Head-to-head reliability

FIAT 500E vs Honda Accord

How the FIAT 500E and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

FIAT 500E5 complaints · 3 recalls Fewer issues per year
Honda Accord4,397 complaints · 38 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

FIAT 500E averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. FIAT 500E has 5 complaints and 3 recalls on record; Honda Accord has 4,397 complaints and 38 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryFIAT 500EHonda Accord
Total complaintsAll model years combined5 Better4,397
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns3 Better38
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints0 Better159
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years1.7 Better439.7
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better143
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better3

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.

FIAT 500E

  1. 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
  2. 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
  3. 03POWER TRAIN1
  4. 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
  5. 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1
In owners' words — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact leased a 2024 Fiat 500E. The contact stated that the windows failed to roll down and the brakes made an abnormal sound while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle required the Push to Start button to be pressed three t…

Vehicle is unable to fully charge. It stops without notice and has left us stranded. The car has been at the dealership for seven months. The dealership duplicated the problem, but has been unable to repair it. There are now six (6) other 2024 500e’s at Larry…

Honda Accord

  1. 01ENGINE968
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM850
  3. 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE814
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER720
  5. 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM587
In owners' words — ENGINE

2021 Honda Accord EX-L, 1.5T turbocharged engine. Within 8 months of purchase at approximately 21,900 miles, I experienced three separate incidents of sudden complete engine power loss at highway speeds. During each incident the vehicle would not exceed 2,000…

I am filing a complaint regarding the premature head gasket failure on my 2021 Honda Accord, which failed on May 28, 2026, with only 89,000 miles on the vehicle. A head gasket is a critical engine component that should last well beyond 89,000 miles under norm…

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.

FIAT 500E — 3 recalls

Air Bags — Frontal
#24V510000Mar 2024

The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.

The risk: A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

The fix: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 82B.

Exterior Lighting — Headlights
#25V715000

The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Fiat 500e Battery Electric (BEV) vehicles. The headlight horizontal aim adjustment is not covered as intended, which can result in improperly adjusted headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehi…

The risk: Improperly adjusted headlights can reduce driver visibility or create a glare for oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will install headlight adjustment plugs. Owner notification letters were mailed December 10, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is A4C. Vehicle Identification Numbe…

Exterior Lighting — Headlights
#25V715000

The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Fiat 500e Battery Electric (BEV) vehicles. The headlight horizontal aim adjustment is not covered as intended, which can result in improperly adjusted headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehi…

The risk: Improperly adjusted headlights can reduce driver visibility or create a glare for oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will install headlight adjustment plugs. Owner notification letters were mailed December 10, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is A4C. Vehicle Identification Numbe…

Honda Accord — 38 recalls

Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Retractor
#21V900000

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.

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#24V064000Jan 2024

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…

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump
#23V858000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…

The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#26V332000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…

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.

YearFIAT 500EHonda Accord
202605
2025098
20245213
Years to scrutinize: the 2018 Honda Accord drew the most (1,853). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 FIAT 500E or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

FIAT 500E vs Honda Accord — comparison facts
Comparison
FIAT 500E vs Honda Accord
FIAT 500E total complaints
5
Honda Accord total complaints
4,397
FIAT 500E total recalls
3
Honda Accord total recalls
38
FIAT 500E avg complaints/year
1.7
Honda Accord avg complaints/year
439.7
More reliable overall
FIAT 500E
FIAT 500E top complaint area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Honda Accord top complaint area
ENGINE