Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Viper vs Honda Accord
How the Dodge Viper 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 Viper vs Honda Accord: The Viper averages 3.1 complaints per year with 9 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints per year with 38 recalls. Viper issues include electrical smoke and door latch failures; Accord issues include engine power loss and electronic steering failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Viper or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper is a low-volume performance car, so it sees very few complaints per year—about 3.1—but the ones owners file often involve serious electrical, air bag, and structural problems. Recalls cover door latches and radio equipment, and some owners report smoke from the rear, no-start conditions, and doors that won't open or fly open. For a buyer, this means the Viper can be a garage-kept toy with manageable miles, but you must check for fire risk, air bag recall completion, and door latch integrity.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a high-volume family sedan, so it generates many more complaints—about 452 per year—and its top issues are engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance problems. Owners describe loss of power, rough hybrid transitions, electronic steering and braking failures, and false automatic braking. With 38 recalls and 3 deaths reported, the Accord's problems are more frequent and can affect daily driving, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection and recall check are essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Viper | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 31 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.1 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 6 Better | 146 |
| 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 Viper
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
- 02AIR BAGS8
- 03SUSPENSION6
- 04STRUCTURE5
- 05STEERING4
Owners report a rubber/electrical smell followed by smoke filling the rear of the car, and another says the car goes dead when pushing the start button unless the negative battery cable is lifted. These symptoms point to wiring or battery connection faults that can strand you or lead to a fire.
Complaints include difficulty getting recall work done because dealers warn dash parts may break, and one owner describes a crash event. For a buyer, this means confirming the air bag recall was completed is critical, as incomplete repairs could leave the system unreliable.
A clunk from the rear wheel well when starting from a stop, traced to a leaking rubber boot on the suspension knuckle, is a common report. This can worsen over time and affect handling, so inspect the rear suspension for leaks and noise.
Owners report the driver's door failing to open when battery power is out due to a broken latch cable, and another says the passenger window rolls down and the door opens by itself while driving. These are serious safety issues that could trap occupants or cause a door to open unexpectedly.
“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND SOMETHING LIKE A RUBBER/ELECTRICAL SMELL WAS NOTICED. I LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SEEN I HAD SMOKE FILLING THE REAR OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. GOT OUT AND OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE AND AS I LOOKED TO SEE WHAT WAS GO…”
“VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING ISSUES AT 10, 500 MILES BY NOT STARTING. PUSH THE START BUTTON ONE TIME AND THE CAR WOULD GO DEAD. IF I LIFTED UP ON THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE, THE CAR WOULD START WITH NO ISSUES. LET GO OF THE CABLE AND THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN THIS FIRST…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe alarms for brake, hill descent, ABS, and critical failure while losing speed, plus rattling noises and rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These can lead to sudden power loss or expensive hybrid system repairs.
Complaints include electronic power steering and braking systems failing and locking up at highway speeds, and a tire failure after a TPMS repair. Such failures can cause near-collisions and leave you without steering or braking assist.
Owners report the system failing to resolve threats, with incidents under adaptive cruise control where the car suddenly brakes or fails to respond. This undermines a key safety feature and can cause rear-end collisions.
A rotten-egg/sulfur odor persists after filter replacement, and other fuel pump issues appear in recalls. This can indicate fuel delivery problems that may cause stalling or failed emissions tests.
“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 Viper — 9 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured October 1, 2012, to February 6, 2014. Moisture may get into the door switch, resulting in the driver or passenger door opening unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion.
The risk: If the driver or passenger door opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion, there is an increased risk of a crash and injury.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door handle assemblies and top covers, free of charge. The recall began on July 10, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500, 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger, 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Dodge Durango, and 2013-2015 Dodge Viper vehicles. The affected vehicles are equip…
The risk: Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify and mail affected owners a USB drive that includes a software update that eliminates the vulnerability, free of charge. Optionally, owners may download the update to their own USB drive from http://www.driveuconnect.co…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500, 2015 Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger, 2014-2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Dodge Durango, and 2013-2015 Dodge Viper vehicles. The affected vehicles are equip…
The risk: Exploitation of the software vulnerability may result in unauthorized remote modification and control of certain vehicle systems, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Chrysler will notify and mail affected owners a USB drive that includes a software update that eliminates the vulnerability, free of charge. Optionally, owners may download the update to their own USB drive from http://www.driveuconnect.co…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Dodge Viper vehicles manufactured October 1, 2012, to February 6, 2014. Moisture may get into the door switch, resulting in the driver or passenger door opening unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion.
The risk: If the driver or passenger door opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion, there is an increased risk of a crash and injury.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door handle assemblies and top covers, free of charge. The recall began on July 10, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this…
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 Viper or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Dodge Viper has far fewer complaints per year (3.1 vs. 452.4) and fewer recalls (9 vs. 38), but its issues tend to be severe when they occur. The Honda Accord's higher volume means more frequent problems, including engine and electrical failures that can affect daily driving. In practice, the Viper is a lower-frequency but higher-stakes ownership experience, while the Accord demands more vigilance for recurring safety defects.
Key differences
- The Viper averages 3.1 complaints per year, while the Accord averages 452.4—so the Accord has many more reported problems overall.
- Viper owners report smoke from the rear and no-start electrical issues; Accord owners report engine power loss and electronic steering/braking failures.
- The Viper has 9 recalls, including door latch and radio equipment; the Accord has 38 recalls, covering hybrid software, fuel pumps, and seat belts.
- The Viper's complaints include doors that won't open or open while driving; the Accord's include forward collision avoidance that fails to prevent crashes.
- Check for any signs of electrical burning or smoke smell in the rear, and test the battery connections and start button operation.
- Inspect the driver's door latch and cable for proper function, and verify the air bag recall was completed by a dealer.
- Test the electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds if possible, and listen for rattles or rough hybrid transitions.
- Confirm all recalls are done, especially for fuel pump, hybrid software, and seat belt retractor, and check for persistent sulfur odors.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific Viper or Accord you are considering.
- For the Viper, inspect the rear lift gate area for smoke damage and test the door latches and window operation.
- For the Accord, scan for stored engine and hybrid codes, and test the forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control.
- Ask for service records showing recall repairs, especially air bag and fuel pump work, and have a mechanic inspect the suspension and electrical systems.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for power loss, rough transitions, or unexpected braking.
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 Viper | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 537 |
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 Viper or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Viper vs Honda Accord
- Dodge Viper total complaints
- 31
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Dodge Viper total recalls
- 9
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Dodge Viper avg complaints/year
- 3.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Dodge Viper
- Dodge Viper top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE