Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Charger vs Honda Accord
How the Dodge Charger 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 Charger vs Honda Accord: The Charger averages 54 complaints per year and 31 recalls, while the Accord averages 444 complaints per year and 38 recalls. The Charger's issues often involve electrical and air bag failures, whereas the Accord's complaints frequently concern engine and driver-assist systems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Charger or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is a large sedan that averages about 54 complaints per year over the past decade, with 31 recalls. Owners frequently report electrical problems, especially A/C evaporator failures, and air bag issues including unexpected deployment. Engine complaints describe sudden power loss and steering seizure, which can be alarming. Overall, the Charger has a lower complaint rate but still presents serious safety-related patterns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 444 per year—and 38 recalls. The most common issues involve engine problems, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance system malfunctions. Owners also report brake and service brake concerns. While the Accord has more complaints, many are for advanced driver-assist features that may be less critical than the Charger's sudden power loss.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Charger | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 541 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 31 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 36 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 54.1 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 31 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Charger
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM164
- 02AIR BAGS117
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER107
- 04ENGINE60
- 05POWER TRAIN56
Owners report A/C evaporator core failures, often multiple times, causing the air conditioning to stop blowing cold air. This is a comfort and potential safety issue in hot climates, and repairs can be costly.
Complaints include air bags deploying unexpectedly while parked or driving, sometimes without a crash. This poses a risk of injury and indicates a serious defect that should be addressed before purchase.
Drivers describe sudden loss of power and steering seizure while driving, sometimes at highway speeds. This can lead to dangerous situations and requires immediate attention.
Some owners report transmission issues, including park pawl problems that may prevent the vehicle from staying in park. This could lead to rollaway incidents if not repaired.
“The A/C evaporator core in my 2020 Dodge Charger Hellcat has failed twice within a short period of ownership. The first failure occurred at approximately 20K miles in 2022, when the air conditioning suddenly stopped blowing cold air. The dealership diagnosed…”
“Through conversations with a Dodge Certified Tech, this is ongoing and known issue with Dodge (RAM) trucks, dodge chargers etc. Curious as to why a safety recall has not been issued, with reports and complaints found online spanning back 2-3 years now. My car…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of speed, and multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS) appearing simultaneously. These symptoms can indicate critical failures that may compromise safety.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. These issues can lead to blowouts or electrical faults.
Many owners experience intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams. While not always dangerous, these malfunctions can distract the driver and reduce confidence in safety features.
Some complaints involve brake system failures, including ABS and traction control issues. Brake problems are critical for safety and should be inspected thoroughly.
“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 Charger — 31 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger electric vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel display to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Refl…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as gear selection and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 14, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 39D. Vehicle Identification…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Dodge Charger vehicles. The amplifier may be missing software, which can prevent the amplifier from emitting exterior sound, including pedestrian warnings. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Saf…
The risk: A vehicle that does not emit sound may fail to alert pedestrians of a moving vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and update the amplifier software, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 26, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 4…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Dodge Charger and Jeep Wagoneer S electric vehicles. An incorrectly installed spring may cause the loss of the park function when the vehicle’s gear selector is placed in the park (P) position, which can result in a vehicle rollaway. As such, th…
The risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the electric drive module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 63C. Vehicle Iden…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Dodge Charger Pursuit vehicles equipped with a "stealth mode." When stealth mode is selected, the backup camera rearview image will not display when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federa…
The risk: The lack of a back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update body control module software to disable stealth mode when the vehicle is shifted into "Reverse", free of charge. The recall began October 22, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer s…
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 Charger or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Dodge Charger has far fewer complaints per year (54 vs. 444), but its issues often involve sudden power loss, unexpected air bag deployment, and electrical failures that can be severe. The Honda Accord has more complaints, many related to advanced driver-assist systems and engine warnings. In practice, the Charger may have fewer overall problems, but the ones reported are potentially more dangerous.
Key differences
- The Dodge Charger has 541 complaints over 10 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,438—over eight times more.
- Charger owners report sudden engine shutdown and steering seizure; Accord owners report engine noise and multiple warning lights.
- Air bag complaints on the Charger include unexpected deployment while parked; the Accord's air bag recall involves occupant classification sensors.
- The Accord has more recalls (38 vs. 31) and more crash-related complaints (160 vs. 36), but the Charger has a higher proportion of severe safety issues like power loss.
- Check for A/C evaporator core leaks or repeated repairs, as owners report multiple failures.
- Test the air bag system for any signs of malfunction or unexpected deployment, and verify all recalls are completed.
- Inspect tires for uneven wear or damage, as TPMS warnings followed by tire failure have been reported.
- Test all advanced driver-assist features (adaptive cruise, lane keeping) for intermittent warnings or failures.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls are addressed.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including A/C and air bag components.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for sudden power loss or steering issues.
- For the Accord, verify proper operation of forward collision avoidance and brake systems.
- Check tire condition and TPMS functionality on both vehicles.
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 Charger | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 5 |
| 2025 | 35 | 101 |
| 2024 | 1 | 214 |
| 2023 | 26 | 224 |
| 2022 | 14 | 238 |
| 2021 | 33 | 226 |
| 2020 | 57 | 355 |
| 2019 | 120 | 677 |
| 2018 | 122 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 128 | 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 Charger or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Charger vs Honda Accord
- Dodge Charger total complaints
- 541
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Dodge Charger total recalls
- 31
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Dodge Charger avg complaints/year
- 54.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Dodge Charger
- Dodge Charger top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE