Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Hornet vs Honda Accord
How the Dodge Hornet 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 Hornet vs Honda Accord: The Hornet has 50 complaints over 3 years (about 17 per year) and 15 recalls, while the Accord has 4,438 complaints over 10 years (about 444 per year) and 38 recalls. The Hornet's issues often involve electrical and collision avoidance systems, while the Accord's include engine and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Hornet or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Hornet
The Dodge Hornet is a compact SUV that has been on the market for three years, with an average of about 17 complaints per year. Owners frequently report electrical glitches, such as power steering failure and dashboard warnings, as well as forward collision avoidance sensors that can slam on the brakes unexpectedly. There are also complaints about back over prevention and brake issues. With 15 recalls in three years, it's a vehicle that may require frequent dealer visits.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with a long history, but over the past decade it has averaged about 444 complaints per year. Common problems include engine noises and failures, electrical issues like TPMS warnings and rodent damage, and forward collision avoidance system errors. There are also reports of sunroof glass shattering and brake problems. With 38 recalls and 144 injuries reported, it's important to check for open recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Hornet | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 50 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.7 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 Hornet
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE14
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
- 04BACK OVER PREVENTION6
- 05SERVICE BRAKES6
Owners report power steering failure, dashboard warning lights, and issues with the emergency call system. These can leave you without steering assist or critical safety features.
Sensors may malfunction, causing warning lights or unexpected braking when no obstacle is present. This could lead to sudden stops and potential rear-end collisions.
Complaints include brake pedal failure to stop the vehicle as intended, and recalls for camera and warning systems. This affects rear visibility and could increase risk when reversing.
Some owners report the brake pedal being depressed but the vehicle failing to stop, leading to rolling. This is a serious safety concern that needs immediate attention.
“Date: April 1, 2026 Subject: FINAL NOTICE: Repeated Safety Failures and Demand for Buyback – 2024 Dodge Hornet (VIN: [XXX] ) To [XXX] Autoland, Management and Stellantis Customer Care, I am writing to formally document a persistent and life-threatening safe…”
“We Purchased the Dodge Hornet GT on 04/17/2024 drove it home and parked it. My Husband tried to drive it on 04/18/2024 and the steering failed and the dash board lit up with: Service Power steering, Drive mode unavailable, Park sense disabled, Service Engine,…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises, loss of power, and critical failure warnings while driving. Some have experienced the vehicle losing speed and unable to accelerate, which can be dangerous on highways.
Issues include TPMS warnings, tire failure after service, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses. These can cause unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs.
Adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams may show intermittent error messages. In some cases, the system may fail to respond to obstacles, increasing crash risk.
Complaints include sunroof glass exploding and tire failures. These are unpredictable events that can cause injury or property damage.
“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 Hornet — 15 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale and 2023-2024 Dodge Hornet plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The 12-volt battery positive cable and/or high voltage connector cable may not be tightened properly, which can overheat the electrical connections and result in a fi…
The risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and tighten the cable connections as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2023…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The pedestrian alert siren may be missing or disconnected and fail to alert pedestrians when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of F…
The risk: Failure to alert pedestrians when backing up increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rear pedestrian siren connection and, if necessary, secure and/or replace the connector or siren, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 14, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer se…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo Tonale vehicles. The maximum vehicle capacity weight value on the tire placard label is incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tir…
The risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will add an overlay label to the tire placard information, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this reca…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale and Dodge Hornet vehicles. The display module may not show the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software or replace the display as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 13, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's numbers for this r…
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 Hornet or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Dodge Hornet has far fewer complaints per year (about 17) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444), but the Hornet's issues often involve critical safety systems like steering and braking. The Accord's higher volume means more reported problems, but many are less severe or addressed by recalls. In practice, the Hornet may have fewer overall issues, but the ones it has can be more immediately dangerous.
Key differences
- The Dodge Hornet has 50 complaints over 3 years, while the Honda Accord has 4,438 over 10 years, but the Hornet's complaints often involve steering and braking failures that can happen suddenly.
- The Hornet has 15 recalls in 3 years, focusing on electrical and back over prevention systems; the Accord has 38 recalls over 10 years, including engine and air bag issues.
- Hornet owners report forward collision avoidance sensors causing unintended braking, while Accord owners report intermittent warnings and failures of adaptive cruise control and lane keeping.
- The Accord has 144 injuries and 3 deaths reported, while the Hornet has 0 injuries and 0 deaths, though the Hornet's lower sales volume may affect these numbers.
- Check for power steering assist failure: test steering at low speeds and listen for warnings; some owners report sudden loss of steering assist.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system: ensure no warning lights are on and that the system does not brake unexpectedly during a test drive.
- Listen for engine noises and check for loss of power: some owners report engine failure warnings and reduced speed; a thorough test drive and mechanic inspection are advised.
- Inspect the sunroof glass and tires: reports of sunroof shattering and tire failures mean you should check for cracks or recalls related to these components.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are repaired by checking the NHTSA website using the VIN, and ask the seller for proof of completion.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and low-speed maneuvers to check for steering, braking, and warning lights.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on electrical systems and safety features.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for software updates and recall repairs, as both vehicles have electronic systems that may need updates.
- Check the tire condition and age, as both vehicles have complaints about tire failures and TPMS issues.
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 Hornet | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 101 |
| 2024 | 22 | 214 |
| 2023 | 26 | 224 |
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 Hornet or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Hornet vs Honda Accord
- Dodge Hornet total complaints
- 50
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Dodge Hornet total recalls
- 15
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Dodge Hornet avg complaints/year
- 16.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Dodge Hornet
- Dodge Hornet top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE