Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Cherokee vs Honda Accord
How the JEEP Cherokee 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
JEEP Cherokee vs Honda Accord: The Cherokee averages 739.7 complaints per year and has 59 recalls, while the Accord averages 452.4 complaints and 38 recalls. The Accord has 3 deaths reported, the Cherokee none. Both need careful inspection. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Cherokee or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee is a compact SUV that averages about 740 owner complaints per year, with the highest number tied to the power train. Owners describe hard jolts, rolling backward, and sudden emergency braking, which can make daily driving stressful. With 59 recalls over a decade, it demands more frequent trips to the dealer than many rivals.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize sedan with roughly 452 complaints per year, less than the Cherokee. However, its complaints include serious electrical and forward collision avoidance issues, plus 3 deaths reported. It has fewer recalls (38) but still requires careful attention to safety systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Cherokee | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7,397 | 4,524 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 59 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 180 | 162 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 739.7 | 452.4 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 153 | 146 Better |
| 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.
JEEP Cherokee
- 01POWER TRAIN3,688
- 02ENGINE1,629
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,563
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,408
- 05SERVICE BRAKES465
Owners report violent jolts when accelerating from a stop, the vehicle rolling backward unexpectedly, and the emergency collision braking system activating on its own at highway speeds. These issues can cause loss of control and are the most common complaint category.
Complaints include a sudden drop in fuel economy (from 27-29 mpg to 22-24 mpg) and heavy soot buildup in the tailpipes and muffler. This suggests fuel or combustion problems that may lead to costly repairs.
Drivers report the vehicle suddenly stopping while driving, with alarms and error messages, as well as batteries dying after just a few days parked. These failures can leave you stranded and are hard to diagnose.
Some owners say the brake and gas pedals are so close that their foot scrapes the brake when switching, causing unintended braking or acceleration. This is a design concern that affects everyday control.
“on May 3 at approx. 4:00 pm I was sitting at a stop light and when it turned green I started to accelerate the jolt was so hard that I thought the car behind me had hit me.When I went to go again it started rolling backwards and I applied the brakes.I could n…”
“On [XXX], we were traveling from Seattle to Portland on [XXX] in my 2022 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with the cruise control set at around 75 mph. Suddenly the emergency collision braking system applied and all of the lights on my vehicle lit up. While the brakin…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe alarms for brake, hill descent, and ABS failures while driving, leading to loss of speed and power. Others report rattling noises and rough transitions between electric and gas modes, indicating engine management issues.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, causing near-collisions. Another owner had a tire fail catastrophically shortly after a TPMS repair, raising questions about service quality.
The system can suddenly apply brakes under adaptive cruise control on open roads, even with no obstacles. This has happened repeatedly on the same route, creating a serious risk of rear-end collisions.
Some owners report a persistent rotten-egg or sulfur odor, which can indicate fuel or catalytic converter problems. This may lead to failed emissions tests and costly repairs.
“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.
JEEP Cherokee — 59 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
The risk: A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the Drivetrain Control Drivetrain Control Module, PTU, and Electronic Park Brake software, and replace the PTU, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed Jun…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The turn signal self-canceling feature may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equ…
The risk: Turn signals that do not function properly may fail to indicate the driver's intention to change vehicle direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering column control module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recal…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2026 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The brake system control module may fail to operate properly, which can cause a loss of anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC).
The risk: A loss of anti-lock brakes or electronic stability control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the brake system control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 29D. Vehicle Id…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The power transfer unit (PTU) may fail.
The risk: A failed PTU may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the Drivetrain Control Drivetrain Control Module, PTU, and Electronic Park Brake software, and replace the PTU, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed Jun…
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
JEEP Cherokee or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has fewer complaints per year (about 452 vs. 740 for the Jeep Cherokee), but it has 3 reported deaths compared to none for the Cherokee. In practice, the Cherokee may need more frequent repairs, while the Accord's issues can be more severe when they occur.
Key differences
- The Jeep Cherokee has far more power train complaints (3,688 vs. the Accord's lower totals), with owners reporting hard jolts and unintended braking.
- The Honda Accord has 3 deaths reported in NHTSA data, while the Cherokee has none, though the Accord has fewer total complaints.
- Cherokee owners frequently mention electrical issues like sudden stops and dead batteries, while Accord owners report steering and braking failures at speed.
- The Accord's forward collision avoidance system has triggered phantom braking, a problem not highlighted in Cherokee complaints.
- During a test drive, accelerate from a stop and feel for hard jolts or hesitation; also check if the vehicle rolls backward on a slight incline.
- Ask for the battery's age and service history, and test all electrical functions; a battery that dies after a few days is a common complaint.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system on a highway if possible, and watch for unexpected braking or alarms.
- Check for a rotten-egg smell from the exhaust or cabin, and ask if the fuel pump or catalytic converter has been replaced.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for power train (Cherokee) and electrical/hybrid systems (Accord).
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and engine for the Cherokee, and the hybrid battery and braking system for the Accord.
- Test drive on highways and in stop-and-go traffic to replicate reported conditions like phantom braking or sudden stops.
- Check for software updates or pending recalls on the forward collision avoidance and electronic stability control systems.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for battery replacements, fuel system repairs, and any repeated electrical fixes.
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 | JEEP Cherokee | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 10 |
| 2023 | 3 | 226 |
| 2022 | 51 | 252 |
| 2021 | 166 | 234 |
| 2020 | 309 | 362 |
| 2019 | 1648 | 691 |
| 2018 | 686 | 1884 |
| 2017 | 1335 | 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 JEEP Cherokee or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Cherokee vs Honda Accord
- JEEP Cherokee total complaints
- 7,397
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- JEEP Cherokee total recalls
- 59
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- JEEP Cherokee avg complaints/year
- 739.7
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Honda Accord
- JEEP Cherokee top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE