Head-to-head reliability
Mazda Mazda2 vs Honda Accord
How the Mazda Mazda2 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
Mazda Mazda2 vs Honda Accord: The Mazda2 has 31 complaints over 10 years (about 3 per year), while the Accord has 4,524 (about 452 per year). The Mazda2's issues often involve steering and suspension, while the Accord's involve engine and electrical systems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda Mazda2 or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda Mazda2
The Mazda Mazda2 is a subcompact car with a relatively low complaint volume: 31 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 3 per year. Owners most often report steering and suspension noises, vibrations, and knocking, especially at low speeds or when turning. There are also reports of air bag non-deployment in a crash and seat rocking. With 6 recalls, including steering and fuel pump issues, a used Mazda2 needs a careful inspection of these areas.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a midsize car with a much higher complaint volume: 4,524 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 452 per year. The most common problem areas are the engine, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, with owners describing stalling, warning lights, power steering and brake failures, and unintended automatic braking. There are 38 recalls and 3 deaths reported, so a used Accord should be checked for open recalls and signs of these issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda Mazda2 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 31 Better | 4,524 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 162 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.1 Better | 452.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Mazda Mazda2
- 01STEERING9
- 02SUSPENSION5
- 03AIR BAGS5
- 04SEATS4
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
Owners report shaking, vibration, and loud popping or clicking noises from the steering, sometimes at low speeds or when turning. One owner noted a 'hitch' in the steering. This matters because steering problems can affect control and may be costly to fix.
Complaints describe a vibration from the front driver's side at lower speeds and knocking noises during low-speed turns. Some owners link this to a steering knuckle recall. A buyer should test drive over bumps and listen for clunks.
One owner reported that the air bags did not deploy in a rollover crash, resulting in a chest injury. Another complaint mentions an air bag sensor issue along with violent steering vibration when braking. Non-deployment is a serious safety concern.
Owners report the seat height adjuster mechanism becoming loose, causing the seat to rock back and forth. This can be distracting and may affect driving position. It is a known issue from a related recall on older models.
“I bought this 2014 Mazda 2 Sport HB on Thursday January 26, 2023. Upon driving it home, this vehicle with only 41,280 miles on it, shook, vibrating , hearing a very loud popping clicking sounds. Like body metal clanging. It was hard to see. I don’t know if th…”
“MY 2012 MAZDA HAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED IT USED IN 2013 WHEN IT HAD 35,570 MILES ON IT. WHEN I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A RENTAL-CAR SALE LOT, I NOTICED A SLIGHT "HITCH" IN THE STEERING IF THE WHEELS WERE TURNED FAR TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. BU…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE1,006
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM895
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE837
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER746
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM602
Owners describe sudden loss of power, multiple warning lights (brake, hill descent, ABS), and rattling noises while accelerating. Some report rough transitions between EV and gas modes. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include simultaneous failure of electronic power steering and braking at highway speeds, and a tire failure after a TPMS warning was supposedly fixed. Electrical glitches can disable critical safety systems without warning.
Owners report the system unexpectedly activating or failing to respond, sometimes with adaptive cruise control set. One complaint describes repeated incidents under similar conditions. This can cause sudden braking or a near-miss.
Reports include a persistent rotten-egg/sulfur odor that remained after a paid repair, and a foot getting stuck behind a plastic side panel. These may seem minor but can indicate deeper issues or distract the driver.
“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.
Mazda Mazda2 — 6 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-201…
The risk: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge.…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-201…
The risk: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge.…
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
Mazda Mazda2 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mazda Mazda2 has far fewer complaints per year (about 3) compared to the Honda Accord (about 452). In practice, this means a used Mazda2 is likely to have fewer reported problems overall, but the Accord's higher volume may reflect its popularity and more complex systems. Both have recalls and safety-related complaints, so neither is problem-free.
Key differences
- The Mazda2 has 31 complaints over 10 years, while the Accord has 4,524, a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- Mazda2 complaints center on steering, suspension, and air bags; Accord complaints focus on engine, electrical, and forward collision avoidance.
- The Accord has 3 deaths and 146 injuries reported, while the Mazda2 has 1 injury and 0 deaths, though these numbers depend on many factors.
- Both have recalls, but the Accord has 38 versus 6 for the Mazda2, including fuel pump and electrical issues.
- During a test drive, listen for popping, clicking, or knocking noises from the steering and suspension, especially at low speeds or when turning.
- Check the seat height adjuster for looseness or rocking, and confirm the air bag warning light is not on.
- Test the electronic power steering and brakes at highway speeds if possible, and watch for any warning lights or loss of assist.
- Check for open recalls on the fuel pump, electrical system, and forward collision avoidance, and verify the adaptive cruise control and automatic braking work properly.
Before you buy
- Ask for the vehicle's recall history and confirm all open recalls have been repaired.
- Take a test drive that includes low-speed turns, highway speeds, and braking to check for vibrations, noises, and warning lights.
- Have a mechanic inspect the steering and suspension on the Mazda2, and the engine, electrical, and driver-assist systems on the Accord.
- Check for any unusual odors, especially in the Accord, and verify all seat adjustments and air bag indicators.
- Review the NHTSA complaint database for the specific model year you are considering to see if common issues apply.
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 | Mazda Mazda2 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 234 |
| 2020 | 0 | 362 |
| 2019 | 0 | 691 |
| 2018 | 0 | 1884 |
| 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 Mazda Mazda2 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda Mazda2 vs Honda Accord
- Mazda Mazda2 total complaints
- 31
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,524
- Mazda Mazda2 total recalls
- 6
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mazda Mazda2 avg complaints/year
- 3.1
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 452.4
- More reliable overall
- Mazda Mazda2
- Mazda Mazda2 top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE