Head-to-head reliability
Dodge NEON vs Honda Accord
How the Dodge NEON 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 NEON vs Honda Accord: The NEON averages 185.5 complaints per year over 6 years, while the Accord averages 452.4 over 10 years. The NEON has 8 deaths and 172 injuries; the Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries. Both have dozens of recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge NEON or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge NEON
The Dodge NEON is a compact car with a high complaint rate for its short six-year run, averaging about 186 complaints per year. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins like smoking steering wheels and failing window seals, plus air bags that don't deploy in crashes. Engine and brake failures that cause sudden power loss or pedal-to-the-floor braking add to the ownership risk. With 41 recalls, it demands constant vigilance.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a mid-size car with a much longer ten-year span and about 452 complaints per year, but many involve newer advanced systems. Owners describe engine rattles, hybrid mode jerks, and electronic power steering or braking failures at highway speeds. Forward collision avoidance and fuel system issues also appear repeatedly. Recalls cover hybrid software, fuel pumps, and seat belts.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge NEON | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,113 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 41 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 204 | 162 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 185.5 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 172 | 146 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 8 | 3 Better |
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 NEON
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM192
- 02AIR BAGS177
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING162
- 04SERVICE BRAKES152
- 05POWER TRAIN141
Owners report the steering wheel smoking and becoming unusually hot while driving, and window seals drying out and falling off, letting water into doors. These failures can distract the driver and lead to costly electrical repairs.
In multiple crashes, owners say the air bags failed to deploy, including a highway collision where none inflated. This directly affects occupant protection in a serious crash.
Sudden loss of acceleration and coolant loss are reported, sometimes leaving the car unable to move. This can strand a driver in traffic or on a highway.
Owners describe the brake pedal going to the floor with no warning and a rear wheel locking up. Brake failure at any speed is a critical safety concern.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE NEON. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE FOG LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO EMIT SMOKE AND BECAME UNUSUALLY HOT IN TEMPERATURE. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICL…”
“ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS AFTER I PURCHASED MY DODGE NEON SXT THE SEAL AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL THE WINDOWS BEGAN TO DRY UP, CRACK, AND FALL OFF. AT THIS POINT I BARELY HAVE ANY SEAL IN BETWEEN ALL 4 OF MY CAR WINDOWS AND THE CAR DOOR. WATER HAS GONE DOWN INTO MY DOOR AN…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners report rattling noises while accelerating, rough transitions between EV and gas modes, and sudden loss of speed with multiple dashboard alarms. These issues can affect drivability and may be hard to diagnose.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking systems failing and locking up at highway speeds, plus tire pressure warnings followed by tire failure. Such failures can cause loss of control.
Owners say the system can activate unexpectedly or fail to resolve threats, even with adaptive cruise control set. This may cause sudden braking or a near-miss.
A rotten-egg or sulfur odor persists after repairs, and fuel pump recalls exist. This can indicate fuel delivery problems that may lead to stalling or fire risk.
“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 NEON — 41 recalls
The defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 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: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
The defect: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND A…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
The defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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 NEON or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Dodge NEON has about 186 complaints per year, while the Honda Accord has about 452 per year, so the NEON has fewer issues per year on paper. However, the NEON's complaints often involve basic safety systems like brakes and air bags, while the Accord's are spread across more advanced features. In practice, the NEON may be simpler but still risky, while the Accord may have more frequent but sometimes less immediate failures.
Key differences
- The Dodge NEON has 8 deaths and 172 injuries reported, while the Honda Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries over a longer period.
- NEON complaints often involve air bags not deploying and brake pedal failure, while Accord complaints include electronic steering/braking lockups and forward collision avoidance glitches.
- The NEON has 41 recalls in 6 years, focusing on exterior lighting and suspension, while the Accord has 38 recalls in 10 years, covering hybrid software, fuel pumps, and seat belts.
- NEON owners report sudden engine stalling and coolant loss, whereas Accord owners report engine rattles and rough hybrid transitions.
- Check for any signs of steering wheel smoke or excessive heat, and test all electrical components including lights and window seals.
- Verify that air bags have not been deployed and that there are no open recalls for air bag sensors or brake issues.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking systems at highway speeds if possible, and look for any warning lights.
- Check for persistent sulfur or rotten-egg odors and confirm that fuel pump and hybrid software recalls have been performed.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check for open recalls on both vehicles, as the NEON has 41 and the Accord has 38.
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes, air bags, and electrical systems for the NEON.
- For the Accord, have a mechanic check the hybrid system, forward collision avoidance, and fuel delivery components.
- Review owner complaint patterns on NHTSA for the specific model year you are considering.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including highway speeds, to feel for hesitation, braking issues, or warning lights.
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 NEON or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge NEON vs Honda Accord
- Dodge NEON total complaints
- 1,113
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Dodge NEON total recalls
- 41
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Dodge NEON avg complaints/year
- 185.5
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Dodge NEON
- Dodge NEON top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE