Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Intrepid vs Honda Accord
How the Dodge Intrepid 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 Intrepid vs Honda Accord: The Intrepid averaged 465 complaints per year with 1,663 engine issues, while the Accord averaged 452.4 per year with 1,006 engine complaints. The Intrepid has more catastrophic engine failure reports, but the Accord has more electronic and safety system complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Intrepid or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Intrepid
The Dodge Intrepid is a full-size sedan that can be a risky used-car purchase due to a high rate of engine and cooling complaints. Over five years, owners filed 2,325 complaints, with 1,663 about engine and cooling issues, often describing sudden overheating, oil lights, and catastrophic engine failure. The 2.7L engine is a particular concern, with reports of timing chain problems and connecting rod failures. With 21 recalls and 84 crash-related complaints, living with an Intrepid means staying vigilant about maintenance and potential breakdowns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a popular midsize car with a generally better reliability reputation, but recent models have a range of complaints. Over ten years, there were 4,524 complaints, averaging 452.4 per year, similar to the Intrepid's annual rate. However, the Accord's issues are spread across engine, electrical, and advanced safety systems, with 162 crash-related complaints and 38 recalls. While the Accord may have fewer severe engine failures, electronic and forward collision avoidance problems can be costly and concerning.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Intrepid | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,325 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 21 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 84 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 465.0 | 452.4 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 80 Better | 146 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 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 Intrepid
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1,663
- 02POWER TRAIN166
- 03STEERING151
- 04SERVICE BRAKES80
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM80
Owners report sudden overheating, oil pressure loss, and catastrophic engine failure, often linked to the 2.7L engine's timing chain or connecting rods. These failures can occur at highway speeds, leading to dangerous stalls and expensive repairs.
Complaints include stalling, loss of power, and unintended acceleration, sometimes addressed by recalls but still reported. These issues can cause unpredictable driving and safety risks.
Owners describe loud pops and steering failure, such as when backing into a parking spot, indicating potential tie rod or steering component breakage. This can lead to loss of control at low speeds.
Reports include rear wheel lockup, scraping noises, and unintended acceleration leading to crashes, often due to parking brake or brake component failures. Brake problems can severely compromise stopping ability.
“I NEVER HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM, EXCEPT CLOUDY SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE AND AN OIL. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON IT BEGAN TO OVER HEAT AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. I HAD IT TOWED TO LANDMARK DODGE, THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE TIMIN…”
“2003 DODGE INTREPID WITH 2.7 L ENGINE- EXPERIENCE SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY DANGEROUS THAT THESE ENGINES EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF SUDDEN LOSS, AND IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. PUBLIC WEB SITES STATE THIS ENG…”
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 issues can affect drivability and may require costly diagnostics.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of power steering and braking, TPMS warnings, and tire failures after service. Electrical glitches can disable critical safety features without warning.
Owners describe unexpected braking or failure to intervene, sometimes under adaptive cruise control, leading to near-misses. These defects undermine confidence in advanced safety technology.
Issues include fuel pump failures and hybrid system problems, which can cause stalling or loss of power. Fuel system defects may lead to no-start conditions or sudden shutdowns.
“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.
Dodge Intrepid — 21 recalls
The defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
The defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
The defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
The defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 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: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
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
Dodge Intrepid or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has a slightly lower complaint rate per year (452.4 vs. 465.0), but both vehicles have similar annual averages. The Intrepid's complaints are heavily concentrated in engine failures, which are often catastrophic, while the Accord's issues are more varied and include electronic and safety system glitches. In practice, the Accord may have fewer severe engine problems, but both require careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Dodge Intrepid has a much higher proportion of engine and cooling complaints (1,663 out of 2,325), often involving catastrophic failure, while the Honda Accord's engine complaints are fewer (1,006 out of 4,524) and include hybrid drivetrain issues.
- The Accord has significant complaints about forward collision avoidance (837) and electrical systems (895), which are advanced features not present on the older Intrepid.
- The Intrepid has 21 recalls over 5 years, many for headlights, while the Accord has 38 recalls over 10 years, covering hybrid software, fuel pumps, and air bags.
- Both have crash-related complaints, but the Intrepid's 84 crashes and 80 injuries over 5 years suggest a higher crash rate per year than the Accord's 162 crashes and 146 injuries over 10 years.
- Check for signs of engine sludge, overheating, or oil consumption, especially on the 2.7L V6, as these can indicate impending timing chain or rod bearing failure.
- Inspect the steering and suspension for loose components or unusual noises, as sudden steering failure has been reported.
- Test all electronic systems, including power steering, brakes, and forward collision warning, for proper operation and any warning lights.
- Listen for rattles or rough transitions in hybrid models, and check for fuel odors or fuel pump issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine compression and cooling system for the Intrepid, and hybrid/electrical systems for the Accord.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for stalling, hesitation, or warning lights.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been addressed, especially for the Accord's fuel pump and hybrid software.
- For the Intrepid, specifically ask about timing chain and water pump service history; for the Accord, check for software updates and battery health.
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 Intrepid or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Intrepid vs Honda Accord
- Dodge Intrepid total complaints
- 2,325
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Dodge Intrepid total recalls
- 21
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Dodge Intrepid avg complaints/year
- 465.0
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Honda Accord
- Dodge Intrepid top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE