughly, as owners report intermittent failures and unexpected braking.
- Check the tire pressure monitoring system and tires for any signs of issues, as there are reports of TPMS warnings followed by tire failure.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the Challenger's steering rack and electrical system, and the Accord's driver-assistance sensors and wiring.
- Check for any open recalls on both vehicles and ensure they have been addressed.
- Take both cars for a test drive that includes highway speeds to see if any warning lights or system malfunctions occur.
- Review the vehicle history report for any prior damage or title issues, especially for the Challenger, as some owners reported undisclosed damage.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty that covers electrical and electronic components, as these are common failure points in both.
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 | Dodge Challenger | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 41 | 224 |
| 2022 | 9 | 238 |
| 2021 | 19 | 226 |
| 2020 | 20 | 355 |
| 2019 | 57 | 677 |
| 2018 | 75 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 49 | 534 |
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 Dodge Challenger or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Challenger vs Honda Accord
- Dodge Challenger total complaints
- 622
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Dodge Challenger total recalls
- 30
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Dodge Challenger avg complaints/year
- 62.2
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Dodge Challenger
- Dodge Challenger top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE