Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Magnum vs Honda Accord
How the Dodge Magnum 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 Magnum vs Honda Accord: The Magnum averages 290 complaints per year with 22 recalls, while the Accord averages 444 complaints per year with 38 recalls. The Magnum has 57 injuries and 2 deaths; the Accord has 144 injuries and 3 deaths. Both have serious safety issues, but the Magnum's complaints are more concentrated in power train and air bags. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Magnum or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Magnum
The Dodge Magnum is a rear-wheel-drive station wagon sold for four model years, averaging about 290 complaints per year. Owners frequently report transmission problems that trigger limp mode, air bags that fail to deploy in crashes, and engine stalling. With 22 recalls and 57 injuries reported, living with a Magnum means staying on top of safety recalls and being prepared for unexpected breakdowns.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much longer 10-year sales run, averaging about 444 complaints per year. The most common owner complaints involve engine noises or failures, electrical glitches, and forward collision avoidance systems that trigger warnings or brake unexpectedly. With 38 recalls and 144 injuries reported, the Accord has more reported incidents overall but also a larger population of vehicles on the road.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Magnum | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,162 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 47 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 290.5 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 57 Better | 144 |
| 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 Magnum
- 01POWER TRAIN235
- 02AIR BAGS221
- 03ENGINE194
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM160
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM158
Owners report the transmission suddenly entering limp mode, limiting speed to about 35 mph, and a shift interlock latch that can leave the vehicle stuck in park. These failures can strand a driver or force them to drive dangerously slowly on a highway.
Several complaints describe front-end crashes where the driver or passenger air bag did not deploy, even at moderate speeds. This is a critical safety concern because air bags are a primary restraint in a collision.
Owners report the engine stalling without warning at various speeds, sometimes restarting but often not diagnosable by dealers. Another complaint describes a booming noise and coolant leak, suggesting cooling system failure that can lead to overheating.
A specific complaint notes that after refueling to full capacity, the engine stumbles and shuts off completely. This pattern can leave a driver stranded at a gas station or in traffic immediately after filling up.
“MY DODGE MAGNUM KEEPS GOING INTO LIMP MODE. LIMITS TO 35 MPH AND WILL SLOW YOU TO 35 QUICKLY. I TOOK IT IN TO A DODGE DEALER AND THEY PREFORMED A TCM UPDATE AND ALLOWED ME TO TAKE THE CAR I MADE IT 5 MILES BEFORE GOING INTO LIMP MODE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DE…”
“POWER TRAIN - "SHIFT INTERLOCK LATCH" - VECHILE STUCK IN PARK - DODGE WILL NOT PERMIT OUR VECHILE TO BE COVERED BY THEIR "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION K39 TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK LEVER." BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE CORRECT MODEL AND YEAR, OUR V…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report noises that worsen over time and sudden loss of power with multiple dashboard alarms, including brake and stability warnings. These symptoms can indicate serious internal engine or sensor failures that may be expensive to repair.
Complaints include tire pressure monitoring system warnings followed by catastrophic tire failure, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses even on nearly new vehicles. Electrical gremlins can disable safety features and leave owners with recurring repair bills.
Owners describe adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams showing intermittent error messages, and in one case the vehicle braked unexpectedly at 35 mph with no obstruction. These false activations or failures can surprise a driver and increase crash risk.
Some complaints involve sunroof glass exploding spontaneously and tire failures after service. These unpredictable failures are hard to diagnose and can be dangerous at highway speeds.
“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 Magnum — 22 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2…
The risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occur…
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger front…
The defect: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 20,283 MY 2006-2009 CHARGER AND MAGNUM VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE POLICE PACKAGE AND EQUIPPED WITH A COLUMN SHIFTER. THE GEARSHIFT CABLE MAY BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN MOUNTING BRACKET AND CAUSE AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION GEARSHIFT POSITION DISPLAY.
The risk: THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION STARTLING THE DRIVER, AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DEALERS WILL ADD A REDUNDANT LOCKING MECHANISM TO THE GEARSHIFT CABLE AT THE MOUNTING BRACKET TO ENSURE PROPER RETENTION AND SHIFT LINKAGE FUNCTION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE CAN CAUSE A MOMENTARY LOCK UP OF THE DRIVE WHEELS IF THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING OVER 40 MPH AND THE OPERATOR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL…
The risk: IF THE DRIVE WHEELS LOCKED UP, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
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 Magnum or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Dodge Magnum has fewer complaints per year (about 290) than the Honda Accord (about 444), but the Magnum's complaints are concentrated in severe safety areas like air bag non-deployment and transmission limp mode. The Accord's higher annual rate reflects a much larger vehicle population and a broader range of issues, including advanced driver-assist glitches. In practice, the Magnum may have fewer total complaints but each one is more likely to involve a critical failure.
Key differences
- The Dodge Magnum has 22 recalls over 4 years, while the Honda Accord has 38 recalls over 10 years, meaning the Magnum has a higher recall rate per year.
- Magnum owners frequently report transmission limp mode and air bag non-deployment, while Accord owners more often report engine noises and forward collision avoidance false alarms.
- The Magnum has 57 injuries and 2 deaths reported, while the Accord has 144 injuries and 3 deaths, but the Accord's numbers cover a much larger population over a longer period.
- The Magnum's top complaint is power train (235), while the Accord's top complaint is engine (985), showing different failure priorities.
- During a test drive, check for any hesitation or sudden loss of power that could indicate transmission limp mode; also ask if the TCM has been updated.
- Inspect the air bag warning light and ask if the vehicle has had the driver and passenger inflator module recalls performed; a history of non-deployment is a serious concern.
- Listen for unusual engine noises at idle and during acceleration, and check for any dashboard warnings related to brakes, hill descent, or ABS that could indicate a critical failure.
- Test all advanced driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, for intermittent error messages or unexpected braking.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and verify that all open recalls for the specific model year have been completed.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the transmission (Magnum) or engine and electrical systems (Accord).
- Test drive the vehicle at highway speeds and during a refueling stop (for the Magnum) to check for stalling or limp mode.
- Check the age and condition of the tires, including the spare, and verify TPMS functionality, especially on the Accord.
- Ask the seller for any repair records related to air bags, fuel system, or forward collision avoidance, and confirm that software updates have been applied.
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 Magnum or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Magnum vs Honda Accord
- Dodge Magnum total complaints
- 1,162
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Dodge Magnum total recalls
- 22
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Dodge Magnum avg complaints/year
- 290.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Dodge Magnum
- Dodge Magnum top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE