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 732.8 complaints per year with 58 recalls, while the Accord averages 443.8 with 38 recalls. Powertrain issues dominate the Cherokee, including jolts and rolling backward, whereas the Accord's top issue is false collision warnings. 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, in ownership terms, is a compact SUV with a heavy footprint in NHTSA data, averaging over 700 complaints per year. The dominant theme is powertrain trouble, with owners describing jarring acceleration jolts, unexpected braking, and even rolling backward, which points to transmission and drivetrain issues. Engine complaints about fuel economy drops and soot buildup suggest potential fuel system or engine management problems. Electrical gremlins, including sudden stops and battery failures, add to the sense of unpredictability, making it a vehicle that demands careful inspection and a robust warranty.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a midsize sedan, shows a lower complaint rate, averaging about 444 per year. Its top issues are engine-related, with reports of warning lights and power loss, and electrical system problems, including tire pressure monitoring failures and rodent damage to wiring. Notably, forward collision avoidance complaints are frequent, with owners experiencing false activations and system errors. While these issues are concerning, the overall volume is lower, and the problems seem less catastrophic than the Cherokee's, though the Accord is not without its own reliability concerns.
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 | 7,328 | 4,438 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 58 | 38 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 180 | 160 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 732.8 | 443.8 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 153 | 144 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 TRAIN3,635
- 02ENGINE1,617
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,556
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,403
- 05SERVICE BRAKES463
Owners report severe jolts during acceleration, sudden braking, and even rolling backward, indicating transmission or drivetrain malfunctions that can be dangerous in traffic.
Complaints include noticeable drops in fuel economy and excessive soot from the exhaust, suggesting possible engine tuning or fuel system issues that could lead to costly repairs.
The vehicle can suddenly stop while driving, accompanied by alarms and warning lights, and batteries die prematurely, pointing to intermittent electrical faults that are hard to diagnose.
Some owners describe pedal misalignment causing accidental braking or acceleration, a serious ergonomic concern that could lead to unintended maneuvers.
“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
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Engine issues manifest as warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems, along with a loss of speed, indicating possible sensor or control module failures affecting drivability.
Electrical problems include TPMS warnings leading to tire failures and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause unexpected system malfunctions and safety risks.
The system can falsely activate or show intermittent errors for adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, which can be startling and undermine driver trust in safety features.
There are reports of sunroof glass spontaneously exploding, a rare but serious safety hazard, and other miscellaneous issues that are not easily categorized.
“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.
JEEP Cherokee — 58 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: The remedy is currently under development. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact F…
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: The remedy is currently under development. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 25, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact F…
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
JEEP Cherokee or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Honda Accord has fewer complaints per year (443.8 vs 732.8) and fewer recalls (38 vs 58), indicating a generally more reliable ownership experience. While both have safety-related complaints, the Cherokee's powertrain issues are more severe and frequent, making the Accord a safer bet for most buyers.
Key differences
- The Cherokee has nearly double the complaints per year and more recalls, with powertrain issues dominating, including dangerous jolts and rolling backward.
- The Accord's top issue is forward collision avoidance false activations, which are annoying but less mechanically severe than the Cherokee's transmission problems.
- Engine complaints on the Cherokee involve fuel economy and soot, while the Accord's engine issues are more about warning lights and power loss.
- Electrical problems on the Cherokee can cause sudden stops, whereas the Accord's electrical issues are more about tire monitoring and wiring damage.
- Test the transmission thoroughly: accelerate from a stop and at highway speeds to check for jolts or hesitation, and on an incline to see if it rolls backward.
- Inspect for electrical gremlins: have the battery and charging system tested, and check for any stored trouble codes that might indicate intermittent failures.
- Check the forward collision avoidance system: drive toward a clear area to ensure it doesn't false-activate, and look for any warning messages on the dash.
- Inspect the wiring harness for rodent damage, especially if the vehicle has been parked outdoors, and verify the TPMS sensors are functioning properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission and electrical system for the Cherokee, and the engine and sensors for the Accord.
- Test drive both vehicles in stop-and-go traffic and on the highway to feel for any drivability issues.
- Ask for service records to see if any of the common complaints have been addressed.
- Consider the cost of extended warranty coverage, especially for the Cherokee.
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 | 3 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 | 224 |
| 2022 | 48 | 238 |
| 2021 | 155 | 226 |
| 2020 | 288 | 355 |
| 2019 | 1625 | 677 |
| 2018 | 683 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 1332 | 534 |
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
- 7,328
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- JEEP Cherokee total recalls
- 58
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- JEEP Cherokee avg complaints/year
- 732.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Honda Accord
- JEEP Cherokee top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE