Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Honda Accord
How the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 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
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Honda Accord: The Eclipse Cross has 59 complaints over 9 years (6.6/yr) with electrical shutdowns, while the Accord has 4438 complaints over 10 years (443.8/yr) with engine and ADAS issues. The Accord has 38 recalls, the Eclipse Cross 3. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross or Honda Accord more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a compact crossover that, in ownership terms, shows a pattern of electronic gremlins and sudden power losses that can leave you stranded or in a reduced-power 'limp' mode. Owners describe the car shutting down on the freeway, dashboard warning lights flashing, and issues with the touchscreen and airbag sensors. While the total complaint count is low, the nature of these failures—especially the unexpected shutdowns—makes it a vehicle to approach with caution, particularly if you rely on it for daily commuting.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume, but that's partly due to its larger sales base. The complaints cluster around engine problems, electrical glitches, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping. Owners report sudden loss of power, warning lights, and false activations of safety systems, which can be alarming. However, many of these issues are intermittent and may be software-related, and the Accord's overall reliability record is still better than the Eclipse Cross's when adjusted for complaints per year.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 59 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.6 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 6 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER12
- 03AIR BAGS11
- 04SERVICE BRAKES10
- 05ENGINE9
Owners report the car suddenly shutting down while driving, then restarting with a dashboard full of warning lights and entering a limp mode. This can be dangerous if it happens in traffic, and it points to a potential software or battery/charging system fault.
There are reports of the passenger airbag and seatbelt system activating when a phone is placed on the seat, and one case of tampered airbags in a used rental. This suggests possible sensor sensitivity or prior damage that could affect airbag deployment in a crash.
Some owners describe a cracking or clicking noise when reversing, possibly from stuck brake components, and one report of the engine revving abnormally with difficulty braking. This could indicate brake system issues that need immediate inspection.
While fewer complaints, there are reports of the engine making unusual high and low pitched sounds and losing power, which could be related to the electrical shutdowns or separate mechanical problems.
“WHILE DRIVING THE ABOVE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR SHUT DOWN. I PULLED OVER SAFELY TO THE SIDE. SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF COMPLETELY AND THEN RESTARTED IT.THE DASH WAS LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE CAR STARTED AND WAS TO DRIVE HOME IN A LIMP MODE IN. CA…”
“THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ANYONE ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF SAID VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN IN AN OUT OF THE SHOP FOR A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES. IT HAS AN ISSUE THAT CANNOT BE FIXED OF A FAULTY GAS READING CAUSING A PERSON TO NEVER KNO…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
The most common issue, with owners reporting noises, loss of power, and warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS systems. Some describe the vehicle losing speed on the highway, which is a serious safety concern.
Problems range from TPMS warnings leading to tire failure to rodent damage on wiring harnesses. There are also reports of the car shutting down or displaying multiple warning lights, indicating potential electrical gremlins.
Many owners report false activations of the collision mitigation system, where the car brakes unexpectedly for no reason, and intermittent messages about adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. This can be startling and may increase the risk of rear-end collisions.
Complaints include the car braking unexpectedly due to the collision system, as well as potential issues with the ABS module. Some owners have experienced a loss of braking power, which is critical.
“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.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross — 3 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electron…
The risk: If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall…
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system and 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross vehicles and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Contro…
The risk: If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the Hydraulic Unit-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-008.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electron…
The risk: If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall…
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
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has far fewer complaints per year (6.6) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the Eclipse Cross's issues are more likely to involve sudden power loss and electrical failures. The Accord's higher volume is partly due to its popularity, but its problems are more varied and often software-related. In practice, the Accord may have more reported issues, but the Eclipse Cross's failures could be more dangerous if they occur at speed.
Key differences
- The Eclipse Cross has a higher proportion of electrical system complaints (17 of 59) that can cause the car to shut down, while the Accord's top issue is engine-related (985 of 4438) with more reports of power loss and warning lights.
- The Accord has a significant number of complaints about forward collision avoidance systems (821) that may brake unexpectedly, whereas the Eclipse Cross has fewer such complaints but still has recalls for adaptive cruise control software.
- The Eclipse Cross has a lower overall complaint rate (6.6 per year) than the Accord (443.8 per year), but the Accord's rate is inflated by its much larger sales volume.
- The Accord has more recalls (38) than the Eclipse Cross (3), but many Accord recalls are for software updates and sensors, while the Eclipse Cross recalls also focus on software for collision avoidance.
- Check for any history of electrical shutdowns or limp mode incidents; ask the seller if the car has ever stalled unexpectedly.
- Inspect the passenger seat airbag sensor by placing a phone or weight on the seat to see if the airbag light activates incorrectly.
- Ask if the forward collision warning system has ever activated without reason; test drive at moderate speed to see if it brakes unexpectedly.
- Look for any signs of rodent damage under the hood, especially on wiring harnesses, and check the condition of the TPMS sensors.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic scan both cars for stored trouble codes, especially related to the engine, brakes, and airbag systems.
- Test drive each vehicle and deliberately trigger the adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning to ensure they respond correctly.
- Check the service history for any recalls and whether they were performed; for the Accord, verify the fuel pump recall was addressed.
- Inspect the Eclipse Cross's touchscreen for dead spots and the Accord's sunroof for any signs of cracking or previous replacement.
- Ask for a vehicle history report to see if either car was previously a rental or had any airbag tampering.
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 | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 | 101 |
| 2024 | 7 | 214 |
| 2023 | 5 | 224 |
| 2022 | 6 | 238 |
| 2021 | 0 | 226 |
| 2020 | 5 | 355 |
| 2019 | 13 | 677 |
| 2018 | 19 | 1864 |
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 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Honda Accord
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross total complaints
- 59
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross total recalls
- 3
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross avg complaints/year
- 6.6
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE